Oral History and Conflicts in Abakaliki, Nigeria: The Role of Traditional Institutions in Achara Unuhu Izzih and Ezza Nwogharu Crisis

Abstract

Inter-group relations are a popular form of relations between traditional African people and their neighbours. In Nigeria, the Achara Unuhu and Nwogharu Ezza people shared the same ancestral origin. This study used oral history and other qualitative methods to trace the nature of the conflict that manifested between the Achara Unuhu and Nwogharu Ezza people of Ebonyi State Nigeria. Data was collected through focus group discussions and interviews of randomly selected respondents. It found that the conflict led to the loss of lives and properties. This loss of lives and properties in turn led to the reactive peacebuilding action of the people using multi-track strategies to bring back peace. The study maintains that there is therefore need to sustain the peacebuilding and inter-group relation efforts of the Achara Unuhu Izzih community and Nwogharu-Ezza forefathers thereby terminating the factors that drive conflict in the two communities. This study will advance the body of knowledge in traditional peacebuilding processes in Africa. Keywords: Armed conflict, peace, inter-group relations, Achara Unuhu and Nwogharu