INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION, BOON OR BANE IN IKWERRE OF THE NORTH EASTERN NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The focus of this paper is on Intercultural Communications: Boon or Bane in Ikwerre of the North Eastern Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Before the coming of Christianity and other modern forces of change into Africa in general and Ikwerre ethnic nationality in particular, Ikwerre have had various ways of expressing their religious and cultural experiences about the humans relating with the supernatural invisible sacred being. These ways are expressed in symbols, idioms and metaphors which are indigenous to them. The use of Ikwerre names in liturgy, names of Ikwerre in African cosmology, the use of Ikwerre songs and musical instruments in worship, the use of native agencies, the use of indigenous Ikwerre ritual objects and symbols, oath-taking and investiture, as well as initiation into manhood (igbaiku) and other findings in the research work make it a boon in the Ikwerre religious life because Ikwerreman cannot do without his religion. However, some features of the Ikwerre belief systems elapsed and others remain resolute. The work adopted the phenomenological methodological approach in the interpretation of data because this enabled the researcher to observe the phenomenon he was investigating over time allowing it to unravel and reveal itself instead of forcibly reading in or reading out meaning on the object of the research. However, when the missionaries came to Ikwerre from the 19th century, they adopted or borrowed these idioms and metaphors and incorporated it into their Christian liturgy (Anglicanism), hence, intercultural communication. The work recommends that the good side of African traditional religion should be allowed to take place and should be incorporated into the Nigerian educational curriculum.