Zoomorphic Metaphor-Discourse of Power Relations and Culture-Scriptural Parallelism in Selected Yoruba Oríkì and the Old Testament

Abstract

Zoomorphic metaphor discourse of selected Yoruba oríkì and Old Testament texts, examines how animal imagery encodes power, spirituality, and social meaning across linguistic, literary, and hermeneutical boundaries. Using Lakoff and Johnson’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Cultural-Contextual Hermeneutics, the analysis applies thematic coding to recurrent animal symbols. Five categories emerged: power and kingship, divine agency, war and protection, wealth and nobility, and violence and judgment. Lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rams, horses, bears, and eagles serve as semiotic instruments for conceptualizing authority, sacrifice, heroism, and judgment. Findings showed zoomorphic metaphors transcending ornamentation; they naturalize hierarchy by translating animal attributes - strength, ferocity, mobility, and vulnerability - into sociopolitical and theological meaning. While Yoruba tradition uses animals to preserve memory and legitimise leadership, the Old Testament deploys similar imagery to express covenant theology and moral correction. Thus, zoomorphic metaphors function as cognitive bridges, revealing a shared metaphoric theology of power across both traditions.