RESOLVING THE AGE-LONG PROBLEM OF EVIL USING INDIGENOUS TIV RESOURCES
The problem of evil remains a fundamental challenge to theistic belief, particularly regarding the existence of a God who is understood as loving, good, omniscient, omnipotent, and benevolent. The presence of evil appears to contradict these divine attributes and raises questions about the origin, nature, and persistence of evil in the world. While evil manifests through both natural and moral forms, human actions constitute a significant source of suffering and disorder. Among the Tiv people of Nigeria, evil has historically affected social harmony and communal wellbeing, especially through human-induced forms of wrongdoing. Various indigenous mechanisms, including Namakaa/Haakaa, Inyambuan, and Inyamoram, have been employed to address evil but encountered limitations due to lack of universal acceptance, changing relevance, and perceived cruelty. This study argues that the Tiv indigenous institution of Swem provides a more authentic and enduring framework for confronting evil. Recognized across Tiv society, Swem functions as a moral and judicial resource that promotes justice, identifies wrongdoing, and sanctions persistent evil practices without cruelty. Employing library research and oral interviews, the study demonstrates that Swem represents an indigenous solution to the enduring problem of evil within Tiv traditional thought.
Keywords: Evil, Swem, Tiv Traditional Religion, Indigenous Justice, African Cosmology