EXAMINING THE INFLUENCE OF WESTERN CULTURE ON TIV ORAL TRADITIONS IN CENTRAL NIGERIA

This paper argues that the slave trade, colonialism, and missionary activities served as the primary platforms through which Western civilization established its hegemony in Tivland. Drawing evidence from these three aspects of Western intrusion, the study highlights the consequent erosion of the rich oral traditions of the Tiv people of central Nigeria. The successive waves of Western influence disrupted the Tiv’s linguistic development, traditional values, and oral heritage. Prior to these incursions, the Tiv possessed well-established linguistic structures, viable orature, and a rich cultural value system. Using a descriptive-analytic model and grounded in Post-colonial theory, the paper demonstrates how Western hegemony has hindered the growth of Tiv language and oral traditions. The study concludes with viable measures to safeguard and revitalize Tiv linguistic and cultural heritage, offering recommendations to curb the lingering influence of Western dominance. Implementation of these strategies is expected to restore the dignity, integrity, and wealth of Tiv orature, language, and traditions.