The Salient Issues in the Yorùbá Indigenous Health-related Verbal Art

Abstract

This paper addresses some important issues relating to how, in Yorùbá culture, one finds a socio-mythical approach in their health-related belief system. A combination of sociological theory and the mythological approach (e.g. Koiva and Vassiljeva, 1995) are thus contrapuntally explored in this study. This approach also benefits from the psycho-analytical perspectives (e.g. Guerin, et al, 1979:155), since it is sociologically related. The salient issues considered to be very paramount to an average Yorùbá man which we discuss are: childbearing, protection against malevolent spirits, roles of the benevolent spirits, longevity, wealth, culture/tradition, and death. It is found that Yoruba adopt these various inter-related divine-human belief systems to enhance their well-being and prolong their lives.