JOURNALS

ABSTRACT

There is no gainsaying that the need for peaceful co-existence is still dominant in human affairs and that has become all the more urgent whenever and wherever it is contradicted by opposite ideas or deeds. The necessity for peaceful co-existence in all spheres of human life is all the way and partly attributed to the pluralistic nature of the global community and how the diversities seem to have resulted in the contentious atmosphere in the most pluralistic-prone contexts of the world. The story of Nigeria cannot be told devoid of its pluralistic nature rooted in its diverse ethnic groups, multiple languages, cultural differences, multiple religions, and political and social diversities. The presupposition is succinct by the way and manner in which these elements of diversity are employed, upheld and considered as the determinant factor for human treatment irrespective of the codes that bind humanity religiously, politically, and socially. In the public discourse on the quest for peaceful coexistence in Africa, Nigeria being the largest country in Africa is rated among countries facing grave challenges to peaceful co-existence. Some of the systemic and symbolic violence against the dignity of human life experienced in Nigeria is attributed to the frictions, contentions and conflicts against peaceful coexistence aggravated by the pluralistic nature of Nigeria. While acknowledging the beauty in diversity, various responses to the misconceptions of this God’s giving personality to humanity and the threats this misconception has posed to peaceful co-existence in Nigeria, this paper through an African symbolic expression of the Pyam ethnic group residing in Plateau state, Nigeria, proposed an alternative approach for peaceful co-existence in Nigeria. The Pyam symbolic expression is entrenched in its religio-cultural expression and adage “Do ta hoi na ram” which means humanity supersedes land. It is an expression within the Pyam language and system of thought which offers a symbolic response to the contentious and conflicting atmosphere aggravated by an abuse of the pluralistic nature of Nigerian society. This task is achieved through a systematic review of literature that has unpacked relevant ideas on the subject under consideration. The paper concluded that the approach to building harmonious living in a pluralistic context such as Nigeria is not monolithic and that through exploring African cultural experiences more cogent approaches can be realized.