What's the local in local peace? Conflict in Nigeria with Joshua Akintayo [Ep. 43]

In this episode of the Conflict Tipping podcast, Laura May speaks with conflict scholar Joshua Akintayo, whose research explores how communities in Nigeria are rebuilding peace amid violent extremism. Josh’s work examines what “local peace” actually means—through both traditional mediation practices and deeply taboo issues that shape conflict and recovery. As a bonus, you'll hear some local Nigerian birds in the background.

Highlights

Why Study Violent Extremism? Josh shares what first drew him to study terrorism and radicalisation in Nigeria, from early research into suicide bombings to the government’s uneven de-radicalisation programmes.

Taboos and Silence Sexual violence against men and boys remains one of the most silenced issues in Nigerian society. Josh discusses what it’s like to research a topic that’s both legally and culturally taboo, and how those taboos affect survivors’ access to help.

Sex Trafficking and Power Drawing on his earlier fieldwork, Josh reveals how conflict, poverty, and patriarchy combine in a hidden economy of sex trafficking involving men and boys—and how masculinity itself can be weaponised in war.

What’s the “Local” in Local Peace? Josh introduces Sulhu, a traditional Islamic-cultural approach to mediation and reconciliation in northern Nigeria. Through Sulhu, communities emphasise forgiveness, respect, and the authority of local leaders—offering an alternative to Western models of peacebuilding.

Top-Down vs. Ground-Up Peace How government “rehabilitation” programmes for extremists differ from community-led processes—and what this contrast tells us about who truly owns peace.

Where to Find Josh

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joshua-akintayo-a50074229

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=JuIHLfEAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

ResearchGate: Joshua Akintayo on ResearchGate