The Animal is Not Just Meat: A Critical Appraisal of Yoruba Ethics of Animal Consumption

Currently, Non-human animals have the popular identity of being regarded as food on the plate or tool for exploitation. In response, philosophers like Peter Singer and Tom Regan objected from the place sentience and entitlement to rights. However, this issue persists, where some scholars called the pretentious claim of change in practice to be a modification of their approach to exploit, which we consider, is due to the failure to emphasis on the ontology of these animals. Hence, this research paper aims to approach it from an African perspective of spirituality, particularly from the Yoruba worldview. To the Yoruba, the environment, just like humans, has its respective spirits, purposes, and relevance. It is not to be treated with disdain or abused. In the case of animals, they, in their traditional settings, have always treated animals with respect and reverence, considering their ontological being. Even if used for the purpose of consumption, or sacrifices, animals are treated with a certain dignity, and not just as meats, as against the unethical view of animals, most especially the consumable ones as mere foods on the plate. As a framework for ensuring the responsible consumption of animals in present time, this research paper presents the Yoruba approach to giving reverence to animals, which is well-documented in their folklores. It surveys how within the Yoruba settings animals are treated with dignity and reverence, considering their communal belonging, spiritual consciousness, and ecological relevance, all of which would contribute to the global walk to environmental sustainability.