RELIGIOUS PLURALISM AND THE INTERACTION OF THE YORÙBà LEGAL SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The great influence that religion has on law has been a source of argument for many schools of thought. The truth is that nomatter how hard one tries to separate law from morality, there is still a moral content within the law. What determines themorals of a society or community is dependent on the society’s religions, customs, traditions and beliefs. Hence, at the core ofits being the legal system of a society is based on the moral value system of the society in which it exists. This article thereforeattempts to bring these concepts together by examining the Yorùbá religion, its customs and traditions and juxtaposing themalongside the features of the contemporary legal system in Nigeria. The imperial influence on the Nigerian culture and lawshas affected the very core of this nation, mixing with it and birthing a hybridized counterfeit of both cultures. It would seemthat the presence of the English law in Nigeria creates a conflict as to which law should apply to a citizen of Nigerian. Acrucial question to be asked is why laws of a foreign land are accepted without question, but the laws of the land are forgottenand rejected.