Language and Culture in Peacebuilding: Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission of Nigeria (HRVIC): 1999–2021

Conflict, derived from the Latin verb, ‘confligere’, meaning ‘to strike together’ is not entirely negative. There is a creative or productive aspect of conflict. Conflict does not really imply war. It is rather the lack of cooperation between two persons or parties. When two persons fail to cooperate, the possibility abounds that they may reconcile when the conflict is resolved amicably. It however, lingers if it is not well handled, thereby necessitating fight or waging of war. The primary aim of this paper is to discuss the power of language in the course of peacebuilding in any society; Nigeria, especially, as it regards the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission of Nigeria (HRVIC) established in 1999. Language is universal just as conflict is inevitable and universal. The paper argues that language, though taken for granted by people, can make or mar peacebuilding processes. The paper therefore, narrows on what is language and culture in the event of conflict, on the one hand, and HRVIC peacebuilding exercise in 1999 on the other. It studies empirically; the roles language and culture of the Nigerian peoples are capable of playing in either escalating or mitigating an existent conflict.