Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Indigenous Peacebuilding

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Global Security Studies

  • 12 Accesses

Introduction

Conflict, “the pursuit of incompatible goals by different groups” (Miall et al. 2005, p. 22), has been part of humanity from antiquity. Given its destructive nature, every human society has an imbued mechanism to address conflicts using principles and practices central to the support of reconciliation and amnesty.

Indigenous peacebuilding mechanisms are approaches of peacebuilding “inherent in a given society following years of tradition” (Murithi 2006, p. 17) so as to restore order and relationship during or after conflicts (Faure 2000, p. 163). As a mechanism “borne out of a community’s tradition” (Kibwanga 2009, p. 17), it effectively helps “to overcome the contradictions which lie at the root of the conflict” (Galtung 1996, p. 112). Given its cultural context, it is a bottom-up approach where issues of conflicts are addressed holistically at the grassroots with active involvement of local people (Brock-Utne 2001, p. 4; Omona 2015, p. ix). The decision in indigenous...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 499.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 599.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aristophanes. (2002). Lysistrata and other plays (trans: Sommerstein, A. H.). London: Penguin Classics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, H. (2003). Women, politics and peace in Northern Namibia. In E. C. Munoz (Fwd.), Women and peace in Africa: Case studies on traditional conflict resolution practices. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boege, V. (2006). Traditional approaches to conflict transformation – Potentials and limits. Berghof Research Center for Constructive Conflict Management. http://www.berghof-handbook.net

  • Berhe, Y. (2012), An assessment of indiginous conflict resolution mechanism of Mezard in rural Alamata Wareda Tigray National Regional State, Ethiopia. MA Thesis: Mekelle University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brock-Utne, B. (2001). Indigenous conflict resolution in Africa. A draft presented to the week-end seminar on indigenous solutions to conflicts held at the University of Oslo, Institute for Educational Research, 23–24 February 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chinwe, N. M. A. (2007). Role of women in peacebuilding and conflict resolution in African traditional societies: A selective review. http://www.afrikaworld.net/afrel/chinwenwoye.htm

  • Coleman, F. (2007). Existing informal/traditional justice mechanisms in Liberia. In T. V. Geinanth & T. Jaye (Eds.), Post conflict peace building in Liberia: Much remains to be done. Accra, KAIPTC/ZIF.

    Google Scholar 

  • De-Bono, E. (1985). Conflicts: A better way to resolve them. London: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dirie, A. G. (2000). The struggles of Somali women for peace. In a report on the workshop on conflict transformation in Africa: African women’s perspectives, Dakar, Gorée Institute, 23–26 May 2000, pp. 14, 51–55. http://www.internationalalert.org/sites/default/files/library/workshop.pdf. Accessed 21 Jan 2012.

  • Faure, G. O. (2000). Traditional conflict management in Africa and China. In I. W. Zartman (Ed.), Traditional cures for modern conflicts. African conflict “Medicine”. Boulder, Lynne Rienner, pp 153–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galtung, J. (1996). Peace by peaceful means: Peace and conflict, development and civilization. Sage, London.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Garau, A. (2017). “Sex Strike” may happen in Kenya to make men vote. http://allthatsinteresting.com/kenya-sex-strike. Accessed 13 Apr 2018.

  • Igreja, V., & Dias-Lambranca, B. (2006). The social world of dreams and nightmares in a post-conflict setting. Intervention 4(2):145–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Isike, C., & Uzodike, U. E. (2011). Towards an indigenous model of conflict resolution: Reinventing women’s roles as traditional peace-builders in neo-colonial Africa. In J. Malan (Ed.), African journal on conflict resolution (Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 33–58). Durban: ACCORD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kibwanga, A. R. M. (2009). Rediscovering traditional peacebuilding practices in post-war Northern Uganda. Master of Arts Program in peace, development, security and international conflict transformation dissertation, University of Innsbruck.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, K. (2010). Women and women’s organizations in post-conflict societies: The role of International Assistance Center for Development Information and Evaluation. Washington, DC: USAID.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamony, S. A. (2008). Alternative forms of traditional justice in Uganda. Draft manuscript, Kampala: Uganda Coalition for the ICC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lihamba, A. (2003). Women’s peace-building and conflict resolution skills, Morogoro region, Tanzania. In E. C. Munoz (Ed.), Women and peace building in Africa: Case studies on traditional conflict resolution practices. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malan, J. (1997). Conflict resolution wisdom from Africa. Durban: ACCORD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masinde, I., Adan, M., & Ruto, P. (2004). Indigenous democracy: Traditional conflict resolution mechanisms. In Pokot, Turukana, Samburu and Marakwet. In B. Rabar & M. Karimi (Eds.), Nairobi: Intermediate Technology Development Group-Eastern Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathey, M. J., Dejan, T., Deballe, M., Sopio, R., Koulaninga, A., & Moga, J. (2003). The role played by women of the Central African Republic in the prevention and resolutions of conflicts. In E. C. Munoz (Ed.), Women and peace building in Africa: Case studies on traditional conflict resolution practices (pp. 35–46). Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mbiti, J. S. (2008). African religions and philosophy. Harlow: Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miall, H., Ramsbotham, O., & Woodhouse, T. (2005). Contemporary conflict resolution: The prevention, management and transformation of deadly conflicts (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Polity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohammed, A. (2003). The role of Somali women in the search for peace. In E. C. Munoz (Fwd.), Women and peace building in Africa: Case studies on traditional conflict resolution practices. UNESCO, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muñoz, E. C. (Ed.). (2003). Women and peace in Africa: Case studies on traditional conflict resolution practices. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murithi, T. (2006). African approaches to building peace and social solidarity. In J. Mallan & R. Kamidza (Eds.), African journal on conflict resolution (Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 16–17). Durban: ACCORD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ngongo-Mbede, V. (2003). The traditional mediation of conflicts by women in Cameroon. In E. C. Munoz (Fwd.), Women and peace building in Africa: Case studies on traditional conflict resolution practices. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ntahobari, J., & Ndayiziga, B. (2003). The role of Burundian women in peaceful settlement of conflicts. In E. C. Munoz (Ed.), Women and peace building in Africa: Case studies on traditional conflict resolution practices. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Odedo, R. (2005). Study of traditional mechanisms of conflict resolution among Local Communities in Yumbe & Koboko Districts, West Nile Region. Kampala: Tropical Business Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Omona, A. D. (2015). Management of postcolonial intrastate conflicts in Uganda: A case of Northern Uganda. Ph.D. Thesis, Kenyatta University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oywa, R. (2002). Women’s contribution to peace building in northern Uganda. In O. Lucima (Ed.), Protracted conflict, elusive peace initiatives to end the violence in northern Uganda (pp. 60–61). London: ACCORD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pajibo, E. (2008). Traditional justice mechanisms: The Liberian case. In L. Huyse & M. Salter (Eds.), Traditional justice after a violent conflict: Learning from African experience. Stockholm, IDEA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pkyala, R., Adan, M., & Masinde, I. (2004). In B. Rabar & M. Karimi (Eds.), Indigenous democracy: Traditional conflict resolution mechanisms; Pokot, Turukana, Samburu and Marakwet. Nairobi: Intermediate Technology Development Group-Eastern Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reychler, L., & Paffenholz, T. (2001). Peacebuilding: A field guide. New York: Lynne Reinner Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

Further Reading

  • Francis, D. J. (Ed.). (2008). Conflict and peace in Africa. London/New York: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, K. (2010). Women and women’s organizations in post-conflict societies: The role of International Assistance Center for Development Information and Evaluation. Washington, DC: USAID.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lederach, J. P. (2004). Building peace: Sustainable reconciliation in divided societies, Sixth Printing. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luc, H., & Mark, S. (Eds.) (2008). Traditional justice after a violent conflict: Learning from African experience. Stockholm: IDEA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malan, J. (1997). Conflict resolution wisdom from Africa. Durban: ACCORD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munoz, E. C. (Ed.) (2003).Women and peace building in Africa: Case studies on traditional conflict resolution practices. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Uganda

    David Andrew Omona

Authors
  1. David Andrew Omona
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Andrew Omona .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Centre for Policing and Security, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK

    Scott N. Romaniuk

  2. Institute for International, Political and Regional Studies, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary

    Péter N. Marton

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Omona, D.A. (2023). Indigenous Peacebuilding. In: Romaniuk, S.N., Marton, P.N. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Global Security Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74319-6_65

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation