The Role of African Traditional Religious Leaders in the Conservation of Marine Life in West Africa

Abstract

Marine life occupies a significant position in the life of the traditional African man. The Niger River is the main river of West Africa. Its source is in the Guinea highlands in Southeastern Guinea near the Sierra Leone border. It runs in a crescent shape through Mali, 
Niger, on the border with Benin and then through Nigeria, discharging through the Niger Delta, into the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. Some West African rivers, Lakes, etc., like “Debo” in Mali, “Kosson” in Cote D’ Ivoire, etc., are receptacles of some African 
divinities, in African indigenous setting. Their socio-economic importance is enormous. For proper data collection, both the primary and the secondary sources have been adopted. The use of the sociological method is for proper analysis of the data collected. West 
African rivers, streams, etc., especially in the indigenous society, evoke reverential fear, because of the belief that certain African divinities dwell in them. The African traditional priests, diviners, etc., via this process, in the said situation, encourage a healthy utilization of the above waters and the resources in and around them. This accounts for the economic vibrancy witnessed by the indigenous West African man. This is no longer the case now. Piracy, harmful fishing practices, etc., are posing a great threat to sustainable development in West Africa, today. Thus, the contracting parties of the Abidjan Convention and their partners have called for the conservation of the marine life in this part of the world. The contemporary West African political leaders should, in synergy with the African traditional religious leaders, make and implement stringent laws to protect marine life in West Africa from further abuse