OLÚWADỌRO` , J.O., OLADOSU, O.O., AJAO, A. F. (2025). Yorùbá Proverbs and their Relevance to our Contemporary Times. Inter. J. Eng. Lit. Cult. 13(1): 8-13

International Journal of English Literature and Culture

IJELC

ISSN:2360-7831

International Journal of English Literature and Culture

Vol. 13(1), pp. 8-13, February 2025

ISSN: 2360-7831

https://doi.org/10.14662/ijelc2024310

Review

Yorùbá Proverbs and their Relevance to our Contemporary Times

1OLÚWADỌRO`, Jacob Olúdáre, 2OLADOSU, Olusayo Opeola and 3AJAO, A. F.

1Department of Linguistics and African Languages University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 2&3Department of General Studies The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Corresponding author’s E-mail: oluyẹmidare07@gmail.com 23408059420865

Accepted 5 December 2024

Abstract

One of the universal attributes of language is the fact that it is dynamic, non-static and non- monolithic. This same attribute applies to proverbs in every language. Previous works have concentrated on the aesthetic values of proverbs without paying attention to its fluidity. This study therefore focuses on the dynamic nature of proverbs in response to the challenges of our contemporary times in order to identify how factors such as advancement in technology, medical sciences and problems such as terrorism, economic recession and pandemics affect them. Data for this study were 20 purposively selected Yorùbá proverbs. The framework used is the semantic/pragmatic theory, especially, the software design of code that reflects the intended structure and its meaning. Our findings revealed that advancement in technology has affected the relevance of such proverbs as: Ọwo´ ̣́ ọmọdé kò tó pẹpẹ, tàgbàlagbà ò wọ kèǹgbè (see 3), ó ń bo`,̣́ óń bo` ̣́ àwo`n làá dẹ e´ ̣́dè é, (8) and Òjò òwúro` ̣́ ló n bí olówó nínú (10). The political dispensation of our present times have equally affected such proverbs as: Ṣe`ḳ́ e`ṛ́ e` ̣́kò ṣeé fo`ṕ̣ á lù, Jagunjagun ò ṣe é fọba mú (1) and ‘Ọba ba lórí ohun gbogbo’ (2). Economic recession has affected such proverbs as: ‘Àjò kìí dùn k’ó ní lé má relé’ (12) and ‘ilé làbo` ̣́ sinmi oko’ (15). Terrorism has affected such proverbs as: ‘ilé là á wò ká tó sọmọ l’órúkọ’ (14); ‘Je´ ̣́ kí n jẹ ní í mú ayò dùn’ (17) and ‘A kì ígbélé ẹni ká fọrùn ro´’ (19). Others like ‘Fìrìgbo`n kò sílek` ̣́ ùn, ẹni tó báá ní ko´ḳ́ o´ṛ́ o´ ̣́ ni yóò ṣí i’, ‘a pe´ ̣́ kó tó jẹun kì í jẹ ìbàje´’ and ‘bí ẹṣin bá dá ni, a máa ń tun gùn ni’ have equally been affected. Many proverbs have lost their relevance and currency as a result of technological and scientific inventions, economic recession and terrorism.

Keywords: Yorùbá proverbs, Technological development, Scientific inventions, Terrorism and economic recession

Cite This Article As: OLÚWADỌRO` , J.O., OLADOSU, O.O., AJAO, A. F. (2025). Yorùbá Proverbs and their Relevance to our Contemporary Times. Inter. J. Eng. Lit. Cult. 13(1): 8-13