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
