ETHICAL EVALUATION OF BIRTH CONTROL AND FAMILY PLANNING IN ETTE AND THE POWER OF ALEKWU OVER ONES FAITH. (A PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH)

ABSTRACTThis paper explores the ethical dimensions of birth control and family planning within the cultural framework of the Ette people, an Idoma/Igala speaking ethnic group in South Eastern part of Nigeria. Adopting a philosophical lens, it examineds how the ancestral deity Alekwu/Ibegwu exerts moral authority over reproductive decisions, framing modern contraceptives as potential violations of communal harmony and ancestral veneration. Drawing on African communitarian ethics and indigenous ontologies, the analysis reveals tensions between individual autonomy, pro-natalist traditions, and contemporary health imperatives. Through in-depth review of ethnographic and philosophical sources, the paper argues for a dialogic ethic that integrates Alekwu's principles with modern family planning, fostering sustainable reproductive justice. INTRODUCTIONThe Ette people, residing primarily in between Kogi, Enugu and Benue States, Nigeria, embody a rich tapestry of Idoma, Igala, and Igbo linguistic and cultural influences (Odoemene, 2017). As a subgroup within the broader Idoma ethnic constellation, Ette traditions emphasize communal interdependence, ancestral reverence, and moral equilibrium mediated by spiritual forces. Central to this worldview is Alekwu, the ancestral deity revered as a custodian of justice, whose edicts permeate social norms, including those governing family and reproduction (Aboh, 2016). In an era of global health campaigns promoting family planning, the Ette's ethical stance on birth control raises....