Abstract

The seemingly intractable economic, political and social problems of Africa demand urgent attention from the intellectuals on the continent. The challenge facing the continent is perceived as that of seeking all possible means of reasoning its way out of customs, beliefs and traditions which keep it bound in a frigid past, incapable of making the kinds of fundamental changes that normally lead to development. This is exemplified by the Yoruba belief in famished roads. The linguistic phenomenon of pre-constructed domains in the Yoruba language is seen to be closely tied with a world-view founded on pre-determination. It is argued that the typical African resistance to change, and the blind promotion of the communal over the individual, need to be supplemented by a critical engagement with tradition, especially within the educational system