The first is laaka’ye, which is the application of ogbon, imo, oye (knowledge, wisdom, understanding).
The second is valor. That is why Balogun (war commanders) are very close, in terms of hierarchy, to their kings in Yoruba land. Balogun are the individuals that can lead soldiers to war. Yoruba have no respect for cowards.
The third is integrity. Someone with integrity is a man of his words. If you have all the wealth in the world but lack integrity, it means nothing. Integrity is combined with iwa – character, which we regard as omoluabi (a respectable person).
The fourth is having a visible means of livelihood. A person must be identified with a visible means of living; that is, his or her profession or job.
The last level of importance in the Yoruba value system is money. If all you have in place of the earlier four is money, then you are a nobody.
The second is valor. That is why Balogun (war commanders) are very close, in terms of hierarchy, to their kings in Yoruba land. Balogun are the individuals that can lead soldiers to war. Yoruba have no respect for cowards.
The third is integrity. Someone with integrity is a man of his words. If you have all the wealth in the world but lack integrity, it means nothing. Integrity is combined with iwa – character, which we regard as omoluabi (a respectable person).
The fourth is having a visible means of livelihood. A person must be identified with a visible means of living; that is, his or her profession or job.
The last level of importance in the Yoruba value system is money. If all you have in place of the earlier four is money, then you are a nobody.
- Chief Tola Adeniyi (former Managing Director of the daily Times).
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