Abstract
This article examines Erinvwin as the central moral arbitrator within Urhobo religious worldview, arguing that it functions as an indigenous institution of justice rooted in ancestral authority rather than in divine worship or human legal systems. Among the Urhobo of the Niger Delta, Nigeria, moral order is sustained through the belief that the ancestors, resident in Erinvwin, continue to observe, judge, and sanction the conduct of the living. Historically, Erinvwin operated as an incorruptible tribunal invoked in cases of adultery, theft, perjury, and land disputes, particularly where human judgment was inadequate or vulnerable to manipulation. Drawing on qualitative data from oral testimonies, proverbs, and indigenous narratives, as well as relevant Africana religious scholarship, the study analyses how Erinvwin regulated ethical behaviour, enforced truth-telling, and preserved communal harmony. The study further explores the impact of Christianity, Islam, and modern legal institutions on Erinvwin's authority, showing that while its ritual invocation has declined, its moral influence persists through cultural memory, language, and ethical instruction. Rather than disappearing, Erinvwin has become a symbolic moral conscience that continues to shape Urhobo notions of accountability and justice. The article concludes that Erinvwin remains a vital resource for understanding indigenous African contexts of morality and offers important insights into the resilience of Africana religious ethics in the face of modern socio-religious change.
