EGWUIKPEM ?M?NWANY?: IMPLICATIONS ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND SOCIETAL WELLNESS IN IGBO CULTURE

Abstract

This work examines the role of Egwuikpem ?m?nwany? in enhancing societal stability in Igbo culture. This is achieved through the collection and analysis of various egwuikpem of women of which are rendered to satirize ailing, straying or wayward women and persons involved in other types of social vices in the society. It employed both primary and secondary sources of data collection which personal interviews, participant – observation method and review of literatures. The Egwuikpem in discourse include majorly those of Anaocha and Aguata local government areas in Anambra State. The discourse is anchored on social control theory which states that crime is merely the result of unsupervised anti-social behaviour which can be reduced with some sort of control. It was discovered that egwuikpem ?m?nwany? really serves as a very effective instrument in checking people’s excesses and a good deterrent to unaccepted behaviours among women folk and the society at large. The ability to reduce vices increases its potency of ensuring societal wellness. On the other hand, it interrogates the lop-sidedness it poses in a bid to maintain social stability. Therefore, it is recommended that our traditional music whose essence is to ensure societal stability be encouraged, and also taking into consideration the equal application of egwuikpem ?m?nwany? and egwuikpem ?m?nwoke to maintain a balance.