Peaceful Co-existence in a Multi-ethnic Society: An Appraisal of Two Yoruba Prose Narratives

The Nigerian nation is a plural society. Before they were grouped as a nation-state, the various ethnic groups had their distinct traditional, cultural, and social institutions. This essay starts from the premise that peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups making up the Nigerian nati...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Adefunke K. Adebayo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: LibraryPress@UF 2025-04-01
Series:Yoruba Studies Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.flvc.org/ysr/article/view/139156
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850155700259389440
author Adefunke K. Adebayo
author_facet Adefunke K. Adebayo
author_sort Adefunke K. Adebayo
collection DOAJ
description The Nigerian nation is a plural society. Before they were grouped as a nation-state, the various ethnic groups had their distinct traditional, cultural, and social institutions. This essay starts from the premise that peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups making up the Nigerian nation-state is non-negotiable. In other words, there is a compelling need for the Nigerian nation-state to remain united despite the diversities of the cultures, traditions, languages, and religious affiliations of her constituents. Realizing the enormous role that literary works can play in catalyzing national integration and unity, which are essential components of peaceful co-existence, the essay examines two Yorùbá prose narratives viz: (i) Ọkùnrin and (ii) Kò sí Látẹ, both authored by Folúkẹ́ Adékẹ́yè. This is done to identify the extent to which literary texts particularly prose narratives can serve as tools for achieving peaceful co-existence in a multi-ethnic society like Nigeria. The examination of the selected texts is carried out with insight drawn from Max Weber (1864-1920) nation-state model of the theory of sociology. The model emphasizes that the state reaches into the lives of all members of society, and has a great capacity to influence the individual, the family, and other social groups. It asserts further that the thinking that began with nation-states was continued in the idea of social systems. The essay concludes that literary works inclusive of the two selected texts, are potent weapons for birthing peaceful co-existence in a multi-ethnic society like Nigeria.
format Article
id doaj-art-d0caee2cdb82489b8d6b7e63f8f725e6
institution OA Journals
issn 2473-4713
2578-692X
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher LibraryPress@UF
record_format Article
series Yoruba Studies Review
spelling doaj-art-d0caee2cdb82489b8d6b7e63f8f725e62025-08-20T02:24:49ZengLibraryPress@UFYoruba Studies Review2473-47132578-692X2025-04-0110110.32473/ysr.10.1.139156Peaceful Co-existence in a Multi-ethnic Society: An Appraisal of Two Yoruba Prose Narratives Adefunke K. Adebayo0University of Ilorin The Nigerian nation is a plural society. Before they were grouped as a nation-state, the various ethnic groups had their distinct traditional, cultural, and social institutions. This essay starts from the premise that peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups making up the Nigerian nation-state is non-negotiable. In other words, there is a compelling need for the Nigerian nation-state to remain united despite the diversities of the cultures, traditions, languages, and religious affiliations of her constituents. Realizing the enormous role that literary works can play in catalyzing national integration and unity, which are essential components of peaceful co-existence, the essay examines two Yorùbá prose narratives viz: (i) Ọkùnrin and (ii) Kò sí Látẹ, both authored by Folúkẹ́ Adékẹ́yè. This is done to identify the extent to which literary texts particularly prose narratives can serve as tools for achieving peaceful co-existence in a multi-ethnic society like Nigeria. The examination of the selected texts is carried out with insight drawn from Max Weber (1864-1920) nation-state model of the theory of sociology. The model emphasizes that the state reaches into the lives of all members of society, and has a great capacity to influence the individual, the family, and other social groups. It asserts further that the thinking that began with nation-states was continued in the idea of social systems. The essay concludes that literary works inclusive of the two selected texts, are potent weapons for birthing peaceful co-existence in a multi-ethnic society like Nigeria. https://journals.flvc.org/ysr/article/view/139156ethnicitypluralismsocial institutionnationhoodnational integration
spellingShingle Adefunke K. Adebayo
Peaceful Co-existence in a Multi-ethnic Society: An Appraisal of Two Yoruba Prose Narratives
Yoruba Studies Review
ethnicity
pluralism
social institution
nationhood
national integration
title Peaceful Co-existence in a Multi-ethnic Society: An Appraisal of Two Yoruba Prose Narratives
title_full Peaceful Co-existence in a Multi-ethnic Society: An Appraisal of Two Yoruba Prose Narratives
title_fullStr Peaceful Co-existence in a Multi-ethnic Society: An Appraisal of Two Yoruba Prose Narratives
title_full_unstemmed Peaceful Co-existence in a Multi-ethnic Society: An Appraisal of Two Yoruba Prose Narratives
title_short Peaceful Co-existence in a Multi-ethnic Society: An Appraisal of Two Yoruba Prose Narratives
title_sort peaceful co existence in a multi ethnic society an appraisal of two yoruba prose narratives
topic ethnicity
pluralism
social institution
nationhood
national integration
url https://journals.flvc.org/ysr/article/view/139156
work_keys_str_mv AT adefunkekadebayo peacefulcoexistenceinamultiethnicsocietyanappraisaloftwoyorubaprosenarratives