Spiritual Dimension of Land Identity Crisis in Igboland of Nigeria: An Ethical Reflection

Abstract

There have been series of redefinition of right to land in various countries following various land reforms by various governments in the African continent to the extent that there are confusions regarding what the right to land ownership standards are culminating in pressures and contestations over land between and betwixt groups, especially when the aboriginal right to land is put into question. Violent conflicts become almost normal among the contending groups. It is due to this background and observation that this paper examines the present situation and disadvantages of the socalled land reforms in Nigeria that was imposed on the spiritual life of Igbo people and how it is related to conflict situations. Both the analysis of the literature collected, anthropological etic and emic perspectives are utilized to source for information required for this research work. This paper presents the Igbo ethical conceptualization of land ownership with regard to spiritual identity.