Traditional Mechanism for Conflict Management and Resolution in Ogoni, South- South, Nigeria

Abstract

Traditional African societies and elsewhere are known to hold sacred peace making processes locked in their own ways, formed from centuries of customs and traditions before the disruption of colonial administration, and introduction of arbitration and adjudication, which are antithesis to traditional method. These modern methods of conflict resolution are rather defective in dealing with the challenges posed by modern conflict in Africa. The objective of the study is to examine and explain the indigenous method of conflict management among Gwara people in Ogoni South-South, Nigeria. The Purposive and Convenience Sampling methods were used to select participants for the study. It found that the traditional conflict resolution method as practiced in Gwara is better than the modern adjudicative method of conflict resolution, because it is faster and non-adversarial. The study is anchored on Travis Hirschi’s social control theory. We, therefore, recommend revert back to traditional method of dispute management and resolution because it is cheaper and friendlier.