In the African culture, especially among the Yoruba of Nigeria, mental illness is usually associated with a disease in the brain known as were or ode ori, usually referred to as “madness”. But from the point of view of meaning, the word madness does not catch precisely the meaning as known to the western world, i.e. mental illness or mental disorder. However, the fact remains that whether we are talking of madness or mental illness, the function of the human brain is involved. For instance, we say anger is a temporary madness. While this does not mean that a mad behavior constitutes a mental illness, it is a kind of behavior that is clearly associated with the mental as opposed to the physical aspect of a person. In discussing mental illness and its cause or causes and control in African (Yoruba) culture, we shall ignore the use of the word madness as inappropriate for mental disorder because mental illness is usually associated with a disease of the brain although, it is largely a functional illness. Incidentally, the Yoruba believe that “madness” which we prefer to call mental illness, is a disease of the brain but which, unlike organic illness, cannot be located for easy treatment. Although the illness is said to be caused by physical or spiritual forces, it turns out to be an inorganic illness which makes treatment more difficult than cases of organic illnesses. Although there are degrees of mental illness, the Yoruba treats people with mental disorder as social outcasts, if not treated. Mental illness acquires a serious dimension in its meaning and consequences as the illness affects the whole of human personality to such an extent that it is not clear whether we should call a person afflicted with mental disorder a person in the real sense of the word. Since mental illness affects the victim’s total character, behavior, and perception of reality, he/she is usually granted immunity from prosecution, as he is not seen as responsible for his actions. Unlike other illnesses, mental illness confers on its victim an exception from moral responsibility and punishment.
Among the Yoruba, therefore, mental illness is a very complex phenomenon requiring a complex solution for which, curiously enough, there is agreement as to some of its causes (both physical and spiritual attacks) but for which there is no agreement as to the effective method of its cure, in spite of the fact that complete cure had been claimed in cases of mental illnesses caused by spiritual attacks.