In point of character the Yoruba negro is a very interesting study. What at first sight strikes one most forcibly is the courtesy of the chiefs and people. Taken as a body, the chiefs of Yorubaland might serve as a model of politeness to any people in Europe. This pleasing quality is not confined to the upper classes, for it is very strongly marked in the children, and among the very poorest of the market women. Once in my experience a minor chief was somewhat discourteous in his remarks, but he was so severely brought to task by all the many chiefs of the district, that he bitterly repented having used a few ill-considered words. It is at the same time a fact, that parents and persons in authority complain that children and young people are now less respectful and obedient than was formerly the case. Rightly or wrongly this change is imputed to contact with Europeans. But it may be stated generally that whenever a Yoruba fails to conform to our ideas of courtesy, it is because his customs are different from ours.[william mcgregor, 1904]
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 00:23:31 +0000
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