The Yoruba in Transition
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The Yoruba in Transition The Yoruba in Transition History, Values, and Modernity edited by Toyin Falola and Ann Genova Carolina Academic Press Durham, North Carolina Copyright © 2006 by Toyin Falola and Ann Genova All rights reserved. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The Yoruba in transition : history, values, and modernity / edited by Toyin Falola and Ann Genova. p. cm. Papers originally presented at an international conference, Perspectives on Yoruba History and Culture, held at the University of Texas at Austin, March 26-28, 2004. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-59460-134-8 1. Yoruba (African people)--History--Congresses. 2. Yoruba (African people)--Ethnic identity--Congresses. 3. Yoruba (African people)--Social con d i ti on s - - Con gre s s e s . 4 . Ni geri a - - Social con d i ti on s - - Con g re s s e s . 5 . Ni geri a-- Ethnic relations--Congresses. I. Falola, Toyin. II. Genova, Ann. III. Title. DT515.45.Y67Y75 2005 966'.00496333--dc22 2005008085 Carolina Academic Press 700 Kent Street Durham, North Carolina 27701 Telephone (919) 489-7486 Fax (919) 493-5668 www.cap-press.com Printed in the United States of America To Professor E. A. Ayandele for his contribution to Nigerian studies Contents List of Figures xi Acknowledgments xv Contributors xvii Introduction xxv Part A Histories Reconstructed Chapter 1 Notes on Yorùbá Newspapers, 1859–2002 3 Táíwò Olúnládé Chapter 2 Ile Iwe Ofe: Socialist Epistemology in Awolowo’s Reconstruction of Yoruba Identity and Nationalism 13 ashimuneze heanacho Chapter 3 Urban Politics in a Yoruba Frontier: Mushin 75 Hakeem Ibikunle Tijani Chapter 4 The Metamorphosis of the Bamidele Movement 85 Lateef M. Adetona Part B Identity at the Crossroads Chapter 5 Yoruba Ethnicity and the Pursuit of Western Education in Southwestern Nigeria 101 Ademola Babalola Chapter 6 Law Making in Pre-Colonial Yorubaland 111 Mojeed Olujinmi A. Alabi Chapter 7 Dispute Settlement under the Yoruba Culture: Lessons for the Criminal Justice System 125 Oluyemisi Bamgbose vii viii CONTENTS Chapter 8 The 419 Scam: Cybercrime and the Virtual World 151 Anne Webb Chapter 9 Motherhood as a Source of Empowerment of Women 171 Taiwo Makinde Chapter 10 Age Stratification and Marital Relations among the Yoruba 183 Jacob A. Adetunji Chapter 11 Understanding Demographic and Health Events through Yoruba Proverbs 195 Jacob Oni Chapter 12 Abortion among the Yoruba 227 Ibigbolade Simon Aderibigbe Chapter 13 Jinxed: On Being White and Yoruba 247 Elaine Neil Orr Chapter 14 Confronting the Future: The Yoruba at a Crossroads 259 Jare Ajayi Chapter 15 Confronting the Future: An Advocacy Agenda and Program 281 John Babatunde Bamidele Ojo Part C The Future of Modernity Chapter 16 Road Traffic Accidents in Yoruba States 303 Bamidele Abiona Badejo Chapter 17 AIDS Explosion in Yorubaland 321 Oluwatosin Ige Alo Chapter 18 The Oodua Peoples Congress and Crime Control in Lagos 331 Adewole Akinyemi Atere Akeem Ayofe Akinwale Chapter 19 Storage of Grains: The Nigerian Perspective 343 B. O. Akintunde Chapter 20 Culture, Technology, and Gari Processing 353 T.Y. Tunde-Akintunde CONTENTS ix Chapter 21 Agriculture in Yoruba Society and Culture 361 Adebayo A. Lawal Chapter 22 Yoruba Associations: Sources of Empowerment 377 Julius Adekunle Chapter 23 Crisis and the Restoration of Older Values 391 ‘Tunji Azeez Chapter 24 Dual Residence Patterns in a Yoruba Community 411 Jacob A. Adetunji Kefa M. Otiso Chapter 25 Women and Yoruba Culture 423 Mary E. Modupe Kolawole Chapter 26 Gender, Household Sex Roles, Work, and the Contemporary Yoruba Family 445 Asiyanbola R. Abidemi Chapter 27 Yoruba Cultural Influence on Junior and Senior Secondary Curriculum 463 Jamaine Abidogun Index 491 List of Figures Fig. 1.1 Yorùbá Newspapers 4 Fig. 2.1 Missionary Education, 1851–1931 27 Fig. 2.2 Education in Nigeria, 1900 and 1960 31 Fig. 2.3 School Attendance Fee-Paying Primary Schools in Western Nigeria, 1954–1961 31 Fig. 2.4 Secondary Schools in Southern Nigeria, 1859–1914 32 Fig. 2.5 Curricular Domains 55 Fig. 2.6 Primary School Enrollment in 1937–1966, 1970 by Region 59 Fig. 2.7 Roots of Teaching and Learning 60 Fig. 10.1 Age-Achievement Interactions 190 Fig. 11.1 Pers ons Who First No ti ced Ch i l d ’s Ill n e s s 203 Fig. 11.2 Pers ons Who First No ti ced Ch i l d ’s Illness by Ch i l d ’s Status I 204 Fig. 11.3 Pers ons Who First No ti ced Ch i l d ’s Illness by Ch i l d ’s Status II 205 Fig. 11.4 Mean Duration of Treatment Delay by Status of Child I 206 Fig. 11.5 Mean Duration of Treatment Delay by Status of Child II 207 Fig. 11.6 Persons Who Made Treatment Decision by the Status of the Child 208 Fig. 11.7 Child’s Status by Persons Who Made Treatment Decision 209 Fig. 11.8 Persons Who Made Treatment Decision by Mother’s Position in Polygynous Union 209 Fig. 11.9 Person Who Paid for Treatment by Status of the Child 210 Fig. 11.10 Person Who Paid for Treatment by Mother’s Position in Polygynous Union 211 Fig. 16.1 Epidemiological Model of Road Transport Accident 305 Fig. 16.2 Phases of Road Accidents 305 Fig. 16.3 Table of Reported Road Accident Cases in Nigeria, 1991–2002 309 Fig. 16.4 Graph of Reported Road Accident Cases in Nigeria, 1991–2002 310 Fig. 16.5 Reported Road Accident Casualties in Nigeria, 1991–1995 310 xi xii LIST OF FIGURES Fig. 16.6 States Analysis of Reported Road Accident Cases in Nigeria, 1995 313 Fig. 16.7 Table of Reported Road Accident Casualties, 1994–1995 314 Fig. 16.8 Table of Road Traffic Accident Analysis in Yoruba States, 1990–2002 315 Fig. 16.9 Geo-Political Structure of Road Traffic Accidents in Nigeria Analysis Summary, 1990–2002 315 Fig. 16.10 Graph of Road Traffic Accident Analysis in Yoruba States, 1990–2002 316 Fig. 16.11 Geo-Political Structure of Road Traffic Accidents in Nigeria Analysis Summary, 1990–2002 316 Fig. 19.1 Mud Rhumbus 348 Fig. 19.2 Mud Rhumbus 348 Fig. 19.3 Grain Storage Platform 348 Fig. 19.4 Inside of a Maize Crib 348 Fig. 19.5 Thatched Rhumbus 350 Fig. 19.6 Performances of Traditional Grain Storage Structures 351 Fig. 20.1 Flow Chart of Gari Processing Techniques of Localities in Nigeria 356 Fig. 21.1 Calendar of Agricultural and Social Events 364 Fig. 24.1 Percent of Respondents Who Were Farmers and the Average Number of Days Spent on the Farm Weekly, Efon Alaaye, 1991 413 Fig. 26.1 Socio-Economic Information of the Households 450 Fig. 26.2 Responsibilities of Women and Men 453 Fig. 26.3 Decision-Making with Respect to Residential House in High Density Areas 454 Fig. 26.4 Payment for Services in High Density Residential Areas 454 Fig. 26.5 Decision-Making with Respect to Residential House in Medium Density Areas 455 Fig. 26.6 Payment for Services in Medium Density Residential Areas 455 Fig. 26.7 Decision-Making with Respect to Residential House in Low Density Areas 456 Fig. 26.8 Payment for Services in Low Density Residential Areas 456 Fig. 26.9 Mode of Sharing Payment for Services 456 Fig. 26.10 Variation in Activity/Roles for Men and Women 457 Fig. 26.11 Result of Correlation Analysis between Wife’s Employment/Income and Husband’s Participation in Household Chores 457 LIST OF FIGURES xiii Fig. 26.12 Result of Paired Sample “T” Test Statistics of Women Physical Well-Being and Men Physical Well-Being 458 Fig. 27.1 Main Building at Abadina College 470 Fig. 27.2 Courtyard at International School - University of Ibadan 470 Fig. 27.3 Student Demographics of Abadina and International School 471 Acknowledgments This vo lume is com pri s ed of p a pers that were ori gi n a lly pre s en ted at the i n tern a ti onal con feren ce Pers pe ctives on Yo ru ba Hi s to ry and Cu l tu re, wh i ch was h eld at the Un ivers i ty of Texas at Au s tin from Ma rch 26 to Ma rch 28, 2 0 0 4 . E n t husiasm for the con feren ce bro u ght toget h er sch o l a rs of Yoruba stu d i e s f rom all over the worl d . Du ring the three - d ay peri od , p a n elists and parti c i- pants discussed important issues within the field of Yoruba studies. The goal of the con feren ce inclu ded revi ewing the current state of the litera tu re and methodology as well as identifying new areas worthy of study. Within the rich discussions during the conference on Yoruba culture, sev- eral themes stood out . S ch o l a rs passion a tely discussed the el a s tic natu re of Yoruba culture by praising some aspects and criticizing others. Of particular interest was the role of women, the use of customary law, and the role of the Yoruba in national politics. The conclusions reached called for the preserva- ti on of a s p ects su ch as language , with a particular em phasis on Yoru b a proverbs, and the change of others such as the treatment of women. Partici- pants con clu ded that edu c a ti on within the family as well as the cl a s s room was the best place to instill traditional and modern Yoruba values.