Dr. Akinmayowa is a researcher in the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies, University of Lagos. His research area is African Religion, Culture and Traditional Medicine. He has a Ph.D. in African Religion and Belief System
This study examined the developing attitude of Nigerians towards victims with health challenges u... more This study examined the developing attitude of Nigerians towards victims with health challenges using a Yoruba ethical principles, which is Hu ìwà sí i bí ènìyàn eléran ara (act towards him or her as a human being with flesh and feeling). Mobile phones with cameras have increased online reporting in Nigeria, however it also challenges the disposition to being ènìyàn (being human) towards others during emergency situations. Rather than assisting emergency victims, many firstresponders video or take pictures of victims. This change in attitude raises a fundamental question of humanness of first responders to emergency situations in Nigeria. This principle guides human relationships among the Yoruba, however, when applied to ethical issues, it creates a framework, which makes human feelings count. The study showed that if the principle is adapted during emergencies, it will give strength to the humane relationships in Nigeria. The study focused on selected cases to evaluate the attitude of first responders (FR) in emergency situations; it also showed how antithetical the attitude of FR is to the general sense of African good neighbourliness, that is being human. There is a departure from the attitude of common support of the other as ènìyàn.
Over the years, Nigerian society has the belief that given the potency of kánàkò (collision of ti... more Over the years, Nigerian society has the belief that given the potency of kánàkò (collision of time and space) and egbé (teleportation), it can only be applied by men while neglecting the role of women in its application for national safety. The study examines egbé and kánako and implications for community policing and women’s involvement in socio-economic sustainability in South West Nigeria. Three research questions were raised and answered to guide this study. The study adopts the qualitative research approach anchored on ethnographic research design. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 36 participants from six (6) communities in Ógun, Oyó, and Osun states. Recordings, observations, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions were used to gather qualitative data. Findings from the study revealed that egbé and kánàkò could be useful for military and paramilitary agencies if appropriately implemented to ensure community policing and national safety, amongst ...
The possibility of illness is a human reality that we face daily and has created in every culture... more The possibility of illness is a human reality that we face daily and has created in every culture methods of responding to illnesses. This reality moves from the realm of ordinary reality when an illness does not follow the expected course or lasts longer than anticipated. In the Western biomedical paradigm, such a course may be labeled chronic. But for the Yoruba, such a course is not labeled chronic; it is rather labeled as having a supernatural cause. It is at this point that a Yoruba traditional healer turns to Ifa divination. This conceptualization is not unique. Many cultures incorporate the idea that suffering during an illness may be the result of some spiritual imbalance just as the relief from suffering may come from the same spiritual source.
International Journal of Humanities and Arts Computing, Oct 1, 2022
Drawing insight from Toyin Falola’s call for African scholars to Africanize knowledge, this artic... more Drawing insight from Toyin Falola’s call for African scholars to Africanize knowledge, this article argues for reviewing the digital technological tools used for African Studies research to process and present African data properly. To achieve this, the inadequacies of digital humanities (DH) for specific areas of African Studies will be highlighted, especially in the deployment of digital humanities tools. The major challenge is the distortion and constraint experienced in processing and presenting research through DH means of translation and communication. The article argues that such technological limitation has its root in the incompatibility of the epistemological frameworks within which those digital tools were developed. The article discusses Ojú lòrówà (‘discussion is in the eye’), that is, ‘communication takes place when we see physically’ – a theory of communication in African society used as a model to highlight the importance of African context to African scholars in their exploration of African history, technology, culture, philosophy and tradition. The indigenous theory is an appropriate model for developing digital and virtual software for African scholars in human communication. The article concludes by urging scholars in African Studies to ensure that the digital tools employed in African Studies can collect data and process and present data adequately without losing the original meaning or sense.
Scholars and individuals have repeatedly affirmed that many Africans frequently return to African... more Scholars and individuals have repeatedly affirmed that many Africans frequently return to African Traditional Religion (ATR) after conversion to either Christianity or Islam. This frequent return to ATR has been attributed to different reasons that have not been substantiated with data. This paper examined the nature of interaction that Christians and Muslims have with ATR and cultural practices, and highlighted the reasons for the frequent patronage. The findings confirmed that the patronage of cultural practices does not imply conversion to ATR. Data were collected through randomly distributed questionnaires across four state capitals in the Western part of Nigeria. The state capitals were selected for the possibility of having converts from both Christianity and Islam respond to the questions. Findings were analysed qualitatively. The result showed that there is movement back to ATR and cultural practices for three fundamental reasons; first to seek solutions to physical problems...
‘Reincarnation’ is a concept and belief system that has attracted the attention of many thinkers ... more ‘Reincarnation’ is a concept and belief system that has attracted the attention of many thinkers across different intellectual disciplines because it is found in many cultures across the world. The discourses have taken various dimensions and different attempts have been made to explain the place of reincarnation in the cycle of life. Some have identified reincarnation with partial rebirth of some spiritual parts of humans into a body; others have referred to reincarnation as the transmigration and metempsychosis of souls. These different views still have not resolved salient questions about: i) the true nature of reincarnation, ii) how many times the soul can be embodied and iii) the idea of predestination, etc. This paper discusses reincarnation within the belief system of the Yoruba, using Odù Ifá as a reference point for the ideas of the people in order to show the basic principles responsible for the belief, as well as to clearly indicate the nature of the belief and how this b...
Francis Falako, Oyeronke Olademo & Oladele Oladunjoye (Eds)The Church, Society and Nation-Building. Lagos:Concept Publications Limited. 26-46. ISBN: 978-978-53714-9-9., 2015
Whereas to profess a religion essentially precludes having a good character, it is not presumed t... more Whereas to profess a religion essentially precludes having a good character, it is not presumed that one with good character should be an adherent of a religion. These conclusions make it acceptable, without any wonder, to meet an individual with good character who does not profess belief in any religion, but an encounter with a person who does not have good character and professes a religion (Àdìmúlà, Christianity, Islam, etc.) creates a contradiction of separation between religion and good character. This contradiction is possible with the adherent of any religion, anywhere, but this work focuses on present day Christians in Nigeria. There are millions of Christians in Nigeria today but one can barely feel their impact in the daily life experiences, and one wonders why Christianity has not impacted on everyday living in Nigeria. Why do experiences show that there are more people who need to cultivate good character even though they profess to be Christian? This work examines: a) the contradiction that exists in having a Christian without good character; b) the factors that encourage this contradiction; c) how the contradiction can be muted and d) the implications of the contradiction for the practice of Christianity in Nigeria.
Ibadan Dominican Studies: A Dialogue of Faith, Reason and Science. (1)1: 173-190. ISBN:978-978-51041-1-1-7., 2013
The reality of diseases and the limitation of Western health care are two of many reasons that ma... more The reality of diseases and the limitation of Western health care are two of many reasons that make it impossible for Africans to stop patronizing African Traditional Medicine (ATM). This paper examines the challenges that the patronage of ATM by Catholics pose to Catholic pastors who have been entrusted with the care of souls, and what can be done to minimize these challenges. This paper will first discuss the reality of diseases and the method of responding to them, after which it will examine the challenges posed by the nature of the process of diagnosis and treatment that YTM employs in relating to àmódi. These challenges will be examined under the following themes: ‘the broad spectrum of disease aetiology found in YTM’; ‘the variation in the understanding of the teaching on ‘carrying of one’s cross’’; ‘the reality of culturally understood disease aetiologies’; and ‘the inability of Catholics to distinguish between what is compatible and what is not compatible with Catholic teachings in YTM’.
‘Rántí omo eni tí ìwo ńse’ is a common expression that connotes the innate dignity in being Afric... more ‘Rántí omo eni tí ìwo ńse’ is a common expression that connotes the innate dignity in being African; dignity that was not to be stained, dignity that did not count on ‘who’ one is (rich or poor) there was dignity in being an African. This was a common saying for both the rich and the poor, the noble and the common man. One thing bound them all together, the dignity that comes with being an African. The dictum ‘Rántí omo eni tí ìwo ńse’ captured the essence of good living, good behaviour, doing what one ought to be doing. There is dignity in being a Yoruba person, it did not matter who or what one did, the phrase was always relevant. Children would never ask whose children they were. Their father connoted dignity. Thus in this paper, we shall discuss ‘Rántí omo eni tí ìwo ńse’ as a template for teaching as well as the two levels of moral formation among the Yoruba (Africans). This paper recommends the introduction and teaching of the ethical values embedded in ‘Rántí omo eni tí ìwo ńse’ to children in Pre-tertiary level of education.
In Felix Ayoh Ómidire, Jare Olodosu Gbenga Fasiku & Victor Alumona, (eds). Philosophy and Culture: Interrogating the Nexus. Salvador:Editora Segundo Selo. 251-273. ISBN: 978-659905663-5. , 2020
The right of patients to ‘informed consent’ before the commencement of treatment is a fundamental... more The right of patients to ‘informed consent’ before the commencement of treatment is a fundamental requirement in Western healthcare practice. The first sentence of the Nuremberg Code of 1947 states that patients’ ‘informed consent’ ensures that patients understand the pros and cons of chosen treatment, and are willing to go ahead freely with the prescription given by the healthcare giver. This process is different in the African Traditional Healthcare. Patients’ consent is presumed, especially when ailments are not easily diagnosable. Once the patient’s consent is presumed, African Traditional healthcare givers go ahead to prescribe and treat patients, using best-known prescription. This paper examines the basis for ‘presumed consent’ in African Traditional Medicine, and evaluates its advantages as a procedure in healthcare practice. Data was gathered from patients and also from African Traditional healthcare givers regarding ‘presumed consent’. Gathered data were analyzed using descriptive method. It was concluded that presumed consent is a positive part of African Traditional Medicine based on the research findings.
Isaac O. Albert, Olusola O. Isola & Olusola O. Oyewo (Eds.). Communicating Peace & Conflict., 2015
Trialogue is a conversation or discussion in which three people/groups/elements participate. As a... more Trialogue is a conversation or discussion in which three people/groups/elements participate. As a theory of conflict resolution, ‘trialogue’ consists of three essential elements: (i) Peace and Security situation, (ii) Leader-figure and (iii) Community. The relationship among these three elements, suggests the name of the theory. These main elements are expected to have inter-dependent functions on one another, in such a way that the Crisis or Security situation affects the Leader-figure and the Leader-figure affects the Community in ways that determine the appropriate responses to the Crisis-situation. The theory is prescriptive and functions as a model only if the elements engage in the functions that they are meant to perform. The theory is defined by discussing the nature, the three elements that make up the theory, the functionality and applicability of the theory and what can prevent the applicability and functionality of the theory. Finally, the theory (Trialogue) is applied to the Nigerian situation with regard to possible role of religious leaders in the peace and security issues facing Nigerians.
African and Diaspora Discourse: A Journal of the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies, University of Lagos. , 2019
Gbogbonìṣe (Does it all) is an idea that was originally meant and used within the context of prev... more Gbogbonìṣe (Does it all) is an idea that was originally meant and used within the context of preventive medicine among the Yoruba, but it has been distorted to mean one treatment or one curative method for all ailments. It is this new or distorted context that has raised doubts, curiosities and worries among scholars in and outside the sphere of Yoruba Traditional Medicine (YTM). The doubt is in the possibility of one treatment being able to cure every ailment. This article examines i) the origin and the true meaning of gbogbonìṣe as a preventive regimen among Yoruba traditional healthcare practitioners. ii) It also examined how gbogbonìṣe as a concept became distorted and the implications of the distortion for the practice of YTM. The article is an ethnographic study of YTM, with particular focus on the preventive methods as they concern the application and use of gbogbonìṣe. The study engaged Focus Group Discussion and Key Informant Interviews. Data were transcribed and translated into English. The findings show that the understanding and use of gbogbonìṣe in YTM means different forms of preventive method of healthcare. The findings provide evidence of two basic types of gbogbonìṣe. First is the type that generally protects the body from germ or bacterial infection and the second is the type that protects an individual from socio-spiritual ailments. It is within these contexts that gbogbonìṣe is used and understood among Yoruba traditional healthcare practitioners. The implication of the distortion in the meaning of gbogbonìṣe has led to bastardisation and adulteration of the original regimen. In the biomedical context, gbogbonìṣe are supplements that are used to boost and support body metabolism and immune system in order to prevent any and every kind of ailment.
This study examined the developing attitude of Nigerians towards victims with health challenges u... more This study examined the developing attitude of Nigerians towards victims with health challenges using a Yoruba ethical principles, which is Hu ìwà sí i bí ènìyàn eléran ara (act towards him or her as a human being with flesh and feeling). Mobile phones with cameras have increased online reporting in Nigeria, however it also challenges the disposition to being ènìyàn (being human) towards others during emergency situations. Rather than assisting emergency victims, many firstresponders video or take pictures of victims. This change in attitude raises a fundamental question of humanness of first responders to emergency situations in Nigeria. This principle guides human relationships among the Yoruba, however, when applied to ethical issues, it creates a framework, which makes human feelings count. The study showed that if the principle is adapted during emergencies, it will give strength to the humane relationships in Nigeria. The study focused on selected cases to evaluate the attitude of first responders (FR) in emergency situations; it also showed how antithetical the attitude of FR is to the general sense of African good neighbourliness, that is being human. There is a departure from the attitude of common support of the other as ènìyàn.
Over the years, Nigerian society has the belief that given the potency of kánàkò (collision of ti... more Over the years, Nigerian society has the belief that given the potency of kánàkò (collision of time and space) and egbé (teleportation), it can only be applied by men while neglecting the role of women in its application for national safety. The study examines egbé and kánako and implications for community policing and women’s involvement in socio-economic sustainability in South West Nigeria. Three research questions were raised and answered to guide this study. The study adopts the qualitative research approach anchored on ethnographic research design. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 36 participants from six (6) communities in Ógun, Oyó, and Osun states. Recordings, observations, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions were used to gather qualitative data. Findings from the study revealed that egbé and kánàkò could be useful for military and paramilitary agencies if appropriately implemented to ensure community policing and national safety, amongst ...
The possibility of illness is a human reality that we face daily and has created in every culture... more The possibility of illness is a human reality that we face daily and has created in every culture methods of responding to illnesses. This reality moves from the realm of ordinary reality when an illness does not follow the expected course or lasts longer than anticipated. In the Western biomedical paradigm, such a course may be labeled chronic. But for the Yoruba, such a course is not labeled chronic; it is rather labeled as having a supernatural cause. It is at this point that a Yoruba traditional healer turns to Ifa divination. This conceptualization is not unique. Many cultures incorporate the idea that suffering during an illness may be the result of some spiritual imbalance just as the relief from suffering may come from the same spiritual source.
International Journal of Humanities and Arts Computing, Oct 1, 2022
Drawing insight from Toyin Falola’s call for African scholars to Africanize knowledge, this artic... more Drawing insight from Toyin Falola’s call for African scholars to Africanize knowledge, this article argues for reviewing the digital technological tools used for African Studies research to process and present African data properly. To achieve this, the inadequacies of digital humanities (DH) for specific areas of African Studies will be highlighted, especially in the deployment of digital humanities tools. The major challenge is the distortion and constraint experienced in processing and presenting research through DH means of translation and communication. The article argues that such technological limitation has its root in the incompatibility of the epistemological frameworks within which those digital tools were developed. The article discusses Ojú lòrówà (‘discussion is in the eye’), that is, ‘communication takes place when we see physically’ – a theory of communication in African society used as a model to highlight the importance of African context to African scholars in their exploration of African history, technology, culture, philosophy and tradition. The indigenous theory is an appropriate model for developing digital and virtual software for African scholars in human communication. The article concludes by urging scholars in African Studies to ensure that the digital tools employed in African Studies can collect data and process and present data adequately without losing the original meaning or sense.
Scholars and individuals have repeatedly affirmed that many Africans frequently return to African... more Scholars and individuals have repeatedly affirmed that many Africans frequently return to African Traditional Religion (ATR) after conversion to either Christianity or Islam. This frequent return to ATR has been attributed to different reasons that have not been substantiated with data. This paper examined the nature of interaction that Christians and Muslims have with ATR and cultural practices, and highlighted the reasons for the frequent patronage. The findings confirmed that the patronage of cultural practices does not imply conversion to ATR. Data were collected through randomly distributed questionnaires across four state capitals in the Western part of Nigeria. The state capitals were selected for the possibility of having converts from both Christianity and Islam respond to the questions. Findings were analysed qualitatively. The result showed that there is movement back to ATR and cultural practices for three fundamental reasons; first to seek solutions to physical problems...
‘Reincarnation’ is a concept and belief system that has attracted the attention of many thinkers ... more ‘Reincarnation’ is a concept and belief system that has attracted the attention of many thinkers across different intellectual disciplines because it is found in many cultures across the world. The discourses have taken various dimensions and different attempts have been made to explain the place of reincarnation in the cycle of life. Some have identified reincarnation with partial rebirth of some spiritual parts of humans into a body; others have referred to reincarnation as the transmigration and metempsychosis of souls. These different views still have not resolved salient questions about: i) the true nature of reincarnation, ii) how many times the soul can be embodied and iii) the idea of predestination, etc. This paper discusses reincarnation within the belief system of the Yoruba, using Odù Ifá as a reference point for the ideas of the people in order to show the basic principles responsible for the belief, as well as to clearly indicate the nature of the belief and how this b...
Francis Falako, Oyeronke Olademo & Oladele Oladunjoye (Eds)The Church, Society and Nation-Building. Lagos:Concept Publications Limited. 26-46. ISBN: 978-978-53714-9-9., 2015
Whereas to profess a religion essentially precludes having a good character, it is not presumed t... more Whereas to profess a religion essentially precludes having a good character, it is not presumed that one with good character should be an adherent of a religion. These conclusions make it acceptable, without any wonder, to meet an individual with good character who does not profess belief in any religion, but an encounter with a person who does not have good character and professes a religion (Àdìmúlà, Christianity, Islam, etc.) creates a contradiction of separation between religion and good character. This contradiction is possible with the adherent of any religion, anywhere, but this work focuses on present day Christians in Nigeria. There are millions of Christians in Nigeria today but one can barely feel their impact in the daily life experiences, and one wonders why Christianity has not impacted on everyday living in Nigeria. Why do experiences show that there are more people who need to cultivate good character even though they profess to be Christian? This work examines: a) the contradiction that exists in having a Christian without good character; b) the factors that encourage this contradiction; c) how the contradiction can be muted and d) the implications of the contradiction for the practice of Christianity in Nigeria.
Ibadan Dominican Studies: A Dialogue of Faith, Reason and Science. (1)1: 173-190. ISBN:978-978-51041-1-1-7., 2013
The reality of diseases and the limitation of Western health care are two of many reasons that ma... more The reality of diseases and the limitation of Western health care are two of many reasons that make it impossible for Africans to stop patronizing African Traditional Medicine (ATM). This paper examines the challenges that the patronage of ATM by Catholics pose to Catholic pastors who have been entrusted with the care of souls, and what can be done to minimize these challenges. This paper will first discuss the reality of diseases and the method of responding to them, after which it will examine the challenges posed by the nature of the process of diagnosis and treatment that YTM employs in relating to àmódi. These challenges will be examined under the following themes: ‘the broad spectrum of disease aetiology found in YTM’; ‘the variation in the understanding of the teaching on ‘carrying of one’s cross’’; ‘the reality of culturally understood disease aetiologies’; and ‘the inability of Catholics to distinguish between what is compatible and what is not compatible with Catholic teachings in YTM’.
‘Rántí omo eni tí ìwo ńse’ is a common expression that connotes the innate dignity in being Afric... more ‘Rántí omo eni tí ìwo ńse’ is a common expression that connotes the innate dignity in being African; dignity that was not to be stained, dignity that did not count on ‘who’ one is (rich or poor) there was dignity in being an African. This was a common saying for both the rich and the poor, the noble and the common man. One thing bound them all together, the dignity that comes with being an African. The dictum ‘Rántí omo eni tí ìwo ńse’ captured the essence of good living, good behaviour, doing what one ought to be doing. There is dignity in being a Yoruba person, it did not matter who or what one did, the phrase was always relevant. Children would never ask whose children they were. Their father connoted dignity. Thus in this paper, we shall discuss ‘Rántí omo eni tí ìwo ńse’ as a template for teaching as well as the two levels of moral formation among the Yoruba (Africans). This paper recommends the introduction and teaching of the ethical values embedded in ‘Rántí omo eni tí ìwo ńse’ to children in Pre-tertiary level of education.
In Felix Ayoh Ómidire, Jare Olodosu Gbenga Fasiku & Victor Alumona, (eds). Philosophy and Culture: Interrogating the Nexus. Salvador:Editora Segundo Selo. 251-273. ISBN: 978-659905663-5. , 2020
The right of patients to ‘informed consent’ before the commencement of treatment is a fundamental... more The right of patients to ‘informed consent’ before the commencement of treatment is a fundamental requirement in Western healthcare practice. The first sentence of the Nuremberg Code of 1947 states that patients’ ‘informed consent’ ensures that patients understand the pros and cons of chosen treatment, and are willing to go ahead freely with the prescription given by the healthcare giver. This process is different in the African Traditional Healthcare. Patients’ consent is presumed, especially when ailments are not easily diagnosable. Once the patient’s consent is presumed, African Traditional healthcare givers go ahead to prescribe and treat patients, using best-known prescription. This paper examines the basis for ‘presumed consent’ in African Traditional Medicine, and evaluates its advantages as a procedure in healthcare practice. Data was gathered from patients and also from African Traditional healthcare givers regarding ‘presumed consent’. Gathered data were analyzed using descriptive method. It was concluded that presumed consent is a positive part of African Traditional Medicine based on the research findings.
Isaac O. Albert, Olusola O. Isola & Olusola O. Oyewo (Eds.). Communicating Peace & Conflict., 2015
Trialogue is a conversation or discussion in which three people/groups/elements participate. As a... more Trialogue is a conversation or discussion in which three people/groups/elements participate. As a theory of conflict resolution, ‘trialogue’ consists of three essential elements: (i) Peace and Security situation, (ii) Leader-figure and (iii) Community. The relationship among these three elements, suggests the name of the theory. These main elements are expected to have inter-dependent functions on one another, in such a way that the Crisis or Security situation affects the Leader-figure and the Leader-figure affects the Community in ways that determine the appropriate responses to the Crisis-situation. The theory is prescriptive and functions as a model only if the elements engage in the functions that they are meant to perform. The theory is defined by discussing the nature, the three elements that make up the theory, the functionality and applicability of the theory and what can prevent the applicability and functionality of the theory. Finally, the theory (Trialogue) is applied to the Nigerian situation with regard to possible role of religious leaders in the peace and security issues facing Nigerians.
African and Diaspora Discourse: A Journal of the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies, University of Lagos. , 2019
Gbogbonìṣe (Does it all) is an idea that was originally meant and used within the context of prev... more Gbogbonìṣe (Does it all) is an idea that was originally meant and used within the context of preventive medicine among the Yoruba, but it has been distorted to mean one treatment or one curative method for all ailments. It is this new or distorted context that has raised doubts, curiosities and worries among scholars in and outside the sphere of Yoruba Traditional Medicine (YTM). The doubt is in the possibility of one treatment being able to cure every ailment. This article examines i) the origin and the true meaning of gbogbonìṣe as a preventive regimen among Yoruba traditional healthcare practitioners. ii) It also examined how gbogbonìṣe as a concept became distorted and the implications of the distortion for the practice of YTM. The article is an ethnographic study of YTM, with particular focus on the preventive methods as they concern the application and use of gbogbonìṣe. The study engaged Focus Group Discussion and Key Informant Interviews. Data were transcribed and translated into English. The findings show that the understanding and use of gbogbonìṣe in YTM means different forms of preventive method of healthcare. The findings provide evidence of two basic types of gbogbonìṣe. First is the type that generally protects the body from germ or bacterial infection and the second is the type that protects an individual from socio-spiritual ailments. It is within these contexts that gbogbonìṣe is used and understood among Yoruba traditional healthcare practitioners. The implication of the distortion in the meaning of gbogbonìṣe has led to bastardisation and adulteration of the original regimen. In the biomedical context, gbogbonìṣe are supplements that are used to boost and support body metabolism and immune system in order to prevent any and every kind of ailment.
A paper presented at the Fifth Biennial conference of the Association for African Studies in Italy (ASAI). At the Department of Political and Social Sciences of the University of Bologna, Italy., 2018
Witchcraft for the Yoruba in Western Nigeria is a reality and witches are highly respected and re... more Witchcraft for the Yoruba in Western Nigeria is a reality and witches are highly respected and revered. This reality is strange and condemnable in many religions and cultures in and out of Africa, because witches are perceived as entities that should be avoided and rejected. Many Africans have become victims of societal violence for being witches, they have been accused and have either been banished from the society or killed as a result. This phenomenological study will among other things examine: i) the reality of witchcraft among the Yoruba of Western Nigeria; ii) show how being a witch is compatible with the religion of the Yoruba; iii) highlight the role that witchcraft perform in religion; iv) discuss the types of witches and whether their activities will be judged by religion; and v) whether religion has any control over what is done through witchcraft or not. To achieve this, diviners (Babaláwo) will be interviewed to know what Ifá corpus says about the relationship between witches and religion; existing literatures will be reviewed to complement the interviews and a descriptive method will be used to present the findings. The work will reshape views about witchcraft generally. Introduction Once and only once have a met someone who openly identified herself as a witch. This happened when I visited a renown Babaláwo, while we were discussing, an elderly woman came in and joined in the discussion, the people around got up to greet her and as the discussion progressed, she openly declared that she was a witch and has punished those who were either disrespectful or disturbed the peace of the community. Suzannah Lipscomb (2018) in discussing the history of witches between 1482 and 1782, held that " thousands of people across Europe – most of them women – were accused of witchcraft and subsequently executed. And in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, men and women of both high and low status believed in witches' ubiquity in a far more disturbing way. Lord chief justice Anderson noted in 1602 that 'The land is full of witches… they abound in all places' – not as a symbol or figure of fun, but as a deadly threat to life, livelihood and divine order. " (Suzannah Lipscomb, 2018)
A Paper Presented at the 13th UNILAG Annual Research Conference & Fair. University of Lagos., 2018
Health, a fundamental part of human existence calls for the use of every available resource espec... more Health, a fundamental part of human existence calls for the use of every available resource especially in Africa. Among many serious health issues in Africa is High Blood Pressure (HBP). The HBP scourge has occasioned researches that confirmed increase in the number of cases of HBP, possible causes of HBP, and orthodox ways of preventing and managing HBP patients, so as to prevent conditions such as stroke. In the midst of the rise in the number of cases of HBP, African Traditional Medical practitioners make huge claims regarding the reliability of alternative therapies. These claims and the increase in the number of cases of HBP, make it important to verify and examine the role and the efficacy of ATM in fighting HBP scourge. This study examined 200 cases of stroke-patients who were purposively selected from three Alternative healthcare centres in Nigeria. Case study method was adopted to ascertain the line of treatment that each patient used before stroke, and to determine the line of treatment that is more likely to prevent stroke. Analysis of the data collected was done using tables and descriptive methods. Data gathered showed that most of the stroke patients used orthodox therapies before having stroke. This indicated a level of deficiency in orthodox therapy. The research shows that ATM therapies are more reliable in maintaining and preventing stroke when compared to orthodox therapy. This paper recommends more research into the nature and types of ATM HBP therapies in the fight against the HBP scourge.
Happiness (ayò) has been described by different philosopher especially Aristotle. This short refl... more Happiness (ayò) has been described by different philosopher especially Aristotle. This short reflection makes a distinction between what Aristotle thinks of happiness and what the Yoruba think of it.
As part of the deliverables from the project, the researchers organised a symposium with a theme:... more As part of the deliverables from the project, the researchers organised a symposium with a theme: Enriching Curriculum through Engaging African Realities Project: The Nigerian Movies Perspectives. This had the aim of complementing materials for teaching and learning in the fields of culture, music, religion and film production in African tertiary institutions based on lived experiences of practitioners and professionals. There were four objectives: i) To reexamine and reinforce existing curriculum for upcoming actors, content creators and movie producers; ii) To form a balanced opinion that reflects African theology as they emanate from the field; iii) To bridge the gap between theory and practice in the perception and representation of African realities; and iv) To provide practical resources for teachers and learners in fields related to production of African movies, theatre production, and African and Christian theology.
This is an ethnographic report on the interaction between
practitioners of African Traditional Me... more This is an ethnographic report on the interaction between practitioners of African Traditional Medicine (ATM) and their patients. It provides guides for students, researchers and scholars on the role and the place of the cultures and religions in the practice of ATM among the Yoruba. Beyond the general questions of health care, this book focuses on bioethical decision making in the context of ATM. This book, as much as possible, does not compare traditional African perspectives with Christian or Islamic positions on medical practices. The assumption is that it is more intellectually cogent to first understand the views of the traditional Africans and then, future works can draw a comparison between religions and cultures on the subject matter
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Papers by Akinmayowa P . Akin-Otiko
This work examines: a) the contradiction that exists in having a Christian without good character; b) the factors that encourage this contradiction; c) how the contradiction can be muted and d) the implications of the contradiction for the practice of Christianity in Nigeria.
This work examines: a) the contradiction that exists in having a Christian without good character; b) the factors that encourage this contradiction; c) how the contradiction can be muted and d) the implications of the contradiction for the practice of Christianity in Nigeria.
practitioners of African Traditional Medicine (ATM) and their
patients. It provides guides for students, researchers and scholars
on the role and the place of the cultures and religions in the
practice of ATM among the Yoruba. Beyond the general
questions of health care, this book focuses on bioethical decision
making in the context of ATM. This book, as much as possible,
does not compare traditional African perspectives with Christian
or Islamic positions on medical practices. The assumption is that
it is more intellectually cogent to first understand the views of
the traditional Africans and then, future works can draw a
comparison between religions and cultures on the subject matter