PROVERBS, VALUES AND THE DEVELOPMENT QUESTION IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICA: A CASE STUDY OF YORUBA PROVERBS
Keywords:
proverbs, development, culture, language, contemporary Africa, savremena AfrikaAbstract
If culture is a veritable instrument of development, if language is a carrier of culture and if the relationship between language and culture is like that between two sides of the same coin, then the role of proverb as a metaphorical use of language cannot be overemphasized in any development discourse. The paper examines this invaluable nexus between language and development, with particular emphasis on how the use of proverb and its lessons could help revive moral/cultural values, and thus be used as a veritable instrument of development. This is done by taking as a foil a content analysis of some of Yoruba proverbs, particularly the proverbs whose subject matter is centered on development-related themes such as care for others and cooperation, leadership qualities, advice, reproach and punishment, conflict resolution and warning.
References
Adebayo, Jeje. 1979. Yoruba fun Ile-Eko Giga. Ibadan: Heinemann Books.
Adeyemi, Adegoju. 2008. Empowering African Languages: Rethinking the Strategies. The Journal of Pan African Studies. Vol. 3 No. 3.
Ali Mazrui and Alamin M. Mazrui. 1998. The Power of Babel: Language and Governance in the African Experience. Oxford and Chicago: James Currey and University of Chicago Press.
Ayer, A. J. 1969. Language, Truth and Logic. London: Heinemann.
Ayo, Ogunsiji. 2001. Utilitarian Dimension of Language in Nigeria, In: Herbert Igboanusi (ed.) Language Attitude and Language Conflict in West Africa. Enicrownfit Publishers.
Egblewogbe, Eustace Yawo. 1980. The Structure and Functions of Proverbs in African Societies. Social Education 44(6): 516-518.
Finnegan, R. 1997. Oral Poetry: its Nature, Significance and Social Context. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Gbenga, Fasiku. 2006. Yoruba Proverbs, Names and National Consciousness. Journal of Pan African Studies 1(4): 50-63.
Mannikas Forester, Syswerd. 1990. Women Devotional Bible. Michigan, London.
Meider, Wolfang and Alan Dundes (eds). 1981. The Wisdom of Many: Essays on the Proverb. New York. Garland Publishing Inc.
Meider, Wolfang. 1985. Popular View of the Proverb: a Case Study of Texts and Content. New York: Lang.
Meider, Wolfang. 1989. American Proverb. As study of Texts and Context. New York. Peter Lang
Nguigi wa Thiong'o. 1986. Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature. Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers.
Nicolaisen, WFH. 1994. The Proverbial Scot. Proverbium ii: 197-206
Obasanjo, O. 1993. Keynote Address at conference of The Leadership Forum, Nairobi, Kenya: March 10-12.
Ogunmodede, F. 2001. On the Inexhaustibility of Self Reliancism, An Inaugural Lecture at the University of Lagos.
Okwelume. O. Charles. 2004. Drumbeat of Black Africa: a Collection of African Proverbs. Ibadan: Spectrum Books.
Oladeji, Niyi. 1998. Proverbs as Language Sign-Posts in Yoruba Pragmatic Ethics. Second Order: An African Journal of Philosophy 1(2): 45-52.
Oladipo, O. T. 1992. The Idea of African Philosophy. Ibadan: Hope Publications.
Oladipo, O. 2009. Philosophy and Social Reconstruction in Africa. Ibadan: Hope Publications.
Olubunmi A. Idowu. 2010. An Ethno-methodology of Selected Yoruba Proverbs. International Journal of Arts and Science. 3(10): 43-231.
Osakwe, Stevenson Owoera. 2013. Context of Usage and Aesthetics of Selected Proverbs form Southern Nigeria. Journal of Language, Technology and Entrepreneurship in Africa. 4(1): 16-30.
Sapir, Edward. 1963. An Introduction to the Study of Speech. London. Repeat Hart. Dans.
Soyinka, Wole. 1998. Development and Culture: Twice Bitten, the Fate of Africa’s Cultural Producers. Discussion of the African Leadership Forum. African Leadership Forum. Ota, Nigeria.
Surn, O. 2010. African Aesthetics and Performing Arts. The Performer: Ilorin Journal of Performing Art 8: 168-178.
Taylor, Acher. 2003. The Proverb, Proverbs and their Lessons; In Wolfang Meider (ed.) Supplement Series of Proverbium 13. Vermont: University of Vermont.
Wallnock, J. 1969. Language and Linguistics. London: Heinemann.
Walter, Rodney. 1981. How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Washington: Howard University Press.
Wiredu, Kwazi. 1995. Conceptual Decolonization in African Philosophy: 4 Essays by Kwazi Wiredu. Selected and Introduced by Olusegun Oladipo: Ibadan: Hope Publications.
Yisa Kehinde, Yusuf. 1997. Yoruba Proverbial Insight into Female Sexuality and Genital Mutilation. In ELA: Journal of African Studies, Critical Sphere 1&2: 118-127.
ERIH PLUS - European Reference Index for the Humanities
CEEOL - Central and Eastern European Online Library
The DOI Foundation