Covenant in Peace Building among Igbo Africans

Abstract

This work studies covenant in peace building among the Igbo people of Africa. Insecurity is a global pandemic that is ravaging the globe. It is the cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the globe and has brought both health and economic hazards to humanity the world over. In order to bring insecurity to its barest minimum, there must be peace among the people. This peace will be possible if the rebel groups could earn the trust of the people in government. In Igbo culture area, when there is lack of trust among two warring communities, villages, towns or even two sworn enemies, covenant is employed in securing trust. This study is a survey research carried out in Igbo land. Data were collected through oral interviews and unobtrusive observation method from selected Igbo culture areas. Interviews were randomly done across titled men and women, youths, traditional religious adherents, Christians and elites. The essence was to ascertain why, how and when covenant is used in settling dispute in Igbo culture area. The work found out that covenant can be used to regain love lost between friends, spouses, siblings, villages, communities and towns. It also found out that it is used as a last resort in settling dispute and quelling insecurity in warring communities. This work recommends that covenant should be used in Nigeria to gain the trust of the aggrieved. When this is achieved, socio-political unrest like kidnapping, banditry, cultism that engenders insecurity will be brought to barest level.