Exploring the Socio-cultural Strategies of Managing Communal Conflict in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Culture is a dominant factor in how people wish to manage conflict in their relationships and in how affinity are conceptualized. Culture provides the social rules and norms that guide and regulate social behaviors, which could have effect through relational orientations and values of individuals. In spite of the fact that many scholars have written extensively on how traditional conflict management techniques have been able to proffer solutions to conflicts in African societies, little is known about cultural conflict management strategies in Kwara State. Hence, the study aims to explore the socio-cultural strategies of managing communal conflict in Kwara State. The study utilizes a mixed design, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. Structured questionnaire was used for the quantitative data, while key informant interview and focus group discussions plans were employed for the qualitative data collection. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select 1010 respondents, 30 participants for key informant interview and 48 respondents for focus group discussions. Data analysis was based on descriptive statistics for quantitative data interpretation, and content analysis for the qualitative data. The study found that the strategies of managing communal conflict in the selected communities were utilization of early warning signal (89%), teaching peace education (87.2%), and collaboration with security agencies (79.6%), round table discussion facilitation (71%), and signing memorandum of understanding between parties (65.1%). The study concluded that the strategies of socio-cultural organizations at curbing communal conflict have impacted positively on community security in the State.