Abstract

This article includes an exploration of the Yoruba nation in terms of the anthropological and sociological theories of Samir Amin and his concept of class formation as well as the Marxist theory of the “Asian mode of production.” The article begins with a discussion of the principles of the communal and tributary formation theories of Samir Amin, followed by a description of the land tenure system of the Yoruba. The two will then be related, illustrating the application and non-application of Amin’s theories to the Yoruba experience. This article is written from an emic perspective, as the author is a member of the Yoruba worldwide family.