PROMOTING HUMAN DIGNITY IN NIGERIA THROUGH INDIGENOUS CULTURAL PRACTICES/BELIEFS

Mark Omorovie Ikeke

Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

Abstract

Human dignity is an essential concept in contemporary society. This does not mean that it was not important in previous societies. It is to assert that the idea and understanding of human dignity have evolved to what it is today. Human dignity entails recognizing the worth and value in every human person, irrespective of their ethnicity, religious affiliation, socio-cultural background, or economic status. Every human being has intrinsic worth. The Universal Declaration on Human Rights and various other human rights instruments have spelt out clearly the significance of human dignity. Many of these declarations have indicated how human dignity and human rights have been threatened and even degraded by wars, violence, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other forms of atrocities. This paper is concerned with examining how human dignity in Nigeria is threatened and endangered by different indigenous and other cultural beliefs and practices. The paper adopts the methods of critical analysis, hermeneutics, and evaluation. It concludes that there is an imperative to safeguard only cultural aspects that promote human dignity in Nigeria.

Keywords: Indigenous, culture, beliefs, practices, human dignity, human rights, Nigeria.