JOURNAL OF ARTS, RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY AND CULTURAL STUDIES
The Journal of Arts, Religion, Philosophy, and Cultural Studies ( ISSN: 3121-8644; E-ISSN: 3121-8636) is a multidisciplinary platform committed to fostering scholarly discourse and critical inquiry at the intersections of art, spirituality, philosophical thought, and cultural dynamics. This journal serves as a space where diverse voices and perspectives converge to explore the intricate tapestry of human experience across time, geography, and ideology.
BETWEEN REALISM AND ANTIREALISM IN PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Although the contemporary debate between scientific realism and antirealism emerged in the twentieth-century, its root goes back to philosophical questions about the nature of reality and the possibility of human knowledge. These questions were first raised by the Milesians who sought the fundamental constituents of the universe. The concerns were subsequently developed by philosophers such as Plato, Kant, and others, who broadened the inquiry from the search for ultimate substance of reality to questions concerning the nature, limits, and scope of human knowledge. With the rise of modern science and its remarkable success, philosophical attention shifted to the aims of scientific inquiry, the status of scientific theories, and the nature of scientific progress. It is within this context that the debate between scientific realism and scientific antirealism emerged dividing philosophers into two broad schools of thought, namely; scientific realists and scientific antirealists. Scientific realists maintain that the primary aim of science is the discovery of truth and that successful scientific theories are approximately true representations of reality. Scientific antirealists, by contrast, argue that the historical replacement of once-successful scientific theories and the underdetermination of theory by evidence undermines such claims, emphasizing instead the problem-solving features of scientific theories. Using documentary sources and conceptual analysis, this paper critically examines both positions within the framework of the history of science. It argues that while scientific realism provides the most compelling explanation for the success of modern science, it does not fully account for the provisional and historically situated character of scientific knowledge. Conversely, although scientific antirealism rightly emphasizes the fallibility and revisability of scientific theories, it does not adequately explain the enduring success of scientific practice. The paper therefore defends critical realism as a via media that preserves the realist commitment to a mind-independent reality while incorporating the antirealist insight that scientific theories remain revisable and subject to continual empirical and critical evaluation
Scientific Realism, Scientific Antirealism, Critical Realism, History of Science, Scientific Progress, Philosophy of Science
SECONDARY ORALITY IN THE DIGITAL ADAPTATION OF IGBO FOLKTALES
The rapid expansion of digital communication technologies has created new opportunities for the preservation and transmission of indigenous oral traditions. Although traditional storytelling practices have declined in many African communities due to social and technological transformations, digital platforms have emerged as alternative spaces through which oral narratives are performed, preserved, and disseminated. This study examines the manifestation of secondary orality in the digital adaptation of selected Igbo folktales. Anchored in Walter J. Ong's theory of secondary orality, the study investigates how the defining features of traditional oral performance are reconstructed within contemporary digital storytelling environments. The study adopts a qualitative research design and draws data from three digitally narrated Igbo folktales: Ihe Mere Ọkụkọ Ji Abọ Ala, Ihe Mere Nwologbo Ji Egbu Oke, and Ihe Mere Mbe Ji Nwee Okpokoro Mpekele Mpekele. Data were collected through observation, translation, and textual-performance analysis. Particular attention was given to narrative structure, formulaic expressions, repetition, song performance, linguistic creativity, symbolic representation, and other features associated with traditional oral performance. The findings reveal that the selected folktales retain significant elements of Igbo oral tradition despite their adaptation to digital media environments. The narratives preserve conventional storytelling formulas, direct speech, repetition, musical performance, indigenous symbolic systems, and culturally embedded communicative practices that have historically characterized Igbo oral storytelling. The study further demonstrates that digital storytelling platforms function as contemporary sites of oral performance, where traditional narrative techniques are reconstituted through technologically mediated communication. The study concludes that the digital adaptation of Igbo folktales represents not merely.
Secondary Orality, Igbo Folktales, Digital Storytelling, Oral Performance, Digital Adaptation
Obasi, Benedeth Chibuzor; Chika, Umennaike Chidi; Elom Ejikeme Akpenyi
TEXTILE SCULPTURE: EXPLORATION OF SOME INTERIOR DECORATION OBJECTS USING TUFTING TECHNIQUE
This study explores the use of tufting techniques in textile design to create innovative and functional interior decorative sculptural objects by merging craftsmanship with contemporary design, the research showcases how tufting can transform simple materials into three-dimensional artworks that redefine interior spaces. It focused on three distinct pieces flower vase, zebra textile sculpture and a fish textile sculpture. Each work highlights the versatility of tufting its capacity to evoke aesthetic appeal. The flower vase incorporates diverse inspirations including African wax-prints patterns, the zebra textile sculpture has a bold visual statement rich with texture and pattern while the fish textile sculpture captures dynamic motion appearing as if diving gracefully into water. The creative process began with conceptual sketches and progressed to armature construction using welded rods. Patterns were drawn in reverse on monk cloth stretched over a tufting frame, tufted with acrylic yarns and then affixed to the armatures to create the final forms. This meticulous process produced textile sculptures that combine artistic expressions with cultural storytelling. The findings underscore tufting’s potential as a sustainable and innovative medium for textile sculpture, capable of bridging tradition and modernity in interior designs.
Textiles, Sculpture, Textile sculpture, Interior decoration, Tufting
Chika Chudi - Duru, PhD; Hilary Okoye; Osegbo, Christiana
KIDNAPPING AND TERRORISM IN UMUNNEOCHI LGA, ABIA STATE: COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND LOCAL COMMUNITY RESPONSES 2020-2023
Kidnapping, terrorism, and the associated demands for ransom have emerged as serious security challenges in Isuochi and across Nigeria. The presence of cattle herders in the forests of Isuochi since 2018 has contributed to significant security concerns in Abia State. These challenges have resulted in severe socio-economic, psychological, and political consequences, as well as the tragic loss of lives. This study investigates the nature and incidence of kidnapping between 2020 and 2024, examining its consequences and the measures adopted by both the government and local communities to address the menace. The study focuses on kidnapping and terrorism in the Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State. It adopted a qualitative research design, with data collected through interviews, personal communications, newspaper reports, journal articles, and community speeches. The data were analysed using descriptive and textual methods. The findings reveal that the major causes of kidnapping include poverty, unemployment, the pursuit of political power driven by greed, and the presence of armed Fulani herders in the forests and farmlands of Umunneochi. The study also found that existing anti-kidnapping laws in Nigeria have been largely ineffective and that the government's response has been inadequate. Although community-led initiatives have achieved some success in addressing the problem, these efforts have not been sustained because of the high cost of providing adequate security. The consequences of kidnapping are far-reaching, including economic losses arising from ransom payments, loss of life, psychological trauma, and social stigma. The study recommends that the government address the underlying causes of poverty and unemployment, strengthen the enforcement of anti-kidnapping laws, and improve the capacity, welfare, and accountability of law enforcement agencies. It also recommends the imposition of appropriately severe penalties, in accordance with the law, for those convicted of kidnapping.
Kidnapping, Terrorism, Ransom, Herdsmen, Community, Consequences
BETWEEN ROOT AND ROUTES: UNDERSTANDING AFRICANNESS AND AFROPOLITANISM IN “SO THE PATH DOES NOT DIE” BY PEDE HOLLIST
This paper explores the concepts of Africanness and Afropolitanism as represented in “So The Path does not Die” (2012) by Pede Hollist, a diasporic narrative that engages with issues of identity, migration, and cultural negotiation. The novel chronicles the experiences of Finaba Marah, a Sierra Leonean woman whose journey from Freetown to the United States foregrounds the tensions between traditional African values and modern transnational identities. Hollist situates Africanness within the framework of communal belonging, indigenous customs, and gendered social expectations epitomized by the female initiation ritual that marks Finaba’s passage into womanhood. Conversely, Afropolitanism emerges through Finaba’s encounter with cosmopolitan spaces that challenge fixed notions of identity and enable new forms of hybridity and self-definition. The paper argues that Hollist’s narrative resists monolithic constructions of African identity by presenting Africanness and Afropolitanism being fluid and intersecting than mutually exclusive. Drawing on the theoretical insights from Achille Mbembe, Simon Gikandi, and Taiye Selasi, the study situates the text within broader debates on African modernity, diaspora and postcolonial subjectivity. Ultimately, Hollist’s text reimagines the African woman’s journey not as a linear movement from tradition to modernity, but as a complex negotiation between rootedness and global mobility-a testament to the evolving meanings of being African in the twenty –first century.
Afropolitanism, Africanness, diasporic, hybridity
MEDICAL IMPERIALISM AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IN EPIDEMIC CONTROL: LESSONS FROM THE BUBONIC PLAGUE IN COLONIAL LAGOS (1924–1931) FOR CONTEMPORARY PUBLIC HEALTH GOVERNANCE
This article examines the bubonic plague outbreak in colonial Lagos (1924–1931) through the intersecting frameworks of medical imperialism, cultural trust, and indigenous knowledge systems in epidemic control. It argues that colonial public health interventions, grounded in Eurocentric biomedical rationalities, were constrained not only by limited epidemiological effectiveness but also by failures of cultural recognition and legitimacy. By privileging coercive sanitary regimes such as quarantine enforcement, port surveillance, forced disinfection, and spatial segregation, colonial authorities systematically marginalised indigenous healing practices and community-based health responses central to local understandings of disease causation and care. Drawing on colonial medical reports, administrative archives, vernacular newspapers such as Eleti-Ofe, and secondary historical scholarship, the study reconstructs the plurality of responses to the plague. These include ethnomedical treatments, herbal pharmacology, spiritual healing practices, and religious coping strategies across Christian, Muslim, and traditional belief systems. It also shows that resistance to colonial health measures was not merely non-compliance, but was rooted in distrust produced by cultural insensitivity, disruption of burial rites, and coercive medical governance. Colonial public health in Lagos functioned as a form of biopolitical control regulating African bodies and urban space while failing to achieve sustained epidemic containment, as reflected in persistently high mortality rates and recurring outbreaks. By recovering indigenous health interventions as rational and adaptive responses, this article challenges historiographies that privilege Western biomedicine as the dominant explanation for epidemic control. The article concludes by drawing contemporary relevance from this historical case, highlighting the enduring importance of cultural trust, epistemic inclusion, and community engagement in pandemic governance. It argues that neglect of cultural context in health systems historically and in contemporary global health crises, continues to shape mistrust, resistance, and unequal health outcomes.
Medical Imperialism, Indigenous Knowledge, Cultural Trust, Epidemic Control, Bubonic Plague, Contemporary Public Health Governance, Colonial Lagos
DECOLONIZING THE CURRICULUM THROUGH IMMERSIVE STORYTELLING: THE IMPACT OF AUGMENTED REALITY ON STUDENT ENGAGEMENT WITH SOCIO-SOCIAL HISTORY IN NIGERIAN HIGHER EDUCATION
The restoration of history to the Nigerian curriculum following a sixteen-year attempt at “foundational erasure" (2009–2025) has triggered a profound "restoration crisis" in Higher Education, characterized by a generation of students cognitively distanced from their national identity. This study employs a Comparative Empirical Analysis to measure the "Success Ratio" of Augmented Reality as an itinerant pathway for bypassing systemic technological neglect and the stagnation of traditional 2D textbooks. Drawing on a landscape where professionals report a lack of ICT integration and existing tools suffer from low functionality, we contrast the Nigerian "passive recipient" baseline with validated international benchmarks. Empirical data from Japan and the Philippines demonstrates that Augmented Reality (AR) mediated immersive storytelling can boost knowledge retention from a stagnant 5% to a transformative 25%, effectively bridging the "retention gap" created by the "null curriculum". By synthesizing findings on historical empathy and the artifact advantage in archaeological AR, this research argues that 3D digital reconstructions facilitate digital repatriation, granting students and even lecturers sensory access to cultural treasures currently inaccessible due to physical or colonial erasure. The study concludes that the transition to a constructivist, AR-empowered classroom is an epistemological necessity for digital decolonization. The paper recommends mandatory digitalization metrics for university accreditation and the establishment of a National AR Artifact Library to reinstate indigenous vantage points within the Nigerian Humanities
Augmented Reality in History Education, Nigerian History Restoration, Digital Decolonization, Itinerant Curriculum, Historical Empathy, Digital Repatriation, 4IR Pedagogy, Null Curriculum, Knowledge Retention Gap, Immersive Storytelling
NNỌCHITE ANYA NKWENYE NA OMENALA NDỊ IGBO N’IME AGỤMAGỤ
Akwụkwọ agụmagụ bụ otu ụzọ dị mkpa e si egosipụta echiche, ahụmihe na ndụ ndị mmadụ. Ọ na-arụkwa ọrụ dịka akụrụngwa na-egosipụta omenala na nkwenye nke obodo. Agụmagụ bụ ọrụ nka nke na-ekpughe echiche na nghọta onye odee banyere ndụ n’ime obodo ma na-enye aka ịkọwa usoro ndụ, omume na ụkpụrụ mmekọrịta dị iche iche n’etiti mmadụ na ibe ya. Nkwenye bụ usoro echiche maọbụ ozizi ndị mmadụ maọbụ obodo nabatara dịka eziokwu, ebe omenala bụ nnyefe omume, nkwenye na usoro ndụ site n’otu ọgbọ gaa n’ọgbọ ọzọ. Nchọcha a lekwasịrị anya n’ịtụle ụfọdụ nkwenye na omenala ndị Igbo dịka e gosipụtara ha n’akwụkwọ Ụwa dị omimi na Ekwutọsị, site n’iji ha kọwaa etu agụmagụ si bụrụ ụzọ e si echekwa ma na-ekpughe ndụ ọdịbendị ndị Igbo. Nchọcha a gbasoro usoro nkọwa. E jiri atụtụ nnọchite omenala nke Hall wee tụchaa nchọcha a. A chọpụtara na agụmagụ Igbo na-arụ ọrụ dị mkpa n’ịkọwa na ịkwalite omenala na nkwenye ndị Igbo. E si n’agụmagụ ndị a họọrọ were gosipụta ụfọdụ nkwenye dịka nkwenye na chi, ịkwa ozu, nrọ na nkwenye na omume ọma na mmehie nwere ụgwọ ọrụ ha. A chọpụtara na omenala ndị Igbo dịka alụmdi na nwunye, ekele, ịgọ ọjị na nwa nwoke ịnọchi anya nna ya pụtara nke ọma n’ime akwụkwọ ndị a. A chọpụtakwara na agụmagụ na-enye aka ichekwa ọdịbendị ndị Igbo site n’idekọ ma na-egosịpụta ndụ ha n’ụdị a pụrụ ịghọta. N’ihi nke a, agụmagụ bụ ngwaọrụ siri ike n’ịkụziri ọgbọ ọhụrụ gbasara omenala na nkwenye ha na ịkwalite nghọta n’etiti obodo dị iche iche. A tụrụ aro na ndị na ede akwụkwọ agụmagụ Igbo kwesịrị ịga n’ihu n’ide akwụkwọ ga na-egosipụta nke ọma nkwenye na omenala ndị Igbo ka e wee chekwaa ọdịbendị ahụ maka ọgbọ na-abịa n’ihu.
Ayozie Chioma Rosemary; Mgborogwu Andrew Chukwuemeka
EXIL DANS MICROCOSME: EXPLORATION DU PARCOURS DE MOÏSE DANS PETIT PIMENTD'ALAIN MABANCKOU
Le microcosme s’inscrit dans un macrocosme où chaque individu apparaît à un moment ou à un autre. Ainsi, en tant que nouveau-né, Moïse, le protagoniste de Petit piment, vit un exil au sein de l’orphelinat de Loango, présenté comme un microcosme reflétant la société postcoloniale congolaise. Ce travail vise à mettre en lumière le parcours culturel du narrateur-enfant autodiégétique afin d’établir la place des enfants dans une société congolaise multiculturelle en mettant l’accent sur les impacts de la diversité culturelle sur les enfants et sur la société dans son ensemble dans le roman Petit piment (2015) d’Alain Mabanckou. L’étude cherche également à déterminer comment les enfants peuvent devenir des vecteurs de guérison face aux blessures causées par les divisions culturelles. Cet article se base sur la théorie sociocritique et la psychanalyse L’analyse textuelle qualitative constitue la méthodologie de cette recherche. L'auteur met en avant à l'instar de Moïse, le rôle essentiel des enfants pour favoriser la tolérance des différentes cultures, en exhortant les échanges culturels entre les pays africains. Il souligne pareillement que l'enfance est la période idéale pour vivre une expérience multiculturelle, consentant aux enfants de cohabiter harmonieusement avec les autres, où qu'ils se trouvent. Enfin, cette étude met en lumière la capacité des enfants à dépasser les frontières culturelles et à participer à la composition d'une société plus inclusive.
Exil, Diversité culturelle, Petit piment, Sociocritique, Psychanalyse
FAMILY STRUCTURE AND THE HEGELIAN INTERPRETATION
The aim of this paper is to analyse family in its trans-cultural pattern using Hegelian interpretation. Using the method of exposition and analysis, this paper shows how the human family is not mere human convention but a determined natural design through which natural safeguards for offsprings are guaranteed and human societies are founded. This paper studies Hegel’s interpretation to family and family love as it expresses the structure of Geist (Spirit). Thus the family is the externalisation of the inner structure of man. The family’s status is well known as a moral imperative, where man learns language which distinguishes him from the rest of animals and constitutes the essence of man as a species. In other words, it is in the family setting that man is humanised. According to Hegel, the symbolic transcendence of death is obvious through rituals of burial when the family takes upon itself the final duties of consigning the dead individual to the sphere of abstract negativity, thus preventing him from falling prey to the unconscious forces of mere nature. Unfortunately, Plato tried to abolish the family in favour of his political revolution. On appraisal, this study shows that Plato failed to realise that such structures as the family which has existed trans-culturally cannot be conventional but deep rooted in human nature and thus cannot easily be obliterated. Hegel maintains that just as the individual is shown to be immanently contradictory in terms of being, as both self-sufficient and dependent upon others, so too is the family. Not only is the family both a self-sufficient unity and a dependent part of a greater whole, but also, the aim of its unity which is the cultivation of self-sufficient individuals, is achieved only by its dissolution into larger body of family, the civil society.
Hegel, family structure, man, Plato, society
IGBO TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND CULTURAL IDENTITY: CONTEMPORARY INFLUENCES AND TRANSFORMATIONS IN IGBO SOCIETY
Music is widely recognized as an integral component of culture because it embodies and communicates the values, beliefs, and practices of a people. Among the Igbo of Nigeria, music occupies a central place in social, religious, and ceremonial activities, serving as a medium through which cultural identity is expressed and preserved. This study examines the various aspects of Igbo culture reflected in traditional music and explores the contemporary influences, both internal and external, that have shaped traditional musical forms and practices. The research adopted a qualitative approach, utilizing bibliographic sources and participant observation as methods of data collection. The study is anchored in Reflection Theory and Cultural Change Theory, which provide a framework for understanding the relationship between music, culture, and social transformation. The study concludes that although contemporary influences have transformed the modes of transmission, performance contexts, and stylistic features of Igbo traditional music, its core cultural values and identity-bearing functions remain largely intact.
Igbo traditional music, cultural identity, cultural transformation, indigenous music, globalization, Igbo culture
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF IBONO CULTURAL FESTIVAL ON THE PEOPLE OF IWOLLO OGHE OF ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA
Ibono also known as mmamwu Ibono is a popular masquerade festival celebrated not only by the people of Iwollo but also by the entire Oghe clans, including communities such as Olo, Awha and Amagu-Umulokpa, all located in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State of South-eastern Nigeria. Among the communities that celebrate the festival, the Ibono Iwollo masquerade cultural festival however remains the most popular, widely celebrated, outstanding, entertaining, and revered. As one of the surviving cultural festivals and practices of the Iwollo people, the Ibono Iwollo masquerade festival attracts large number of visitors and tourists from within and outside the community as well as neighboring villages, towns and communities. This paper examines the contributions of the festival to the socio-cultural and economic lives of the Iwollo people particularly in contemporary times and explores how it improves the public image of the community and its people. The study also investigates the challenges confronting the celebration of this festival, which have contributed to its gradual decline in quality, originality, and the preservation of associated customs and traditions. Furthermore, the paper also discusses the activities associated with the Ibono masquerade festival in Oghe and examines issues relating to masquerades and masquerading, particularly the exclusion of women from masquerade cult in Iwollo, Oghe and most parts of Igboland. Employing historical research methodology, the study utilized oral tradition and secondary sources of data, which provided the basis for the analysis and discussion of the subject. The study adopted both descriptive and analytical approaches, while the experiences and personal observations of the authors enriched the analysis. The paper recommends that the Ibono masquerade festival should be preserved and sustained to prevent it from going into extinction, as has been the case with many other cultural practices in Iwollo. Its preservation is important for posterity and for the continued promotion of the cultural heritage of the community despite criticisms and opposition from some adherents of certain Christian denominations, particularly those of Pentecostal extraction.
Ibono/mmanwu or masquerade, Culture, Festival, Iwollo and Oghe
Chidiobi, Okechukwu Christian; Ibekwe, Juliet Chinenye PhD
A PHILOSOPHICAL APPRAISAL OF THE CONCEPT PHENOMENALISM
The main task of early modern philosophy is the epistemological project of showing how knowledge is possible. Empiricism, as a school of thought in epistemology or theory of knowledge, was destined to alter the course and concerns of modern philosophy. While Bacon was interested, in the “total reconstruction of sciences, arts, and all human knowledge, raised upon the proper foundations”, John Locke, the founder of empiricism in Britain, aimed at the more modest objective of clearing the ground and removing some of the “rubbish” that lies in the way of knowledge (Lawhead: 213). It was at this process of “clearing” that Locke “hit upon a bold and original interpretation of how the mind works and the extent of knowledge we can expect from the human mind” (Stumpf: 251). For Locke, our knowledge is limited to our experience that is “empiricism”. Empiricism is a doctrine in philosophy which holds that the most reliable source of human knowledge is experience, that is, through observation and sometimes experimentation. This is a view contrasted with rationalism, a theory which states that reason is itself a source of knowledge superior to and independent of sense perceptions. However, Refinements of empiricism led to phenomenalism, positivism, scientism, logical positivism etc. Phenomenalism is a view in epistemology derives from the metaphysical notion “that objects are logical construction out of perceptual properties.” (Dictionary .com) It can also be considered a radical form of empiricism. Employing the method of critical analysis, this paper therefore examines the meaning, basic tenets and history of phenomenalism, as well as the phenomenalist position, its variants, themes and some objections to the theory of phenomenalism.
Empiricism, epistemology, modern philosophy, John Locke
ABIODUN OLAKU: ATMOSPHERIC ABSTRACTION AND THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF BODILY PRESENCE
This paper examines the paintings of Abiodun Olaku through the conceptual frameworks of atmospheric abstraction and phenomenology, with particular attention to the representation of bodily presence in contemporary Nigerian painting. While Olaku is widely recognized for his luminous urban and landscape compositions, this study argues that beneath their technical realism lies a phenomenological engagement with mood, embodiment, memory, and spatial perception. The paper investigates how atmosphere functions not merely as environmental depiction but as a sensory and psychological field through which human presence is implied, negotiated, and emotionally experienced. The study adopts a qualitative art-historical methodology grounded in formal analysis, phenomenological aesthetics, and interpretive criticism. Drawing on the theories of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Gernot Böhme, and contemporary discourse on affect and spatiality, the research analyzes selected works by Olaku in relation to light, tonal transitions, compositional rhythm, and the suggestive treatment of figures within urban environments. The paper further explores how silence, shadow, haze, and reflective surfaces contribute to an atmosphere that evokes corporeal awareness and emotional introspection. Findings reveal that Olaku’s paintings transcend documentary representation by constructing immersive visual experiences that situate viewers within psychologically charged environments. His atmospheric treatment of light and space produces a subtle tension between visibility and absence, thereby reinforcing the phenomenological relationship among body, perception, and place. The study concludes that Olaku’s work expands the discourse of contemporary Nigerian painting by integrating atmospheric abstraction with embodied perception, positioning his practice within broader conversations on affect, sensory experience, and postcolonial urban visuality.
Atmospheric abstraction, phenomenology, bodily presence, contemporary Nigerian painting, embodied perception
THE ROLE OF THEOMORPHISM AND ANTHROPOMORPHISM IN THE PRESERVATION OF IGBO ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE
This research examines the role of theomorphism and anthropomorphism in the preservation of the Igbo environment and culture. The study explores the ways in which traditional Igbo religious beliefs, cultural values, and symbolic representations of nature contribute to environmental conservation and cultural continuity. An investigation is conducted into the relationship among spirituality, indigenous ecological knowledge, and environmental ethics within Igbo society. A qualitative systematic literature review methodology was employed for the study, utilizing secondary data sourced from scholarly journals, books, cultural studies, and historical publications covering the period from 2020 to 2025. Thematic analysis was applied to interpret the collected data. The findings indicate that theomorphism and anthropomorphism exert substantial influence on the formation of environmental consciousness among the Igbo people. Sacred forests, rivers, animals, and natural objects are frequently associated with spiritual beings and ancestral powers, thereby promoting environmental protection and sustainable resource management. The study also identified that modernization, Westernization, Christianity, and urbanization have contributed to the decline of traditional environmental practices and cultural values. The study concludes that indigenous belief systems remain important instruments for environmental sustainability and cultural preservation within Igbo society. The research recommends the incorporation of indigenous ecological knowledge into contemporary environmental policies and educational frameworks.
Theomorphism, Anthropomorphism, Igbo environment, Igbo culture, Environmental conservation, Indigenous ecological knowledge, Traditional religion, Sacred forests
DECLINE OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES IN AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND TECH AGE: EXPERIENCES AND WAY FORWARD
In this study, an attempt has been made to vividly unveil the state of religious studies in Nigeria and the impact of artificial intelligence and technology on the discipline. The objective of the paper is to evaluate the relevance of the discipline. The research also investigates the challenges facing the field and proposes solutions aimed at cushioning its further decline. It is evident that the aspiration of studying religion in tertiary institutions has undermined by the current wave of technological advancement. In the past few decades, greater relevance and preference have been ascribed to Western driven disciplines and technology related skills. The qualitative analysis utilizes both primary and secondary data. This paper observes that enrollment in Religious Studies in Nigeria is declining because of the rise of technology, inferiority complex, secularism, proliferation of private universities and institutions, lack of interest by students, difficulty of some of the language components of the courses, economic instability and bad governance in Nigeria. Notwithstanding that religion has continued to grow, academic study of religion has continued to decline. The research recommends that Religious Studies in Nigeria should be repositioned through a total educational overhaul that incorporates computer practical knowledge and relevant A.I certifications into students’ academic activities. It is important that the teaching of these skills be attached reasonably to the various course descriptions and contents of the various institutions. It is also necessary for the lecturers to become acquainted with relevant technological skills to ensure more effective delivery of the courses.
Religious studies, Artificial intelligence, Science, Technology and Nigeria
MOTHERHOOD DEFIANCE: SPECULATING THE FUTURE FROM THE PRESENT IN BUCHI EMECHETA 'S SECOND CLASS CITIZEN AND NNEDI OKOROAFOR ‘S THE BOOK OF PHOENIX
Motherhood defiance is a woman's determination to be self-reliance and her refusal to be controlled by the patriarchal society she lives in. It is when a woman rejects gender stereotype and challenges patriarchy and stands her ground for socio-economic and political improvement. In African literature, motherhood can be described as strength characterized in femininity. Motherhood defiance conceptualizes a woman unique mothering experience while maintaining her autonomy and identity. Emecheta’s Second-Class Citizen has been critiqued from a standpoint of female autonomy, identity formation and resistance against women oppression and colonial legacies, while studies on Okoroafor's The Book of Phoenix focused on her speculative fiction as a critique to gendered violence and social inequality. From motherism, a decolonial feminist approach, this paper aims to portray motherhood as a form of defiance and empowerment in traditional and speculative African fiction. However, our interpretation of motherhood from the old and the recent texts, is a speculation of the future from the existing feminist canons.
Motherhood, African feminism, Buchi Emecheta, Nnedi Okoroafor, and gender empowerment
Chinasa Abonyi; Sopuluchchukwu Blessing Madubuchi
Copyright (c) 2025 JOURNAL OF ARTS, RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY AND CULTURAL STUDIES
DISCURSIVE STRATEGIES OF POSITIVE SELF-PRESENTATION AND NEGATIVE OTHER- PRESENTATION IN THE SELECTED SPEECHES OF NNAMDI KANU AND SUNDAY IGBOHO
This study explores the discursive construction of positive self-presentation and negative other-presentation in the political speeches of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho, with the aim to understanding how language is deployed to construct collective identity and resistance. Anchored on Critical Discourse Analysis of van Dijk’s (2006) socio-cognitive framework, the research investigates how both activists linguistically differentiate between the in-group and the out-group, thereby reinforcing ethnic consciousness and political mobilization. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study consists of purposively selected speeches based on their thematic relevance to identity construction. The analysis dwells on how linguistic and rhetorical features such as inclusive pronouns, and framing are used to foster in-group cohesion. Findings show that the activists consistently use the ideological square of positive self-presentation and negative other-presentation to create a polarized worldview that legitimizes their resistance agendas. They draw on shared historical experiences and collective grievances to solidify solidarity among their ethnic groups that form their teeming audiences. The study argues that othering and solidarity-building are not merely linguistic acts but powerful socio-political tools that shape perception, reinforce group boundaries, and sustain resistance movements. The study concludes that in-group and out-group solidarity are powerful discursive instruments that goes beyond mere linguistic choices to shape perception, influence cognition, and sustain socio-political movements. The study contributes to current scholarly readings on discourse and identity construction in multilingual and politically complex societies like Nigeria. It provides insight into how political actors including activists manipulate language to build ideological divisions in Nigeria’s socio-political context.
positive self-representation, negative other-representation, critical discourse analysis, identity construction, rhetorical features
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN POST-CIVIL WAR IN OKIGWE URBAN, 1970 – 1996
The post-civil war economic development in Okigwe (1970-1996) examines how the people of Okigwe urban coped economically after the civil war. The study focuses on strategies adopted for survival in the aftermath of a devesting conflict that lasted for three years and resulted in the loss of pf businesses and economic assets. With the end of the war, many residents returned home and were compelled to rebuild their livelihoods from scratch, primarily through agriculture and the sale of farm produce. Although the Federal Government proclaimed a policy of “No Victor, No Vanquished” and introduced the three Rs-Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, and Reintegrationthese measures were inadequately implemented, thereby worsening the economic condition of the people. Like many other Igbo communities, the people of Okigwe took their fate in their own hands. Artisans established workshops to revive their trade, while traders engaged in small-scale commerce with limited resources. The Federal Government’s policy of issuing a flat payment of #20 to banks account holders, regardless of pre-war savings, further constrained economic recovery and contributed to the stagnation of the economy in Eastern Nigeria, including Okigwe Urban. However, within approximately five years after the war, the people demonstrated remarkable economic resilience and began to recover. This recovery can be attributed to a combination of individual enterprise, community efforts, and limited governmental support. Notably, the government of East Central State, alongside the Federal Government, contributed to development through the establishment of schools, agricultural institutions, and housing in Okigwe Urban.
Okigwe urban, British colonial land, post-war, Nigerian civil-war, Policies, federal government, artisans social, economy, agriculture, community, Eastern Nigeria
OJIRIDIKE, IBE STEVE; EMERITUS PROF. GEOFERY I. NWAKA
ÉTUDES EN TERMINOLOGIE MÉDICALE: UN GLOSSAIRE BILINGUE (ANGLAIS-FRANÇAIS) DES TERMES LIÉS À LA TUBERCULOSE
This study is aimed at producing a bilingual (English- French) glossary of key medical terms related to tuberculosis (TB), with a view to facilitating accurate communication in clinical, educational, and public health settings, particularly in Francophone and Anglophone contexts. Based on authoritative sources, including the Canadian TERMIUM PLUS, terminology database and the Canadian Public Health glossary for TB. The study identifies core terms such as “tuberculosis” (tuberculose), “multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB)” (tuberculose multi-resistante), "airborne infection isolation room” (chambred’isolement des infections aéroportées), “Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC)” (complexe Mycobacterium tuberculosis), and “contact” (contact), providing precise definitions in source language and translating them into the target language. Thus, the glossary not only includes direct translations but also contextual definitions tailored to TB epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, and public health protocols. By standardizing these terms, the work supports multilingual healthcare professionals, translators, and researchers in achieving clarity and avoiding ambiguity. Future expansion could include comprehensive terminology for treatment regimens, drug- resistant strains (such as XDR-TB), and related symptoms or laboratory procedures, this bilingual glossary therefore represents an essential reference tool for improving tuberculosis-related communication, training, and documentation across English and French-speaking healthcare environments.
OKEKE OGECHUKWU JULIET; IWUNZE EMEKA INNOCENT Ph.D; ANYABUIKE CYRIL Ph.D
KNOWLEDGE AND PREVALENCE OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG UNDERGRADUATES OF NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY AND CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU UNIVERSITY IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA
This study focuses on assessing the knowledge and prevalence of self-medication among undergraduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Anambra State, Nigeria. It examines students’ knowledge of self-medication, major reasons for engaging in the practice, its prevalence, associated consequences, and possible intervention strategies, as outlined in the research objectives. Four theories were reviewed, namely: opportunist theory, self-medication theory, differential association theory, and health belief theory. However, the study adopted two theories as its theoretical framework: self-medication theory and opportunist theory. The study employed a mixed-method research design. The target population for Nnamdi Azikiwe University was 24,706 regular undergraduates, while that of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University was 10,875 undergraduates. A structured questionnaire was administered to 360 students selected from the two universities. Quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25, and presented in tables and charts. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis with NVivo software (version 2.0). The hypotheses were tested using Chi-square (χ²) inferential statistics. The study found that the knowledge and prevalence of self-medication are remarkably high among undergraduates of both universities. The study recommends that efforts should be intensified to discourage self-medication practices among university students in Nigeria through awareness campaigns and improved access to healthcare services.
Exposure, health-seeking behavior, knowledge, self-medication, undergraduates
IBIK, CHINECHEREM EMMANUEL; Okeke, Obinna Chukwudalu (PhD)
AN INQUIRY INTO THE RESURGENCE OF UKA-EKE, UKA-ORIE, UKA-AFOR, AND UKA-NKWO CELEBRATIONS AMONG CONTEMPORARY IGBO YOUTHS: A PARADIGM SHIFT OR A DECLINE IN CULTURAL TRADITION
The resurgence of interest among contemporary Igbo youths in the celebration of Uka-Eke, Uka-Orie, Uka-Afor, and Uka-Nkwo has sparked scholarly debate about their cultural significance, motivations, continuity, and authenticity. Historically, the four-day market cycle has structured religious observance, economic activity, and social organization within Igbo cosmology. However, in many communities in southeastern Nigeria, particularly in Anambra State, these celebrations are increasingly promoted by youths through organized cultural displays and Sunday gatherings held in the evening after Christian worship. This study examines whether this development signals a paradigm shift toward cultural renaissance and identity reconstruction, transformation of traditional religious substance into symbolic performance, or a decline of Igbo traditional religious culture. Using a qualitative approach grounded in cultural sociology and religious studies, the research draws on interviews, and participant observation to analyze youth motivations, forms of expression, and communal responses. Findings suggest that this trend does not represent a decline in cultural tradition but rather a revival that reflects strong identity consciousness and a desire for heritage preservation. It also reveals a reconfiguration of indigenous religious meanings into a largely cultural Igbo social expression. The study concludes that the contemporary celebration of the four market days constitutes a revival rather than an outright decline, although its long-term continuity remains uncertain. This development represents a negotiated adaptation shaped by modernity, Christianity, and youth agency. The study contributes to broader discussions on cultural continuity, religious transformation, and indigenous time consciousness practices in contemporary Igbo society.
Igbo youths, Uka-Eke, Uka-Orie, Uka-Afor, Uka-Nkwo, Cultural Revival, Religious Transformation, Indigenous Calendar
POPULISM, PROTEST, AND POLITICAL ORDER IN NIGERIA: A BURKEAN REFLECTION ON THE LIMITS OF RADICAL CHANGE
Since it returned to democratic rule in 1999 after protracted period of military regimes, Nigeria has experienced reoccurring waves of political activism, populist movements and public demands for rapid political and economic transformation. Ranging from nationwide protests against corruption, police brutality and security challenges to secessionist agitations and calls for restructuring, the country faces heightened pressure for political transformation. This study interrogates these challenges within the framework of Edmund Burke’s’ social and political theory. Writing in a context similar to Nigeria’s current political climate characterized by strong popular demand for political transformation, Burke emphasizes the importance of tradition, prudence, and gradual reform in maintaining social and political stability. He warned against the dangers of radical and sudden changes, arguing that political institutions and customs embody accumulated wisdom essential for societal cohesion. Using the library method and hermeneutics for data collection and analysis respectively, the study applies Burke’s insights to explore the risks posed by populist agitation and hurried political reforms to democratic governance, institutional integrity, and national unity. The paper finds that while public demands for change are legitimate, they must be moderated with prudence and respect for established institutions to ensure peace and sustainable governance. It concludes by highlighting not just the importance of Burke’s ideas in diagnosing Nigeria’s political challenges but also in proposing viable pathways for achieving stable and enduring political development.
Populism. Political Protest, Burkean Philosophy, Political Stability, Democratic Governance and Nigeria
A PHILOSOPHICAL STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION AND NATIONAL SECURITY IN NORTH-EAST NIGERIA
Nigeria is considered one of the countries most affected by insecurity in Africa, grappling with multiple forms of violence, including kidnapping, herdsmen-farmer clashes, armed banditry, inter and intra-communal conflicts, tribal clashes, terrorism, and other related threats. Although all six geopolitical zones are affected, the situation is particularly severe in North East Nigeria, the birthplace of the notorious Boko Haram insurgency, where millions have been killed and displaced. A plethora of scholarly interventions has sought to identify the causes of insecurity and propose solutions. Previous studies have examined the roles of poverty, bad governance, political will, training and equipping of law enforcement agents, and strengthening the criminal justice system in addressing insecurity. However, limited research has explored the nexus between insecurity and the consequences of globalization, such as advancements in weapons, information and transportation technology, and the economic challenges facing countries in the Global South. Existing empirical studies tend to focus narrowly on poverty without connecting it to globalization. This study employs an analytical method to explore the contribution of globalization to insecurity in North East Nigeria. Findings reveal that the consequences of globalization including improvements in communication and transportation, as well as economic hardship in the Global South have significantly contributed to insecurity in the region. Based on these insights, the study recommends that the federal government allocate all budgeted financial resources for sophisticated weaponry, implement effective compensation schemes for personnel and their families, and prioritize these measures as a more effective approach to combating insurgency in North East Nigeria.
North East Nigeria (NEN), globalization, insecurity, Boko Haram, global south, poverty
CHALLENGES FACING PRIMARY SCHOOL MUSIC EDUCATION IN RURAL AREAS OF AWKA, ANAMBRA STATE
Music education is a critical component of holistic basic education, encompassing the teaching and learning of music theory, history, performance, and related skills. This study investigated the challenges facing music education in primary schools located in rural areas of Awka, Anambra State, with the aim of identifying these challenges and proposing viable solutions. A mixed-method research approach (qualitative and quantitative survey methods) was adopted, with data collected through oral interviews and direct observation. A total of four schools (two public and two private primary schools) were surveyed, with head teachers, school directors, and Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA) teachers serving as participants. The findings revealed several key issues: music is largely non-existent in the curriculum of most rural primary schools. Where it is present, it is often substituted with general musical activities and subsumed under Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA), rather than being taught as a distinct subject. There is also a shortage of qualified music teachers, inadequate instructional materials and resources, a lack of community and administrative support, and low awareness of the benefits of music education among parents, schools, and the wider community. The study recommends the sensitisation of rural communities to the relevance of music education in the formative years of children; the training and recruitment of competent music teachers by higher institutions and the government; the prioritisation of music education in rural schools; and the recognition of music as a distinct subject in both primary and post-primary school curricula.
Music education, remote areas of Anambra State, holistic basic education
THE WOLFISH TENDENCIES OF HUMAN NATURE: HOBBES'S LEVIATHAN AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN RELATIONS
This research explores the concept of "Homo Homini lupus: Man is a wolf to man" in Thomas Hobbes's philosophy, examining its implications for understanding human nature, society, and governance. By analyzing Hobbes's Leviathan, this study investigates the intersections between his views on human nature, melancholy, and animality. Hobbes's pessimistic account of human nature, marked by self-interest and the pursuit of power, is scrutinized in relation to its implications for human behavior in a state of nature. The social contract theory, which posits that individuals surrender certain rights to a sovereign authority in exchange for protection and security, is also examined. Additionally, criticisms of Hobbes's ideas, including concerns about the potential for abuse of power and the neglect of human capacities for cooperation, are assessed. By evaluating the ongoing relevance of Hobbes's ideas in modern society, this research provides insight into the complexities of human nature and the role of governance in maintaining social order. Ultimately, this study contributes to ongoing debates in political theory, ethics, and philosophy, highlighting the enduring significance of Hobbes's thought in understanding human society and governance.
RE-THINKING EDWARD WILMOT BLYDEN'S NOTION OF AFRICAN IDENTITY
African identity has long been a subject of debate in human history. This is partly due to Africa’s difficult historical experience of conquest, slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism by European powers. The identity of the African has been deeply undermined as a result of this painful and dehumanizing past. Edward Wilmot Blyden was an African-American intellectual who was compelled to leave his birthplace and relocate to Liberia as a result of institutionalized racism. In his philosophy of African identity, he sought to demonstrate that Africa and Africans possess a rich and valuable history and culture. He rejected the prevailing notion of the inferiority of Black people but accepted the view that each major race has a unique contribution to make to world civilization. The method of this research is the philosophical tool of critical analysis. Blyden’s central thesis is that African culture should be promoted in the face of alien influences, in contrast to certain Christian abolitionist ideas. He argued for a deeply rooted African identity and maintained that Africans must follow their natural instincts and reaffirm their own values in order to regain their sense of dignity and contribute meaningfully to global civilization. Although there are notable flaws and inconsistencies in his philosophy, his ideas remain a springboard for further discourse on the question of African identity.
INTERPLAY OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS IN THE REFORMATION AND REHABILITATION OF INMATES IN NIGERIA: A CRITICAL APPRAISAL
This paper examines the contributions of religious institutions to the reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of inmates in Nigeria’s correctional facilities, while also highlighting systemic challenges within the Nigerian correctional system, including overcrowding, inadequate rehabilitation services, and high rates of recidivism. In response to these challenges, faith-based organisations have emerged as key actors in supporting inmate transformation. The study is anchored on Restorative Justice and Social Capital theories. It explores how religious institutions foster moral reorientation, provide emotional and spiritual support, promote skill acquisition, and facilitate post-release reintegration. Relying on secondary data from academic literature, official reports, and documentation from faith-based prison ministries, the study underscores the pivotal role these institutions play in inmate reformation and crime reduction across correctional centres nationwide. The impact of religious institutions on behavioural modification is evident in improved inmate conduct and enhanced prospects for reintegration. However, despite these contributions, faith-based organisations face several challenges, including limited resources, institutional resistance, and concerns about religious inclusivity. The study concludes by advocating stronger partnerships between religious organisations and the Nigerian Correctional Service, as well as policy measures to promote structured, inclusive, and sustainable faith-based rehabilitation programmes.
reformation, rehabilitation, religious institutions, inmates, correctional facilities
A METAPHYSICAL UNDERSTANDING OF ANCESTRAL WORSHIP IN YORUBA THOUGHT SYSTEM: A PHILOSOPHICAL EXPOSITION
The belief in the existence of ancestors is predominant in African Traditional Thought. This belief further emphasizes the ontological relationship and interconnectedness between the physical and the spiritual worlds within African thought systems. It is held that ancestors, although dead in the physical world, continue to exist in the spiritual realm and possess the power to influence or interfere in the affairs of the living. Hence, John Mbiti refers to ancestors in African spirituality as the “living-dead.” This paper therefore attempts to examine certain conceptual and linguistic clarifications concerning the subject of ancestral worship or veneration. Using the expository and critical methods of philosophizing, the study explores the practices of ancestral worship or veneration (as the case may be) within African traditional thought. The paper also examines not only the requirements for ancestorhood but, more importantly, the categories of ancestors in African ontology. The study concludes that the term ancestral worship is not entirely misleading because, based on the categories of ancestorhood, some ancestors are indeed worshipped while others are venerated.
Ancestor, Worship, Veneration, Deities, Rituals, Sacrifices
GADAMER'S HERMENEUTICS VIS-A-VIS TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN ANAMBRA STATE
This article explores the philosophical hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer, particularly his concepts of historical consciousness, language, and the fusion of horizons, in relation to traditional medicine and public health practices in Anambra State, Nigeria. It argues that Gadamer’s emphasis on understanding through dialogical engagement offers a meaningful interpretive framework for reassessing the epistemological foundations and social legitimacy of indigenous healing systems. By situating traditional medicine within its cultural and historical context, the study reveals how local health practitioners embody a lived tradition that is not merely functional but deeply interpretive, responsive to communal values, and dialogical in its transmission of knowledge. Through qualitative analysis which includes interviews with traditional healers, ethnobotanical data, and hermeneutic reflection, the article contends that meaningful public health discourse in African contexts requires recognition of the dialogical interplay between modern biomedical paradigms and indigenous worldviews. This interpretive integration, guided by Gadamerian thought, challenges the epistemic marginalization of traditional medicine and suggests a path toward a more inclusive, culturally rooted health system in Anambra State, Nigeria.
Gadamer, hermeneutics, traditional medicine, Anambra State, public health, fusion of horizons, epistemology, healthcare pluralism
Michael Obidimma Akpuogwu; Innocent Ngangah; Chukwugozie Donatus Nwoye, PhD