© Kamla-Raj 2004 Anthropologist, 6(2): 141-146 (2004)
Hope Fostering Among the Yoruba Speaking People of Nigeria:
The Use of Proverbs, Cognomen, Prayers and Names
C. O. Ajila
Department of Psychology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Nigeria
E-mail: cajila@oauife.edu.ng
KeyWord Communication. Gender. Marifal Status. Mental Health.
ABSTRACT This paper examines the role of communication in fostering hope among the Yoruba speaking people in Nigeria. Specifically, the paper focuses attention on the use of proverbs, cognomen, prayers and names in hope fostering. Data for the study came mainly from questionnaire survey. For purposesof the study, 222 male and female subjects were drawn from two states (Osun and Ekiti) in the South Western part of Nigeria. The data collected were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis using the t-test. Results show no gender and marital status differences on the usefulness of those words that foster hope in a Yoruba speaking individual. The implications of all these for the mental health of various family members are discussed.