Tenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

Following the theme of historical eras and religious orientation, this work proposes to explore how some contemporary Nigerians manage urban filth/refuse/trash. The problem of urban filth has been examined in different works such as Ktirj (1997), Moore (2009), and Kirschenbaum (2013), as a consequence of ill-fitting modernity, post-colonialism, global capitalism, iterations of dysfunctionality, and with grievous implications for public health. While these works have proposed the multiple ways in which the problem of filth can be managed in city spaces, this proposal adds to the growing field of study by looking at how the conjuration of fear through the use of imprecations has been a veritable deterrent to protecting one’s space and place from the infiltration of trash. I note that because of the belief in the supernatural, and traditional views of sin and punishment, the dread of attracting repercussions prevents people from indiscriminate abuses of others’ spaces with refuse. This study proposes how policymaking can exploit this aspect of the social imaginary to create ethical proposals for environmental preservation.