LAND-VIOLENCE UNHOLY UNION: A RE-IMAGINATION OF LAND THEOLOGY

Abstract

Land comes across as a spirit. Conversations around the land motif have played significant socio-cultural, historical, political, economic, and religious roles throughout human civilization. Land discourse is often linked to human survival, history, identity, and spirituality. In Africa, in particular, land discourse revolves around beliefs and belongingness. The land seems comparable to a shrine where ancestral memories are preserved, and future destinies are formed. However, it sometimes incites violence and a ready-to-die attitude. Beyond a metaphysical emphasis on land, this article posits history-telling as a significant catalyst that spurs an intransigent attitude toward land acquisition, retention and reclaiming.