Embracing Yoruba Folktales as a Tool for Moral Development in Children

Abstract

It is sad to note that morality issues have become a subject of debate in many homes as society now embraces several wrong behaviours and seems not to appreciate the culture of morality. The present study set out to explore the views of adults on the use of Yoruba folktales as a tool for moral development. The two objectives were to explore the benefits of folktales to children and examine the role of demographics in the acceptance of folktales as a tool for moral development. The study adopted a mixed method of research, where a 10-item self-designed questionnaire was used to examine the two objectives of the study. Focus Group Discussion was also used to gain a deeper insight into the benefit of Yoruba Folktales for Moral Development in Children. The participants were selected from Oke ’Badan High School, Ibadan, Nigeria through a convenient sampling method. 150 valid responses were analysed using frequencies and chats. The findings also showed that Christians showed greater support for folktales than participants from the Islamic religion. The study concluded that folktales are a valuable addition that could be revived to help salvage the issue of morality among young people in Nigeria. The study recommended folktales be added to school literature to promote indigenous knowledge and mother tongue enhancement and also to teach acceptable behaviours in society.

Keywords

• yoruba folktales
• moral development
• children
• mother’s tongue