UMUMIRI DEITY AS AN INSTRUMENT OF JUSTICE AND PEACE IN ONICHA, IMO STATE: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

This research focuses on “Umumiri deity as instrument of justice and peace in Onicha, Imo State: Problems and prospects.” African Traditional Religion plays a significant role in maintaining moral order, justice, and communal harmony in many African societies. Among the Igbo people of Southeastern Nigeria, deities serve as mediators between the spiritual and physical worlds and function as custodians of morality and social order. This study explores the concept of Umumiri, the custodians of the deity, its functions in social development and moral regulation, and its judicial role in traditional igbo society in Imo State. The findings reveal that Umumiri functions as a spiritual authority that regulates communal conduct, settles disputes, protects the community, and reinforces moral discipline. However, the influence of Christianity, modernization, and declining interest in indigenous traditions pose significant challenges to the continuity of the deity's authority. Despite these challenges, the institution of Umumiri still holds prospects for cultural preservation, indigenous justice systems, and community cohesion. This research adopts a qualitative approach using historical and descriptive methods, drawing from existing literature, internet sources and oral interviews on African Traditional Religion and Igbo cosmology. The study concludes that revitalizing indigenous cultural values and integrating traditional institutions into modern governance structures could enhance peace and moral order in contemporary Igbo society.