Taboos and the Maintenance of Social Order in the Old Ondo Province, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The alarming rate of indiscipline and criminality in our societies has called for concerns. This situation makes it imperative to revisit the mechanisms used to maintain social order in pre-colonial times. Therefore, this paper examines the efficacy of taboos in the sustenance of social order in the Old Ondo Province before the advent of the British. This is germane to the understanding ways in which social order was maintained. This will also facilitate our grasp of the peculiarity and relevance of taboos in providing peace and tranquillity during the pre-colonial times. Taboo forbids anything akin to evil as perceived by the people and any act of fraud. The paper relies heavily on oral traditions and other written materials. All materials used were critically deployed. The study argues that taboos can be a necessary and complimentary tool in achieving a sustainable social order and moral rectitude in the contemporary times.