RHETORIC IN CONFLICT-RELATED YORUBA PROVERBS: GUIDE TO CONSTRUCTIVE CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN AFRICA

Abstract

Africa has been a continent enmeshed in violent conflicts. This paper explores the possible place of Yoruba proverbs in the resolution of social conflicts. Drawing on proverbs that touch on conflict and strategies of conflict resolution, it demonstrates that the wisdom of the proverbs does not consist only in the cultural values they carry but also in the underlying rhetorical strokes that give pragmatic force to their interpretation in the context of use. To this end, the paper analyzes and discusses the linguistic-cum-rhetorical devices that underscore the wittiness and persuasive effectiveness of the proverbs toward understanding conflict situations and devising strategies for resolving them.