Ole Jija : rethinking theft in the Yoruba ethical system
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Date
2013-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
The paper rethinks the moral controversies surrounding theft within the Yoruba ethical paradigms. It argues that the
concept of theft has a broader theoretical perspective amongst the Yoruba people of south-west Nigeria than its narrow
conception of taking without the consent of the owner to do so, prevalent especially in the Western legal frameworks.
Since it is generally considered a shameful act, the paper posits that theft is morally forbidden in the Yoruba ethical
system, even with a full recognition of the possibility of its being supernaturally imposed on the erring agent either by his/
her primordial choice of a faulty ori or by other inimical spiritual means, such as spells or curses. Hence, while it
acknowledges the role of propitiative sacrifice as a mollifying antidote for a curse-caused act of theft, the paper dispels
theft due to a bad ori, and instead prescribes modification of character through social self-rebirth, something akin to the
Christian concept of being born again. In conclusion, the paper holds that a morally good person should not indulge in
dishonesty in any form, should be hard-working and be ready at all times to extend a hand of alms to others who do not
have, as these are the foundations upon which the Yoruba ethical system cum social code of conduct are made manifest.
Description
Peer reviewed article published under Inkanyiso, Volume 5, Issue 1, Jan 2013, p. 31 - 40
Keywords
ethical system., Theft, Yoruba, Ole Jija
Citation
Balogun, B.J. and Oladipupo, S.L., 2013. Ole Jija: Rethinking theft in the Yoruba ethical system. Inkanyiso: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 5(1), pp.31-40.