Ideal-Africanism and Practical Christianity: Engaging Awka Youth in Maintaining the Sanctity of Human Life.

The article focuses on addressing the rise of youth-perpetrated homicides in Awka metropolis, Anambra State, Nigeria, by exploring the integration of Ideal-Africanism and Practical Christianity as ethical frameworks to restore respect for the sanctity of human life. It identifies key drivers of youth violence—including cultism, peer pressure, cultural erosion, poor spiritual formation, and socioeconomic challenges—and highlights the moral dissonance among youths who theoretically value life but engage in violent acts. Drawing on African Communitarianism and Christian Ethical Theory, the study emphasizes communal responsibility, respect for elders, and Christian teachings on peace and forgiveness as vital to reorienting youth behavior. Recommendations include enhancing church and traditional institution roles, promoting cultural and Christian moral education, media engagement for value reorientation, economic empowerment, and intergenerational mentorship to foster a peaceful community. The research underscores the need for holistic, culturally grounded, and spiritually informed interventions to effectively combat youth violence in Awka.