Traditional Pathways to Peace

This book examines traditional approaches to conflict resolution in Northern Nigeria, tracing their development from the pre-colonial period through to the present day. Drawing on a wide range of case studies, it highlights how indigenous systems, rooted in local customs, religious values, and communal authority, have historically played a key role in maintaining peace across diverse communities. Chapters explore topics such as the farmer-herder conflict, the influence of Islamic scholarship, the legacy of colonial legal systems, and the continuing relevance of traditional rulers and justice mechanisms. The volume combines historical analysis with contemporary examples and argues for the reintegration of indigenous practices into modern peacebuilding efforts. This book will be of interest to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working in conflict resolution, African studies, governance, and legal reform. It also offers important insights for those seeking locally grounded responses to insecurity in Nigeria and beyond.

Joseph Olusegun Adebayo, PhD, is a peace and media studies scholar affiliated with Liverpool John Moores University (via UNICAF). A National Research Foundation–rated academic (South Africa) and Kistefos Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, he has published extensively on peace journalism, African governance, and indigenous conflict resolution, including books and numerous peer-reviewed articles and chapters. Abubakar Mohammed, PhD, is a seasoned and erudite administrator and currently holds the position of Secretary, Executive Council Secretariat, Government House, Zamfara State, Nigeria. His broad area of research interest includes Peacebuilding, Foreign Policy Analysis, International Conflicts, and Administrative Reforms. He specifically focused on Security and Strategic Studies as a major area of research interest. Similarly, he has attended numerous conferences and workshops and published in different Journals.

Chapter 1 Historical Exegesis of Orthodox Conflict Resolution Pathways in Epochal Trajectories in Northern Nigeria.- Chapter 2 Fulani Pastoralism and the Crisis of Farmer-Herder Conflicts in Modern Nigeria Exploring the Feasibility of Traditional Conflict Resolution Mechanisms.- Chapter 3 Traditional Justice System and the Challenges of Democracy in Northern Nigeria The Example of Bida Emirate of Niger State.- Chapter 4 Oral Tradition and Its Implications for Communal Conflicts A Case Study of Iwo and Oke Aba in Isin Local Government Area, Kwara State.- Chapter 5 Engaging Traditional Rulers and Islamic Scholars in Tackling Security Challenges and Peacebuilding in Northwestern Nigeria.- Chapter 6 The Instrumentality of Birnin Gwari Theatre for Development Experience in Demystifying Women's Participation for Peaceful Local Communities in Nigeria.- Chapter 7 Peacebuilding through Spiritualism: Extrapolating the Role of Ulama in Preventing and Countering Violence in Northeast Nigeria.- Chapter 8 Alkyabba as Embodiment of Authority, Power, and Peacebuilding in Northern Nigeria.- Chapter 9 Impact Assessment of Traditional Justice Systems on Peacebuilding and Governance Northern Nigeria in Perspective.- Chapter 10 Reinventing Cultural Heritage of Peacebuilding among Hausa and Fulbe Communities in Nigeria.- Chapter 11 Conflicts and Conflict Resolution in a Modern World: Espousal of Islamic Perspectives in Reconciliation in Northwest Nigeria.