Communication as Panacea for Avoidance of Intercultural Inaccuracies among Hausa and Yoruba Cultures of NigeriaThe ethnic and linguistic diversity represented prominently in the Hausa and Yoruba cultures, continues to produce rich cultural exchange and re

Abstract

The ethnic and linguistic diversity represented prominently in the Hausa and Yoruba cultures, continues to produce rich cultural exchange and recurring intercultural imprecision based on stereotyping, misinterpretation and communication failures. This conceptual paper explores the possibility of using intentional communication practices to minimise such inaccuracies between the two ethnic groups. The study is based on Gudykunst’s (2005) model of Anxiety/Uncertainty Management and Hall’s (1976) High/Low Context Communication model and is discursively reviewed by referring to secondary literature in order to develop a conceptual model between cultural knowledge and communication skills and intercultural avoidance and inaccuracies. The paper highlights key cultural variations between Hausa and Yoruba communication patterns such as different uses of proverbs, greetings, religious expressions and non-verbal expression, drawing on documented incidents like the 1999 Sagamu clash, and on the studies of Hausa-Yoruba relations in Sagamu, Agege and Funtua. It states that active listening, cultural-sensitivity training, structured feedback mechanisms, and judicious use of proverbs are practical, low-cost ways to minimise misunderstandings and promote respect. The paper concludes that intentional competence-based communication is a potential means to intercultural harmony and has implications for national cohesion, peace building and policy making in Nigeria’s multi ethnic federated state.