IDEAL INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL

Literature is a mirror of life which depicts real life events. Conflict which can come in form of serious disagreement, or quarrels, argument, dispute, clash, struggle, strife is part of life situation. The Igbo novels play important roles in showing conflicts and its management strategies. These conflicts may be between kinsmen, among peer groups, villages, coworkers, husbands and wives. This study therefore, examined the types of conflicts shown in the three selected Igbo novels, and the strategies used in solving them with the view to determining the relevance of the strategies to real life situations. The study adopts the Marxist sociological theory because it centered on class struggle between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie and psychoanalytic theory which studies human behaviour. Survey research design was used. Data were collected from the three novels. They are: "?kpa Ak? Eri Eri", "?men?k?", and "Ogene Ike na-akp? Dike." The study found out that; there are different types of conflict: political, marital, intra-community and man versus society conflicts. Causes of conflicts were also found, they are: jealousy, quest for power, infidelity and childlessness. Its management was also found, they are; by the use of proverbs, oath taking, ritual sacrifice and age grades. The study will be of immense help to the society at large who will now know different conflict management strategies and most efficient among them for a peaceful co-habitation. Academically, it will add to the pool of literature in this field of study for the up-coming researchers who may like to study conflict management strategies in other Igbo genres.

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