The Role of Yoruba Proverbs in Conflict Resolution Among Elders in Oyo State

This study examines the role of Yoruba proverbs in the resolution of interpersonal and communal conflicts among elders in selected communities in Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Proverbs constitute a vital instrument of traditional jurisprudence in Yoruba culture, yet their systematic linguistic analysis within contemporary conflict contexts remains sparse in recent scholarship. The study adopts a qualitative ethnographic approach informed by the pragmatic framework of Speech Act Theory. Data were gathered through participant observation of five community dispute-resolution sessions and in-depth interviews with twenty traditional council members in Ibadan and Ogbomoso. The collected proverbs were transcribed, translated, and analysed for their illocutionary and perlocutionary functions. The findings indicate that proverbs serve as face-saving devices, authoritative endorsements of community norms, and persuasion tools that reduce emotional escalation during disputes. Additionally, the study observes a generational tension in which younger community members respond less deferentially to proverbial invocations than older participants. The research concludes that Yoruba proverbs remain pragmatically potent within traditional governance structures, though their authority is increasingly contested in urbanised communities. The study recommends the formal documentation of proverb usage in community governance and its incorporation into conflict studies curricula at Nigerian universities. Keywords: Yoruba proverbs, conflict resolution, pragmatics, speech act theory, Oyo State.