Theatre and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria: The 2012 Assakio Ethnic Conflict as Paradigm

Abstract

All across the world, but especially within the African continent, conflicts caused by either man or nature are evident. Almost all countries in Africa have stories of one conflict or the other engraved in its history. Nigeria has been witnessing its own conflicts which cut across the length and breadth of the country. From the North to the South, from the East to the West conflicts of different magnitudes- ethnic, religious, political, economic, communal among others have ravaged the country‟s unity, peace and development. However, one major conflict that has become a recurrent decimal and so prominent within the Nigerian body polity today is ethnic conflict. This is because Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and developing federation richly endowed with both natural, human and material resources; hence contestation for space, recognition, relevance and resources has become the order of the day. Again, the return to democratic rule after a very long period of military rule as well as the proliferation of militia groups jostling for space and recognition in the country‟s polity seemed to have opened the floodgates of ethnic conflicts. With the democratic opening, the space now exists for these pent-up feelings to come to the fore, often leading to clashes amongst the various ethnic groups inhabiting the country. Unfortunately, the so-called democracy which many clamoured, scrambled, fought and died for over the years has not been able to resolve the numerous inter-ethnic conflicts that have contributed in no small measure to the undermining of Nigeria‟s democratic experiment and the subversion of the goals of nationhood. Assakio Development Area of Nasarawa state is one of the communities that witnessed inter-ethnic conflicts over the years with its devastating consequences which remain the bane of her development. This paper therefore looks at the 2012 ethnic conflict at Assakio Development Area as well as its aftermath and how Theatre for Development can be utilized to engage the people to participate actively in conflicts mitigation, mediation and resolution. The paper concludes that, for Nigeria to remain on the right side of history, it must always pursue an agenda for conflict management and resolution via the instrumentality of the theatre.