First Week/Module One: Basic Concepts of Peace, Conflict and Resolution in Some

Nigerian Languages, Some African and Non-African Languages

Nigeria, the most ethnically diverse nation in Africa and one of the most ethnically endowed
countries in the world. It has over 250 ethnics that are speakers of more than 400 dialects ( Obaro, 1980).
The Table 1 shows that each ethnic group in Nigeria has words it uses for Peace, Conflict & Resolution.
Table 1: Conceptual Terms for Peace, Conflct and Resoluton ln lxteen Nlgerlan Ethnlc Groups
S/N Ethnic group Peace Conflict Resolution
1 Hausa northern Nigeria Lumana Rikici, sabani Warwara, kuduri
2 Igbo, southeast Nigeria Udo, odimma Ogbaghara, agha ndokorita Ikpa/icheudo mkpebi
nkweta
3 Yoruba southwest Nigeria Idekun Rogbodiyan Ipinnu
4 Eggon, Nasarawa state Sotse Embugu Mua amlakpo
5 Edo, Edo state Paco Evbeie or amho Aresa, alaghodarho
6 Efik, Akwa Ibom state Edi, emem, emeni Utok, mfina Ubiere
7 Koro southern Kaduna Odonjejen Ukon Gajkenjachi
8 Igala Kogi state Uredo Oligichi Nworu
9 Bekwarra Cross Rivers Ukun Irinam Irinamchifere
10 Alago, Nasarawa state Neneshi Apoh Aluwelago
11 Dakarkari Kebbi state Mnogno Idama Nasete
12 Fulani northern Nigeria Jam Haure, sode, nararral Darna
13 Idoma Benue state Ebor Uwnu Ebor ka, kepor
14 Tiv in Benue, Taraba Bem, msughshima Nuum, anuum, ayoosu, zayol Bem shima
15 Nupe in Niger, Kwara Sa’ayin Ewusun Tafiwozhi
16 Ebira Kogi state Aayonete/egwuoro Eerazi or irazi Okarei or okareyi
Apart from Nigeria with rich concepts across ethnic groups, other African ethnics - Swahili, Zulu and
Afrikaan have sound ideas for peace, conflict and resolution. The terms are shown in Table 2 below
Table 2: Conceptual Terms for Peace, Conflict & Resolution in Swahili, Zulu & Afrikaan
Ethnics
S/N Ethnic group Peace Conflict Resolution
1 Swahili, an eastern African language is Amani Mapambano, Azimio, kusuluhisha
the Africa’s most spoken language migogoro
2 Zulu is a southern African ethnic group Kuthula or uxolo Udweshu Ikhambi, xazulula
3 Afrikaan is south African ethnic group Vrede Strydig, konflik Beslegting, beslistheid
Generally speaking, there is no African ethnic or tribal group that is not characterised with a wide variety
of conceptual ideas used in capturing ‘peace’, ‘conflict’ and ‘resolution’ in its domain .
Meanings, Characteristics, Maxims & Relevance of Ubuntu/Unhu in African Peacefulness
Ubuntu is an expression of ‘humanity towards others’ or ‘universal bond of sharing’ used in
many Eastern, Central and Southern African societies. It originates from two South African languages
[Zulu and Xhola] and it means ‘humanistic,’ ‘holistic’ ‘positive’ peace i.e. all harmonious virtues and
sharing spirits that consider yesterday’s [past] actions on today’s [present] actions and view yesterday’s
and today’s actions as shaper of tomorrow’s [future] actions. Ubuntu’s characteristics are [i] Individual’s
consciousness of essence of creation, [ii] Graceful interaction, [iii] Effective community representation,
[iv] Giving highest standards, and [v] Display of social group’s or societal virtues (John Bhengu
Mfuniselwa, 2006). Also, Desmond Tutu (1999) identified generosity, hospitality, friendliness, caring,
sharing, compassion, openness, availableness to and affirmativeness to others, unthreatened by others’

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ability and goodness, adequate self assurance from others, belongingness to and wholeness from others,
and forgiveness (altruism, self-interest, resilience and enabling) as the basic features of ubuntu. Studies
revealed ubuntu’s maxims such as [i] Respect for others, [ii] Helpfulness, [iii] Community spirit, [iv]
Sharing, [v] Caring, [vi] Trust and [vii] Unselfishness. Dion Forster (2007) says ubuntu leads to morality
of cooperation, compassion and communalism - agreement/consensus, wellbeing and community.
The concept of ubuntu is similar to unhu, a Shona (most spoken) language in Zimbabwe. The
Kinyarwanda (mother tongue) language in Rwanda, Kirundi (mother tongue) language in Burundi,
Runyaktara of Western and Luganda dialect of Central Uganda and Northern Tanzania used ‘obuntu’
to express generosity, humanity, consideration & humane to others. Thus, Zulu’s maxim reads, ‘umuntu
ngumuntu ngabantu’ and Shola’s aphorism goes, “munhu munhu nekuda kwevanhu”. These short wise
sayings meant “a person is a person through other persons’. Ubuntu concerned [i] The living individual,
[ii] Other living people, [iii] Dead ancestors and [iv] Generation unborn (Matshe Getrude, 2007). By
extension, one is required to act and create the present on the basis of one’s [our] past and to shape one’s
[our] future with one’s [our] past and present. In sum, the philosophy of ubuntu sensitizes us to note the
fact that what we were and what we are and what we intend to be required the love and supports of other
human beings born, dead and unborn. The idea of ubuntu reflects in Abdulrahman Ibn Khaldun’s concept
of ‘As-sabiyyah’ i.e. tribal solidarity or we-feeling in the nomadic society of African Maghrebian region .

Concept of Peace among Non-African Societies’ Racial, Ethnic & Socio-Linguistic Groups
ASIA: China, the most populated country in the world is where peace is expressed as sujing [silence],
heyue [peace treaty], hemue [rapprochement], heping [amicability] and mingsi [inner peace or peace of
mind] in some dialects. India, the 2nd populous country in the world is where shanti, santi svasthya or
caina are used for peace/tranquility of mind. In Indonesia, an archipelago nation, 3rd populous nation in
Asia and 4th in the world peace refers to damai, perdamaian, kesentosaan or ketenteramam. Japanese
used aiko, heiwa, kowa or shohei as placidity, equanimity, tranquility, calmness, quietness or serenity.
EUROPE: France is where pais means pact, agreement, treaty, reconciliation, silence or tranquility in
ancient time. Italy is a country, where Latin originated and they used pes or pax as calmness or peace.
Germany is where einklang (harmony), friedliche (peaceful), der Frieden (peace and quiet) and/or ruhe
(tranquility) are used as peace. It was in the United Kingdom (Britain, Ireland, Wales and Scotland) that
the English concept of peace was coined from French’s pais and it has been in use since 12 thc and 13thc. It
appears in clauses, like ‘being at peace in one's mind or with oneself’ and ‘rest in peace’ to dead person.
MID-EAST: This region is dominated by Arabs, who mostly use ‘salam’ to refer peace in contexts such
as greetings, personal names, names of places and in worship. In Turkey and some European countries
like Cyprus and parts of Asia, where Turkish language is used, words like huzur [peace] baris [calmness]
rahatlik [quietness] or sessizlik [no war/violence/argument] mean peace. The Kurdish language mostly
spoken in Iraq, Turkey and parts of Asia used hasiti as peace. In Israel, where Hebrew is spoken by Jews
and practitioners of Judaism outside Israel, peace means shalom i.e. God’s will, justice or prosperity.
LATIN AMERICA: Hacana is peace in Aymara language, Bolivia. Tecocatu means peace in Brazil’s
Nhengantu and Pauman languages. Peace is ‘uvchin’ in Mapunjungun language, Chile, while peace is
lape in Haiti, Creole and Guiana languages, Caribbean. The indigenous people of Mexico used aylobaha
as peace in Chontal language, while anka kay, qasikay and aligu are peace in Quechua language, Peru.

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