People Of Southwestern Nigeria Research Articles

Indigenous Children After Parents’ Divorce: Reflections on Matrimonial Causes and Laws of Yoruba People In South Western Nigeria

Indigenous Children After Parents’ Divorce: Reflections on Matrimonial Causes and Laws of Yoruba People In South Western Nigeria

Understanding good governance: voices of rural people in South-Western Nigeria

Scholars and policymakers widely acknowledge the critical role of good governance in rural development and poverty reduction. Unfortunately, decades of good governance reforms have not reduced poverty in Nigeria. But what is good governance? The problem is that the working definition and popularized principles of good governance do not actually emanate from the poor. Moreover, there is a lack of contextualization of the concept of good governance within the Nigerian context. Rather, donors’ institutional understanding is universalized through the imposition of a good governance agenda. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the concept of good governance through the lens of rural communities in south-west Nigeria. Understanding good governance from the viewpoint of local citizens, who are the recipients of governance reforms, is vital for effective targeted reform. The study is based on the premise that communities possess a deep understanding of their own social circumstances and possess the capacity to express their unique insights. Employing Participatory Action Research (PAR) and qualitative methods like semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, the research engaged a purposively selected sample from three rural communities in south-west Nigeria. The findings revealed that, for these communities, good governance primarily involves the government's ability to meet basic needs and provide welfare-enhancing infrastructure. Conversely, bad governance is characterized by declining welfare, economic hardship, and inadequate infrastructure. Interestingly, participants did not prioritize reforms like regular elections or anti-corruption measures as core attributes of good governance, although they did not oppose these aspects. This study underscores the need to incorporate the perspectives of local citizens in defining good governance, allowing for homegrown solutions that might offer quicker and cost-effective strategies for development.

A Hermeneutic Analysis of Selected Yorùbá Pentecostal Songs

The Christianity that reached Africa, especially the sub-Saharan region, had undergone several stages of inculturation and re-organization. The changing social, political, and cultural situation of the people had a tremendous impact on the Christian religion. As Christianity moved through the intellectual and political worlds, especially among the Yorùbá people of southwestern Nigeria, it acquired new categories of thought. Yorùbá philosophical language began to be applied in expressing some of the mysteries of the Christian faith. This was particularly evident in the articulation of the theological language expressed through various Christian songs. Different types of songs collected during the worship among the selected African Indigenous Churches and those produced by some artists were analyzed through the lens of textual exegesis. This paper considered the impact of the emerging trend of diffusion of African philosophy, worldviews, and Christian theology in the selected Christian songs. This in turn revealed the dynamism or the emerging trends in African Christianity that authenticate the pluricultural nature of contemporary world Christianity. The work demonstrated that Christianity is an essential part of the identity of the Yorùbá people, which is best demonstrated in the folkloric expressions, especially songs.

Language, Religion and Culture as Tools for Peaceful Co-Existence: A Case Study of South-Western Nigeria

Nigeria and the world at large has experienced series of conflicts which have led to killing of innocent citizens and wanton destruction of valuable properties. Despite all efforts made at proffering solutions to conflicts and violence, Nigeria is yet to achieve the intended resolution. This paper focuses on investigating the use of language, religion and culture in generating a peaceful co-existence among the people of south-western Nigeria. In this research article, it was uncovered that the intended peak of conflict resolution in Nigeria is yet unattained. The research article was based on social exclusion theory and adopted a survey research design. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a total of 180 respondents. Data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics. It is expected that the research article will help Nigerians to resolve their internal conflict through the appropriate use of language, culture and religion.

Gender relations in Indigenous Yorùbá culture: questioning current feminist actions and advocacies

Gender hierarchy and inequality are attributes of Western colonialism enforced in several colonised societies. Similarly, feminism (Western), as the antithesis of European sexism, has permeated colonised societies and has been assimilated without proper reflection. This is concretely evident among the Yorùbá people of south-western Nigeria. Before European colonisation, Yorùbá culture was gender-neutral and gender-silent; women were seen as complementary and not subordinate to men. Hence, according to Oyěwùmí’s work on The Invention of Women, caution and reflections must be raised on the continual adoption of mainstream Western feminist philosophy in Yorùbá culture. In essence, the colonial imposition of the Western gender binary in Yorùbá society and women’s anti-colonial and feminist activities are discussed. Furthermore, the paper challenges some feminist approaches and ideologies in Nigeria, while advocating for a communal, transformative, and Pan-African feminism in Yorùbá and African societies. The decolonisation of Africa and the Yorùbá education system are recommended, alongside a proper history of Indigenous Yoruba people and knowledges. Contemporary feminist campaigns (including digital feminisms) and movements must also develop a ‘shared text of blackness’. The duo should align and improve the worth of women based on the indispensability and esteemed status offered to women in ‘pre-colonial’ Yorùbá society.

Fast food consumption habits among young people in south western Nigeria

Objective: The study assessed the profile and factors associated with fast food consumption among young people in tertiary educational institutions in Ibadan, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among 300 eligible undergraduates in four campuses in Ibadan, Nigeria. Socio-demographic characteristics and information on fast food consumption and other relevant data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Statistically significant p-value was set at <0.05. SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis.Results: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) age was 21.6 ± 3.7 years and females constituted 66% of the participants. Nine out of ten participants had never married, majority were fulltime students and holiday jobs were noted in less than a third. About three out of five participants consumed fast food, which was usually flour-based. The commonest pattern of fast food consumption was lunch, with the commonest frequencies of once a day and thrice a week. The strongest reasons for consumption include being considered nutritious, being readily available, claiming it provides value for money, and being accessible.Conclusion: Fast food consumption was high in this study and this potentially has serious implications on the cardiovascular health of the participants. There is need for concerted efforts by the relevant stakeholders in stemming this tide by encouraging health education for healthy eating among young persons.

Heavy metals research in Nigeria: a review of studies and prioritization of research needs.

Nigeria is experiencing continuous economic and industrial transformations, typical of many developing nations. In addition to its well-established oil industry, which is infamous for exuding various kinds of pollutants, there are increased mining operations, indiscriminate disposal and burning of wastes, illegal oil refinery and terroristic insurgency, all poised to increase the levels of heavy metal contaminants in the Nigerian environment. A recent revelation indicates that about 2 million people in South-western Nigeria alone could potentially be poisoned by lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg), emanating from illegal mining operations. This further underscores the importance of investigations of toxic trace metal levels in the country. The current review of 148 research articles was conducted to provide an understanding of the scope of heavy metals research in Nigeria and to prioritize needed research. The review recognized that the scope of heavy metals studies has been wide, covering matrices such as cosmetics, human blood, hair, medicines, foods, beverages, water, air, soil and crude oil. However, important toxic metals, especially mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb), are largely under-investigated. Also, there is a need for more studies to be conducted in the northern part of the country. Furthermore, studies need to focus on marine environments rather than the freshwater ecosystems alone. Techniques such as the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analyses are herein recommended to bridge the data gap and to overcome limitations in trace metals analyses in the Nigerian total environment.

The Crying has Stopped: Trends in Yoruba Marriage Ceremonies Practice among Ekiti Peoples, Southwest Nigeria

Marriage is a sacred and noble institution among the Yoruba people of South Western Nigeria. A notable practice during their traditional marriage ceremonies culture is the “Ekun Iyawo” (crying of the new bride) and that of her family before the bride is married off to the groom’s family. The “Ekun Iyawo” is meant for bride on the eve of the wedding ceremony. This cry is an emotionally inspired cry which has nothing to do with hypocrisy. With the performance of “Ekun Iyawo”, a bride is escorted by family and friends to the doorstep of her husband’s home, her new home. However, there has been noticeable change in this practice in Yorubaland, recently. Brides no longer cry and the whole concept of “Ekun Iyawo” is gradually fading away. Using extensive fieldwork in Ekiti state, this study identified that lack of family bond and westernization/’civilization’ through education, religion and new way of doing things are the major factorsresponsible for non-crying attitude of today’s brides. While its desirability is important, its continuity seems impossible due to the emergence of new generation of parents and mode of parenting.

A Stylistic Analysis of Ṣeun Ògúnfìdítìmí’s Songs

Ṣeun Ògúnfìdítìmí is a traditional Yorùbá artiste of Oǹdó extraction. She is a promising and prosperous female artiste, who explores the richness of African values in creating her lyrics. Her songs are rendered in Oǹdó dialect. Oǹdó, a dialect spoken by the Oǹdó people of Southwestern Nigeria, is a dialect of the Yorùbá language. There have been multiple studies on traditional African songs. Such studies have engaged traditional African songs mostly from the non-linguistic perspectives. Such studies have investigated the historical and philosophical values of Yorùbá songs. Studies on songs rendered in dialects of Yorùbá language are very scanty. Dearth of studies in this regard has prevented the propagation and documentation of dialects of Yorùbá language. This study examines the discourse stylistic import of the sociocultural values in Seun Ògúnfìdítìmí’s songs with the view to describing how contextual issues are negotiated in her songs. Recorded songs of Ògúnfìdítìmí constitute the data for the study. The audio compact discs of her songs were collected and played repeatedly. The songs were transcribed and translated into the English language. The translation process took the form of one-to[1]one translation in order to avoid distortion of meaning. The artiste resorts to the use of discourse analytical tools in creating her lyrics. The songs reflect political, social, cultural and religious ideals of the Yorùbá traditional African society. The contextual issues expressed in the songs include the importance attached to the child as success indicator, the significance of marriage, love, conspiracy and the place of detractors, corruption and embezzlement, 184 Temidayo Akinrinlola supremacy of God, social degeneration, gender inequality and the cyclical nature of life. Ṣeun Ògúnfìdítìmí is an advocate of social and cultural revival of traditional African values.

Water Symbolism in Yorùbá Folklore and Culture1

Water is not only a physical substance; it is also an intrinsic part of peoples’ identity, cultural perception, religious beliefs and worldviews. Water is a relevant and a significant variable that is also germane to the understanding of Yorùbá peoples’ identity, culture and religion. Hence, this ethnographical and literary study examines the image of water in Yorùbá cosmology using folklore (oral texts) of the people as paradigms. It uses a field investigative method of research to elicit primary data from the people on the uses of water in diverse spheres of life. It supplements oral data with secondary data in the form of books, journal articles and archival materials. The data collected was analysed from the lenses of a hermeneutical-anthropological approach. The study found that water constitutes and creates cultural, social and religious identities among the Yorùbá people of southwestern Nigeria. In addition, it concludes that water represents one of the several ways through which the Yorùbá society can be best understood.

Access and Discontinuity of Care at an Outpatient Mental Health Service for Older People in South Western Nigeria.

We examined frequency and reasons for dropout from follow-up care at an outpatient mental health service for older people in South-Western Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study. Administrative reviews of 201 case records of clinic attendees who received a psychiatric diagnosis that required follow-up consultations were conducted. Records were those of patients seen between January 2015 and December 2017. Chart extraction was followed by Key Informant Interview (KII) to explore the reasons for drop out and partial non-attendance. We identified 37(18.4%) regular clinic attendees, as well as 147(73.1%) and 17(8.5%) dropout and partially attending patients, respectively. Approximately 45.6% of the dropouts occurred after the first consultation. In KII, distance from the hospital, long waiting times and financial constraints were the common reasons for dropout. The findings of this study should inform the development of strategies to improve access to mental health services in Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries.

Accessibility and Acceptability of Digital Healthcare Services among People Living in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract Background: The advent of digital healthcare services has become paramount in the world we live in today. Digital healthcare involves the use of information and communication technologies in addressing the medical problems and health-related challenges faced by people seeking medical treatment. This study assesses the impact of digital healthcare among technologically literate people in Southwestern Nigeria (SWN) and seeks to understand its accessibility and acceptability among them. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study. Our study data was obtained through an online questionnaire survey of 427 individuals (aged ≥15 years) living in SWN. The data were analyzed using the SPSS version 25 software. Results: The study found that roughly half of the respondents (52.0%) have heard about digital healthcare while only 44.0% have accessed it. Over seven-tenth (76.3%) of the respondents considered digital healthcare to be an acceptable form of receiving healthcare while 64.4% were willing to pay for it. Age (X2=7.702, p-value = 0.021), occupation (X2=20.685, p-value = 0.004) and awareness about digital healthcare (X2=55.507, p-value = 0.001) were significantly associated with accessibility of digital healthcare. Conclusion: The findings obtained from this study showed that awareness of digital healthcare was high among people in SWN; however, its accessibility was low. Also, digital healthcare was highly acceptable amongst them and they were willing to pay for such service.

A Study of the Pottery of Madam Sọlá Sódàmọ́lá Abàtì of Ìjàyè, Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria

Africans as at the beginning have arts, cultures, philosophies and beliefs system that guide their conduct and way of life. Art is a pivot in which all other aspects of life rotate and thus, it has been used as visual tool of changes through various media. Their arts have also been used as objects of regulation, control and orderliness in the society for the overall well-being of the people. All these visual elements communicate and unveil the invisible. One of those media is the art of pottery of the Yorùbá people of Southwestern Nigeria. This paper therefore examines the art of traditional Yorùbá pottery of Madam Sọlá Sódàmọ́lá Abàtì with a view to establishing the relationship between her art forms, contents and Yorùbá philosophy. The study also discusses the relevance and patronage of the art in its cultural environment in the contemporary times. The study engages both primary and secondary data. The primary data includes qualitative approach leaning on field investigation where oral interview was conducted with the potter. Direct observation method was also employed, and photographs were taken. Secondary data were derived from published and unpublished articles to complement the primary data. The study employs Art historical approach using descriptive and contextual methods of data analysis. Findings reveal that younger people are no more interested in the profession which is a pointer to extinction in the nearest future, however the continuous practice of the art is possible because of the patronage it enjoys in the contemporary times. The study also discovers that in spite of the treats occasioned by the importation of plastic and metal containers into our local markets, traditional pottery is still on going because of its primary use in the society. The study therefore concludes that the socio-cultural and household relevance of traditional Yorùbá pottery cannot be likened to foreign products. The study thus encourages the continuous practice and preservation of the distinctive tradition for the promotion of Yorùbá artistic and cultural patrimonies. Keywords: Arts, Philosophy, Personage, Traditional Yorùbá Pottery, Socio-cultural Relevance DOI: 10.7176/ADS/84-01 Publication date: August 31 st 2020

Hepato-protective and haematological assessment of Morinda lucida ethanolic leaf extract on Plasmodium berghei parasitized mice

Development of antimalarial drugs from medicinal plants continues to be a very appealing option. Morinda lucida, commonly known as ‘Oruwo’ or ‘Erewo’ by the Yoruba people of South Western Nigeria, is used in the treatment of malaria, fever, amongst other ailments. Therapeutic efficacy of the ethanolic leaf extract was evaluated in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Percentage suppression of parasitaemia for the ethanolic leaf extract was 54.68, 60.84, 84.89 and 96% for doses of 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg, and 400mg/kg body weight of the extract and 5 mg/kg Leonart DS respectively. Effective dose which depends on the inhibition of parasitaemia was also observed in the curative test. The hepatoprotective activity of the ethanolic leaf extract was determined through liver enzyme tests (AST, ALT, and ALP) for 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight of the extract. Morinda lucida ethanolic leaf extract possesses no lethality in mice at 400mg/kg body weight. It is concluded that the ethanolic leaf extract of Morinda lucida is potentially useful as antimalarial drug.

Medicinal plants used in the treatment of infant diseases in south western Nigeria

This study was aimed at documenting medicinal plants used in the treatment of infant diseases in South Western Nigeria. Common infant diseases treated with herbs by people of South Western Nigeria include convulsion, measles, malaria, cough and jaundice among others. The method employed was semi-structured format of interview which involved one-on-one interview using the local language (Yoruba). Forty-five plants belonging to thirty-three families were documented alongside with their medicinal use in the treatment of infant diseases. Information on various recipes was also documented which include their preparation, parts used, administration and dosage. There is still the need for researchers to explore this vital information through scientific validation to the claim of the indigenous people. Also screening, isolation and characterization of active constituents of the plants would give leads in the production of novel drug.Keywords: Infant Diseases, Convulsion, Administration, Dosage, Indigenous people.

Ará Òrun Kìn-ìn Kin-in: Òyó-Yòrùbá Egúngún Masquerade in Communion and Maintenance of Ontological Balance

The belief that there is life after death and that the spirits of the deceased are directly involved in the daily affairs of the living are strong among the Òyó-Yorùbá people of south-western Nigeria. These beliefs are evident in their egúngún culture, a decidedly Yorùbá masking culture in which the spirits of long-dead ancestors are believed to manifest in bodily form as egúngún, in re-visitations to the people they once knew and community they once lived in. The present study explores the connexion processes through which egúngún Mowuru and Jeńjù have engaged in establishing and maintaining contact between the living and the dead in the Òyó community. In this ethnographic study, two egúngún personages (eléégún) who have been directly involved in actual masking of egúngún were interrogated about their first-hand experiences. Fifteen other worshipers and stakeholders of egúngún were also interviewed. It was observed that the art and performances that institute contact by human with the spirits of the egúngún share basic worship principles as found in other religions. Such principles include regular worship, invocations, sacrificing of materials and spilling of blood to the spirit of Jeńjù and Mowuru to ensure communication and provoke ontological balance between the two worlds.

Conducting Social Research with Elderly: Methodological Concerns for Researchers and Older People in Southwestern Nigeria

The growing rate of elderly population in Nigeria will attract various disciplines to conduct diverse studies on the population bearing in mind that elderly category is one of the most vulnerable groups in the society. However, understanding the appropriate methodological context applicable to categories of elderly, in Social research, increases the quality of research outcomes. Consideration for these contexts is the main interest in this paper. The paper provides information on the criteria relative to conducting social research among the elderly in southwestern Nigeria. Understanding particular methods appropriate for carrying out survey should be considered before the onset of instrument design and to implementation stages. The paper concludes that interviewer-administered questionnaire is appropriate, while understanding appropriate salutation relative to study environment would increase researcher-elderly interaction and foster quality findings.

Incidence of pyramidal thyroid lobe in the university college hospital Ibadan.

The pyramidal lobe of the thyroid gland is derived from remnant of the thyroglossal duct. Its presence may be missed clinically; however radiologic and intra-operative findings reveal its presence in up to 50% of cases. The incidence of pyramidal lobe is however not clearly known in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria. Our aim is to determine the incidence and histological variation of pyramidal lobe of the thyroid gland among surgical patients who underwent thyroid surgery in the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Consecutive surgical patients that underwent total thyroidectomy in the Endocrine Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan between April 2013 and April 2017 were recruited irrespective of age, sex and clinical diagnosis. The presence, anatomy and subsequent histological diagnosis of the pyramidal lobe were noted. One hundred sixty thyroid surgeries were done. Pyramidal lobe was found in 70 patients (44.0%). The presence of the pyramidal lobe was most often associated with multinodular goitres 42 (61.8%) and least found in thyroids with malignant tumours 3 (4.4%). The pyramidal lobe originated commonly from the midline (50.0%) and least from the right (10.3%). The length of the pyramidal lobes ranged from 8 to 80 mm (average 50 mm) in males and 5 to 54 mm (average 42 mm) in females. The presence of a pyramidal lobe is not uncommon in people of southwestern Nigeria with its morphologic and histologic profile akin to what obtains in other geographical locations of the world.

The media, the reconstruction of drumming, and the tradition of the dùndún and the bàtá ensemble of the Yorùbá in South Western Nigeria

This paper examines the impact of the technical media in the reconstruction of Yorùbá traditional drum music, for example given by the unification of two important ensemble instruments in Yorùbá society. It also calls to ‘revive’ the indigenous system of drumming beyond its traditional setting, making it an issue of global consumption. The preservation of the instrumental heritage of the Yorùbá people of South Western Nigeria needs to be discussed in its association with technical media. The Prodigal Ones by Mount Zion Films Production (and other drum music performance in films) shows the media enhancement of the performance of the ensemble serving as accompaniment during a traditional festival. The short scene allocated to a traditional festival reveals the significance of drumming and the input of the drum makers, who are generally not educated but are rich in ideas, knowledge and skills. Interviews show that the dùndún and bàtá ensemble today showcase a new image that is colourful. The wood for drum’s construction is now lighter than for the older ones.

Sociocultural Context and Determinants of Treatments for Hemorrhoids Among the Nigerian Police, Oyo State Command

Hemorrhoids or piles, culturally known as <em>Jedijedi</em> among the people of southwestern Nigeria, are an anorectal disease surrounded by misconceptions. The consequences of these misconceptions are enormous. Therefore, the main objective of the present study is to understand the sociocultural explanation of piles among selected personnel of the Nigeria Police Force. We recruited 302 police officers for the exploratory survey through a multistage sampling technique. Five key informants were interviewed at the study area based upon their professions and proximity. Data interpretation was done through chi-square and content analysis. Results indicated a high prevalence (73%) of and misconceptions about hemorrhoids among the respondents. The majority (80%) of the respondents had a poor awareness of the risk factors, making a scientifically unfounded claim that sugar intake was responsible for piles. Their belief negatively influenced the treatments adopted. Furthermore, their choice of therapy was influenced by its affordability (<em>p </em>< .05) and the fear of hemorrhoidectomy (<em>p </em>< .05). The study established various misconceptions about hemorrhoids among herbal vendors and police officers, which influenced treatment choices. The study suggested that one potent tool for combating ignorance about the disease is sensitization, which will equip officers to adopt healthier behaviors and aid herbal vendors to give better treatment to their clients. In addition, experimental platforms should be set for herbal vendors and orthodox medical practitioners to form a synergy in combating the diseases.