Date of Award

11-6-2024

Thesis Type

PhD

Document Type

Thesis

Divisions

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Department

Department of International and Strategic Studies

Institution

Universiti Malaya

Abstract

This study delves into the conflict resolution and peace building processes in Africa, focusing specifically on the traditional institutional systems of the Yoruba people in Southwestern Nigeria. It examines how the Yoruba traditional system is characterized by various processes and pragmatic dynamism that fosters social cohesion. The study highlights the significance of cultural and traditional institutions in conflict resolution, particularly from an African perspective, in response to the ethnic, communal, and violent conflicts prevalent in Africa. By shifting the focus from international to local practices in conflict management and peace building, the study explores the role of Yoruba traditional approaches and their impact on local communities. Strategies such as mediation, negotiation, adjudication, and reconciliation through rituals and indigenous personalities were investigated, emphasizing their potential benefits in conflict resolution. The study employed a mixed-method survey approach, utilizing questionnaires, observational studies and expert interviews to collect insights and opinions from the respondents. Additionally, secondary data were collected to support the study. The study noted that the traditional institutional system is a vital component of Yoruba society, contributing to the maintenance of peaceful coexistence within local communities. The study draws upon the principles of positive peace and structural functionalism theories to underscore the significance of nurturing local peace processes involving various stakeholders like mediators, actors, and local constituents in the pursuit of sustainable peace building. The findings from the study highlight the utilization of a multifaceted approach rooted in Yoruba traditional practices for conflict resolution and peace building. These practices encompass diverse techniques, including persuasive rituals, discussions, and settlements conducted within the family councils and among community district heads. The result of the study is essential in different significant areas; one contribution was bridging an academic gap in the literature by providing empirical research to the growing body of literature in the analysis of indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms. The other important area is that it identified the most important interrelated structures encouraging local conflict resolution and peace building, hence contributing to the advancement of the theories and also it provided a guide or help the policy makers in (re)directing approaches towards integrating the local peace process and conflict resolution mechanisms into proper perspectives in Nigeria.

Initial

khm

Additional Information

Thesis (PhD) – Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya, 2024.

Download

Share

COinS