ABSTRACT
The study aimed to investigate hate speech in Yoruba discourse by examining
social and cultural contexts. The mean age of participants was 32 years, with a
balanced distribution between genders. All participants reported fluency in
Yoruba, and most were from Ekiti. Hate speech was encountered by 68% of
participants, with specific statements perceived as hate speech targeting religious
groups, ethnic groups, and women. Linguistic features contributing to hate speech
included accusation and negative connotations, with words like "buburu" and
"ole" being significant. Hate speech occurrences varied across social contexts,
with online conversations and political discussions being prominent. Hate speech
was predominantly associated with cultural beliefs. The absence of missing data
enabled comprehensive analysis, highlighting the need for interventions to
address hate speech and promote inclusivity in Yoruba-speaking communities.
