International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: The persistence of communal conflicts in Nigeria has renewed research interest in indigenous communication practices as locally grounded resources for sustainable peace, yet the specific practices used in communities such as Mararaba Udege, Nasarawa State, receive less attention from researchers.
Objective: This study examines the indigenous communication practices used for conflict resolution and peacebuilding in Mararaba Udege, Toto LGA, Nasarawa State.
Method: Anchored in a qualitative case study design, the study examined communication practices such as oral traditions, proverbs, storytelling, communal dialogue, and the mediating roles of traditional leaders and elders. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and nonparticipant observation involving community leaders, women, youth, and other key informants. The data were analysed using thematic analysis, guided by the Indigenous Communication System Theory (ICST).
Result: Masquerades and festivals serve as channels for public enforcement and peace communication; fines and compensation function as restorative rather than punitive justice; and the council of elders and traditional leadership structures serve as central bodies for adjudicating disputes for conflict resolution.
Conclusion: These indigenous communication practices build trust and legitimacy and support locally grounded approaches to conflict resolution, contributing to violence prevention and peace consolidation in Mararaba Udege, Nasarawa State.
Unique Contribution: The study provides empirically grounded documentation of indigenous communication practices in an under-researched, conflict-affected community, extending ICST to explain how communication legitimacy is locally constructed and sustained.
Key Recommendation: Documenting and integrating indigenous communication practices into formal peacebuilding strategies can strengthen local approaches to conflict management in Nigeria, requiring closer collaboration between state institutions, peace practitioners, and local custodians of these practices.