A Comparative Study of Yoruba Traditional Religion and Morality Differentia

Abstract

Yoruba cultural notions such as ẹ̀sìn nìwà ìwà lẹ̀sìn ‘religion is morality, morality is religion’ often equate Yoruba traditional religion with morality, which may not necessarily be a truism. This paper reviews the reasons underlying such thinking using philosophical theology to provide concise clarifications on the interface between cultural and religious beliefs. Data for the study is sourced from Daramọla and Jẹjẹ (1975), Aderibigbe and Basua (1999), Adéoyè (1985), and other relevant textual materials. The paper does not argue that religion is superior to morality or vice versa. Rather, it argues that both concepts are not necessarily the same. It establishes that the two concepts can be independent of each other and can be used to proffer solutions to the challenges of multi-ethnic societies.