AN APPRAISAL OF JUSTICE IN YORUBA WORLDVIEW
Abstract
This study critically examines the concept of justice (Ìdájọ́) in the Yoruba worldview as a holistic philosophical system integrating morality, spirituality, and communal responsibility. Unlike Western adversarial legal systems that emphasize punishment and procedural formalism, Yoruba justice prioritizes reconciliation, restoration of harmony, and alignment with divine order. Drawing from oral traditions, mythology, proverbs, and institutional structures such as the Òba-in-Council and Ògbóni fraternity, the research explores how justice operates within Yoruba metaphysics and socio-political life.
Using qualitative and analytical methods, the study evaluates the historical transformation of Yoruba justice from precolonial practice through colonial disruption to postcolonial legal pluralism in Nigeria. It argues that despite marginalization, Yoruba justice remains philosophically robust and practically relevant. The findings reveal that concepts such as Ododo (truth), Iwa (character), Esan (retributive consequence), and Gbigbala (restoration) offer valuable contributions to contemporary discussions on restorative justice, peacebuilding, and hybrid legal systems.
The study concludes that Yoruba justice is not obsolete but dynamic, capable of enriching modern jurisprudence through culturally grounded and morally centered legal frameworks.
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