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The position of African traditional religion in conflict
prevention
Daniel
Kasomo
Department of Religion Theology and Philosophy, Maseno
University, Kenya.
E-mail:
dkasomocounselling@yahoo.com.Tel: +254 722-770204 or +254 733-703603.
Accepted 22 December, 2009 |
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African (Traditional) and modern religions may offer African
solutions to many problems of conflict in the region of
Africa. This article builds a case for the use of some
African religious values in modern conflict prevention,
mitigation and response in Africa (CPMR). One of the burning
moral issues in Africa is that of conflicts. The
contemporary multi-ethnic states have not yet succeeded in
creating a pluralistic and homogeneous state that is able to
overcome inter-group rivalry and conflicts. Rather than the
utopian idea of peaceful co-existence dubbed the "global
village" that was anticipated with the end of the Cold War,
the latter part of the Twentieth Century is witnessing
conflicts and divisions within nations and ethnic groups.
This article endeavours to come to grips with the roots,
meanings and ramifications of the conflicts among the
African communities in a bid to find effective strategies of
averting them in Africa. By so doing, an attempt has been
made to explore the unifying aspects of African religion by
giving due regard to religion-cultural values that can be
revitalized, enriched and implemented to redress the
predicament of CPMR in Africa.
Key words:
Religion, conflict, prevention, mitigation, response. |
