Ninth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

Health is an integral part of human existence, and cannot be overlooked anytime, anywhere. That is why health related issues attract most serious and percussive attention in all human societies. Today, in recognition of this imperative, attention has been focused on the study and practice of traditional approaches of healing that exist side by side with orthodox western method to achieve wholistic health care delivery in Nigeria. In response to the emerging challenge in Nigeria health sector, the Tiv people have today developed and are expanding on their traditional akombo ritual healing approaches to complement the modern health care system in Nigeria. It is against this background that, this paper seeks to appraise various perspectives and importance of akombo rituals in the attainment of total health care delivery in Nigeria. The paper has adopted the phenomenological and sociological approaches which involve the use of pictorial documentation that demonstrates various types of akombo rituals and their efficacy in healing. The paper buttresses the strength and weakness of akombo ritual healing; its relationship with the socio- political and spiritual structure of the Tiv people, and it advocates a synergy between the traditional and orthodox western methods to achieve comprehensive health care system in Nigeria.