Customary Arbitration: Religion, Culture, and Law in Igboland

Abstract

The Igbo traditional religion provides institutions for the amicable, natural, and lasting resolutions of conflicts within Igboland. One of such institutions is the Igbo customary arbitration mechanism. This article aims at unavailing and bringing to the fore, the numerous positive aspects of customary arbitration which include the quick dispensation of justice, less financial implications, and purposeful and acceptable awards. It uses indigenous procedures and actors in arriving at an award. It focuses on the deployment of cultural, religious, and legal components in its procedures and findings. It therefore offers a better alternative as litigants could benefit from it. The practice also encourages cultural revival. This study makes use of documents, interviews, and observational methods while deploying a sociological (functionalist) methodology in its analysis.