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ABSTRACT
Ìwà refers to a person’s essential nature and psychic self, as well as the origin and totality of what a person is as an individual. The quality of human character determines his acceptance and the honour he deserves in any typical Yorùbá society as evident in Yorùbá proverb, Ìwàlewa Ọmọ ènìyàn, meaning your beauty is reflected in your character. In other words, it is aÌwàys in the consciousness of every parent in Yorùbá land that good character or the attainment of moral nobility inherent in human nature is the beauty of every moral agent. Among the Yorùbá, good character is referred to as Ìwà Rere, which could also mean good nature, and a person with good character must have Ìwà pèlé, gentleness, whereas bad character is referred to as Ìwà Burúkú Burúkú. A person with Ìwà pèlé or gentle character is referred to as Ọmọlúàbí: a gentle person, a person who embodies all the qualities appreciated by Yorùbá people. Such a person shows respect to elders, works well in a team, and is respected by the community. In this essay, it is maintained that the status “Ìwà” among the Yorùbá is the standard used in determining the moral status of an individual and it is also a term for a morally upright person. For someone to be morally upright it does not depend on age or skills acquired, the principles of an individual that is exhibited will be used to judge if onis really an Ọmọlúàbí. The virtues emphasized by the Yorùbá concept of Ìwà are numerous and varied, and this is what this essay will try to examine.
