YORUBA AFRICAN CULTURAL PHILOSOPHIES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA
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Date
2024
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Izu Journal of Critical Perspectives
Abstract
Abstract
The paper assesses African cultural philosophies for the purpose of reconciling them with the
cardinal foci of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The reconciliation is to ascertain the
feasibility of the implementation of the SDG goals in Africa with specific emphasis on
Southwest Nigeria. The research is anchored on the Progressivist Theory which favors
transformational development in society. Such transformation is anticipated in SDG as
conceived by the United Nations. However, there are several cultural beliefs, aboriginal
conceptions and practices in Southwest Nigeria which could be seen as counter-productive to
the realization of certain SDG goals. For example, such cultural philosophies or traditional
practices include the belief that adura ni i gba, agbara ko (what makes a person rich is not hard
work but prayers). This negates SDG Goals 8 and 10 on economic growth. Another philosophy
is obe ti baale ile kii je , iyale ile kii se (a wife must not prepare a delicacy that her husband
does not eat). This hurts SDG Goal 5 - Gender Equality, and its implementation in Southwest
Nigeria by 2030 as it overrides the will and preferences of the women folks in a process of
guiding patriarchal ego and wellbeing. These impeding cultural philosophies are age-long and
this situation necessitates an inevitable extension of the 2030 target date for the
implementation of SDG goals, globally. This is to allow attitude change among the Yoruba
people of Southwest Nigeria through government campaign.
Keywords: African culture, SDG, Southwest Nigeria, Yoruba proverbs, Yoruba society