Interrogating Indigenous African Intergenerational Dialogue: From Yoruba Cultural Material Perspectives

The survival and continuity of Africans, particularly the Yoruba people of South-West Nigeria and their diaspora in Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and beyond, have been largely sustained through indigenous practices of intergenerational dialogue and mediation. Historically, Yoruba societies developed structured systems of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) that prevented internal and external conflicts while fostering peaceful coexistence with neighbouring communities. These systems also underpinned Yoruba engagement with foreign powers such as the Portuguese, British, and Spaniards, reflecting an enduring diplomatic consciousness rooted in culture. Through institutionalised communication channels, Yoruba empires achieved political stability, economic advancement, and social cohesion across generations. This paper identifies and examines the indigenous intergenerational dialogue and mediation subsystems that have contributed to the resilience and transformation of Yoruba socio-political and cultural structures over time. The study further engages the perspectives of Homi K. Bhabha (1994) on hybridity and identity formation within transnational spaces. Employing a qualitative ethnographic method involving textual and interpretive analysis, this study argues, based on the literature reviewed, that Yoruba intergenerational dialogue operates as a practical mechanism for conflict resolution, leadership succession, and moral instruction. It concludes that such indigenous communication systems remain vital instruments for policy formulation, social mediation, and the preservation of Africa’s intangible heritage. The study recommends the formal integration of indigenous dialogue frameworks into civic education, governance, and diaspora engagement strategies.

Babatunde Allen Bakare

Babatunde Allen Bakare

Senior Lecturer at the Department of Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Babatunde Allen Bakare is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He hails from Ifaki in Ekiti State, Nigeria. He earned a BA (Hons), Certificate in Dramatic Arts and Certificate in Music at Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife between 1996 and 2003. In 2005, he obtained a certificate in British and Irish Literature at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He completed his Master of Philosophy in Ibsen Studies at the Centre of Ibsen Studies, University of Oslo, Norway in 2008. He worked as Producer/Scriptwriter for African Independent Television (AIT) Abuja for over 5 years. He completed a PhD in Drama and Theatre Studies at Stellenbosch University, South Africa in 2018.