TRADITIONAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM AS A PANACEA TOWARDS FIGHTING CORRUPTION AND OTHER RELATED CRIMES IN NIGERIA: THE IGBA MBEMBE IGBO DANCE DRAMA AS AN EXAMPLE

Abstract

It is no longer news that corruption and other related crimes have eaten deep into the fabrics of all facets of Nigerian systems. From all indications, our nation is sick and requires a state of wellness. The data for the study was obtained using interview and participant observation. The study conducted, discloses that many Nigerian citizens have lost confidence in the Nigerian Police Force in terms of fighting corruption and other related criminal cases. The people interviewed by the researchers unveiled their minds that the Nigerian Police Force is not walking the talk. Some documented interviews on people’s views about the Police Force are nauseating. The study aims to enlighten the world at large, the Nigerian populace, particularly the Igbo on the need to revert to the Igbo traditional system of justice known as Igba mbembe where confirmed perpetrators were brought to book by open disgrace through music and dance drama. They were made to dance either half or fully naked to different types of music played by the members of the community where they belong, with demonstrations depicting the offence committed. The efficacy of music in transforming lives was also looked into because the Igba mbembe is accompanied by didactic music. The researchers are confident that by so doing, law and order will be restored and maintained in Nigeria and the society will once again experience the state of wellness as was the case in the olden days. The study is based on Skinner’s Operant Conditioning Theory.