Indigenous Knowledge and Conflict Management in Africa : A Study of Proverb Use in Conflict Management among Hausas of Northern Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the place of indigenous knowledge in conflict management and peace building, using the Hausa speaking people of Northern Nigeria as a case study. The paper argues that traditional knowledge are intrinsically valuable as they are veritable tools in maintaining peace and peaceful coexistence among the people. In this context, the use of and the place of proverbs in conflict management is underscored. We subjected twenty (20) randomly selected Hausa proverbs to discourse analysis in order to examine their implications for conflict management and peace building. Results show that the analysed proverbs, beyond their ordinary or literal meanings, have implications for conflict management. The paper therefore avers that anybody with a good understanding of proverbs would appreciate conflicts as intricate part of existence and harmonious living hence would avoid actions and inactions that would promote violence. Furthermore, the work suggests that efforts to promote the use of indigenous methods of conflicts management should be encouraged.