ETHNIC IDENTITY AND INTERGROUP RELATIONS AMONG THE ITSEKIRI, IJAW, AND URHOBO PEOPLES OF DELTA STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Ethnic, Identity, Intergroup, Relations, Social CohesionAbstract
Ethnic identity remains a pivotal factor shaping intergroup relations in Nigeria's multi-ethnic society. This study examines the influence of ethnic identity on intergroup relations among the Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Urhobo peoples of Delta State, focusing on cooperation, competition, and conflict. It adopts a qualitative descriptive and analytical design, synthesising sixteen secondary sources, including books, journal articles, and conference papers, and is guided by Social Identity Theory and Intergroup Relations Theory. Among the works reviewed are Okpevra's (2024) Group Identity and Inter-Ethnic Relations in the Western Niger Delta of Nigeria, Okpevra's (2021) discourse on the history and identity of the Isoko, Folami's (2017) Ethnic-Conflict and Its Manifestations in the Politics of Recognition in a Multi-Ethnic Niger Delta Region, and Okolo's (2008) study of Ethnic Relations and Violent Conflict in the Niger Delta. The study finds that ethnic identity strongly shapes political mobilisation and territorial claims, with disputes over local government headquarters and administrative boundaries in the Warri area recurring as a specific source of tension among the three groups, while trade, intermarriage, and shared economic activity in riverine communities sustain cooperation alongside this rivalry. Unlike Okolo (2008) and Folami (2017), which each analyse conflict through a single case or resource dispute, this paper's distinct contribution is to synthesise perception formation, cooperation-competition-conflict patterns, and social cohesion implications into one unified identity-based framework spanning all three groups. The study recommends inclusive governance, equitable resource distribution, continuous intergroup dialogue, and culturally sensitive policies. It concludes that ethnic identity remains both a unifying and divisive force, and its constructive management is essential for strengthening social cohesion and sustainable peace among the Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Urhobo peoples of Delta State.
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