JUSTICE IN YORUBA CULTURE

Abstract

The issue of justice in Yoruba culture is as old as Yoruba race herself. This paper recognized the fact that without justice, no culture will survive because it will be dominated by those powerful ones who will forcefully deal with the less privileged. Issue of justice as very important in African culture was established. Understanding of Yoruba culture was explained to drive home the fact that they have a system that is just in itself where kings, chiefs and baales- family heads are in charge of settling disputes to bring about justice and harmony on regular basis. However, in case there are stubborn ones who want to prove difficult or in situation of doubt, Yoruba culture down the history has been exercising justice through their laid down laws or traditions and taboos that they teach from generation to generation without questioning. Nevertheless, covenant/ oath taking and intervention of the gods are used to bring about justice when the laws and taboos have failed them.