Memory and Belonging in Contemporary Yoruba Society: Understanding Youth Cultural Citizenship in a Global Age

Abstract

Yoruba exceptionalism, in terms of culture, is a well-known phenomenon. It has defined the historical development of the group since ancient times. This is, however, under severe pressure as the intersections of culture, market and globalization have redirected the meaning of being a Yoruba in different directions. The cultural citizenship of the average Yoruba person has experienced great transitions and change following the development of popular alternatives regarded as alien to Yoruba cultural values and orientations. This is taken as a deep reaction to the changes in the locus of production, changes in consumption, telecommunications, and rapid transportation systems. What are those cultural aspects that define the Yoruba and how have these been modified over time? This paper attempts a reconstruction of the route towards a reconfiguration of what it means to have a Yoruba identity in the global age.