Rights and Social Responsiteities Birend Individual Rights and Social Responsibilities in Ibibioland

Abstract

The concepts of Individual Rights and Corporate Social Responsibility are concepts that are in the front burner of international discourse in this 21 century. Notably, they were concepts that formed major part of academic debate in the late 20th century following Eurocentric postulations that these concepts were alien to the African traditions. The basis of their argument is founded on the perception that the African cultural traits could hardly be equated with the Western notions of government and governance since they (Africans) were largely regarded as primitive and uncivilized. The Ibibio area in particular was considered as stateless, chiefless, 'acephalous', or 'segmentary' and lacking paraphernalia of legitimate government and governance. This study therefore argues that Individual Rights, Social Responsibility, democratic principles are not foreign concepts to Africa in general and Ibibio in particular. They existed and were practiced even before the coming of the Europeans and also played significant roles in the stabilization of British colonial policies. This article seeks to examine how these concepts of government were practiced in Ibibioland.