An ethical response to matchmaking and dating in the Yoruba traditional society and the digital world

Marriage is a socially recognizsed union, sanctioned by legal or religious authorities, with specific rights and responsibilities between spouses. As a universal institution, marriage exists in all cultures with variations that reflect the values, beliefs, and social structures of each society. Marriage fulfills several critical functions: it provides a socially accepted framework for the formation of families, regulates sexual relations, facilitates the upbringing of children and the alliance of families. Consequently, marriage remains central to family formation. Existing scholarship on marriage among the Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria has predominantly explored its social, psychological, and legal dimensions with little attention paid to the ethical considerations surrounding matchmaking and courtship practices in both traditional and contemporary societies. The purpose of this paper, therefore, was to explore the ethical issues relating to matchmaking and dating in both the traditional Yoruba society and the contemporary digital world. The research adopted a qualitative method to gather information on practices related to matchmaking, courtship, and marriage among the traditional Yoruba people of the Southwestern part of Nigeria, as well as the transformations these practices have undergone in the contemporary era. Our findings revealed that despite the influx of foreign culture, the Yoruba traditional practices of matchmaking and dating are still relevant, practised, and respected by the people, as it promotes peaceful coexistence and family stability. The paper recommends a reintroduction of the traditional pre-marital practices across cultures to complement the modern system for a stable family structure and for a better society.