How the Yoruba People Can Inspire Others

This is my final piece in the series titled "What Makes Yoruba Tick." I want to explore how the Yoruba can be a blessing to the world and to other ethnic groups in Nigeria.

The Yoruba people teach important lessons about character, religious harmony, and community responsibility. These lessons are vital for Nigeria’s diverse ethnic mix. The Omoluabi philosophy is at the center of these teachings. It values moral integrity over money and sees personal character as the base of a stable society.

The main idea from the Yoruba is the Omoluabi concept, which describes an ideal person with a strong moral character. Unlike today’s focus on financial success, Yoruba values rank money as the last of six important achievements. These include integrity, hard work, and honor.

Here are the six core Yoruba values in order of importance:

1. Làákà’yè (Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding): This involves applying intellect and wisdom to daily life.
2. Ìwà Omolúàbí (Integrity and Good Character): This is about keeping one’s word and maintaining a high moral standard.
3. Akínkanjú (Valour/Bravery): This value is about courage, which is essential for leaders and protecting the community.
4. Anísélápá (Dignity of Labour): This value focuses on having a legitimate profession that provides for oneself without deceit.
5. Ìyì (Honor/Good Name): This value highlights the importance of reputation and public esteem.
6. Owó tàbí orò (Money/Wealth): Wealth is the last on the list.

In Yoruba culture, putting wealth above the first five values means you lack honor and respect in society. A popular saying goes, "If you aim for money and encounter honor along the way, you can skip the journey because honor will eventually bring you more wealth than money can."

We need to examine what the Yoruba mean by Omoluabi virtues, as they are the backbone of Yoruba moral codes. Although Omoluabi is second on the list after knowledge, it represents the entire set of values.

Omoluabi embodies the essence of virtues for the Yoruba. When people refer to Omoluabi, they often mean all six values combined. Still, Omoluabi is a unique virtue that deserves more attention.

• Integrity (Iwapele): A key trait of an Omoluabi is keeping one’s word, where character is seen as true beauty.
• “Iwa l’ewa” (Character is beauty): Omoluabi describes someone with honor, integrity, humility, and hard work. It shows that good character is worth more than money or looks.
• Action-oriented Integrity (Ìṣe-òtítọ́): This combines character with correct action. A true Omoluabi acts for the community’s benefit over personal gain.
• Dignity in Labor (Ise): The Yoruba stress having a visible means of livelihood that is socially accepted, avoiding wealth gained through deceit.
• Truth and Honesty (Otito): Trustworthiness is a fundamental value that impacts all areas of life, from friendships to governance.

The Yoruba provide a model for religious tolerance. In many Yoruba homes, Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists live together and celebrate each other's festivals without issues.

Kinship Over Creed: The idea of Ebi (family solidarity) helps reduce religious conflicts, making blood ties more important than different beliefs.

• Unifying Platforms: Events like Ojude-Oba in Ijebu and the Osun-Osogbo Festival bring together all faiths, strengthening community bonds.
• Restorative Justice: Traditional methods focus on repairing social bonds and reconciliation, rather than just punishing wrongdoers.
• Dialogue-based Governance: Yoruba society uses Àgbéjọ́ró, a method of resolving community issues through discussion led by elders and chiefs.
• Inclusive Decision Making: This approach ensures everyone participates in community activities, promoting unity and reducing conflict.
• Unity Over Division: The saying “Àgbájọ ọwọ́ lafíí sọ̀yà” (Collective effort spurs progress) shows that unity is a key strength for development.
• Focus on Merit over Tribalism: Yoruba values emphasize visible means of livelihood and character over wealth or ethnicity.
• Respecting Diversity: The Yoruba philosophy encourages peaceful coexistence with diverse neighbors.

The Yoruba believe that individual well-being is tied to community well-being.

• Communal Parenting: The saying “oju merin nii bi omo, igba oji nii wo” (it takes two to give birth, but many to raise a child) reflects the collective responsibility in raising children.
• Responsibility to Family Name: Children learn that their actions reflect on their families, promoting social accountability.
• Radical Hospitality: Yoruba culture includes preparing extra food for unexpected guests, who are welcomed even if the host is not home.
• “Esusu” (Cooperative Savings): The Esusu or Àjọ tradition involves savings groups that support collective economic growth.
• Respect for Seniority: Respect for elders is crucial for social order and ensures that the wisdom of elders guides future generations.

The Yoruba also have a strong respect for nature, seeing humans as caretakers of the environment.

• Sacred Conservation: Practices like protecting sacred groves, such as the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, show early sustainable resource management.
• Sustainable Living: The traditional belief encourages living in harmony with nature, recognizing that our actions impact the ecosystem.

• Language and Proverbs: Yoruba is a rich language full of proverbs and oral literature that teach morals and history.
• “Yoruba Ronú” (Yoruba Think): This philosophy promotes self-reflection and encourages people to value their cultural identity.
• Resilience through Arts: Traditional attire, food, and festivals help maintain a strong sense of identity, even for those living abroad.

By teaching Iwa Omoluabi in schools, as suggested by leaders like Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, these values can help tackle modern issues like corruption and division in Nigeria.

This project has involved extensive research and reflection. I have seen some comments suggesting this promotes tribalism or Yoruba superiority. That is far from my intention. Yoruba culture actually opposes any form of superiority.

Let me share what inspired this journey. A few months ago, my daughter Zoe sent me a heartfelt message thanking me and her mother for our upbringing. She ended with a concern about our family's history. She wanted to know who we are as Adelaja, where we come from, and why we are different from others.

I didn't expect such deep questions from my kids, especially since they grew up in a European setting. Zoe was one of the few Africans in her university. Her question made me realize that children in the diaspora feel an identity gap that needs urgent attention.

As simple as her question was, it reminded me of the identity issues black children face abroad. The first generation of Africans often know their roots, but the second generation can feel lost between their parents' identity and their own experiences.

The statistics are shocking.

Black people are about 12 to 13 percent of the prison population in England and Wales, even though they make up only 4 percent of the total population. This shows a significant overrepresentation, as black individuals are over three times more likely to be imprisoned than white individuals.

In the US, Black Americans are around 13 percent of the population but account for 37 to 40 percent of those incarcerated. They are imprisoned at nearly five times the rate of white Americans, with one in 81 black adults in state prison.

Zoe's question opened my eyes to the fact that everyone faces identity challenges. We often say we know who we are in Christ, but our kids must deal with growing up in societies where they look different.

A year earlier, my son had similar questions but approached it differently. He started building our family tree and needed my input. I answered him and moved on with life.

It wasn't until Zoe’s question that I connected the dots. This series and the upcoming book aim to help every Yoruba person understand their true identity as “Omo Kaaro Oojire.” I hope it benefits Yoruba people everywhere, at home and abroad. The judgment of whether this effort was worthwhile is now up to the Yoruba and others.

Before I end, I want to honor Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who has greatly influenced modern Yoruba culture. I conclude this series with one of his significant gifts to the Yoruba nation: the Yoruba National Anthem. He wrote it not just as a symbol but as a vision for the Yoruba people. In it, we see his dreams and aspirations for the Yoruba nation. I hope our generation and future ones will rise to make the Yoruba and the entire black race great.