A History of Afikpo Circa 1600

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A HISTORY OF AFIKPO CIRCA 1600 BY RAPH OKO AJA.pdf (9.24 MB)
Date
2005
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lagos: Mbeyi & Associates Nig. Ltd.
Abstract

Afikpo: The Town; Geographical Location; Population; Physical Features, Climate; Afikpo: It’s People; Outline of Traditions of Origin; The Legend of Igbo Omaka Ejali; The Meaning of Ehugbo; Afikpo Lineages; Tales of Migrations of Origin Nkpoghoro, Ugwuegu, Ohaisu; Itim, Ozizza; The Igbo-Egu-Nkalu War; Religion and Cosmology; Festivals and Cultures; Igbu Isi (Head-hunting); Pre-Colonial Political Organization; The Supreme Council; Age Grade System; Kingship Institution; Omaka Ejali; Origins of Otosi, Imete, Obu Eno; Post-Igbo Council of Elders; Council of Elders versus Otosi (Amadi); Future of the Council of elders; Pre-Colonial Agricultural Economy; Land Tenure System; Recruitment and Organisation of Labour; Production and Distribution Domestication of Major and Minor Crops; Agricultural Implements and Mechanization; Local Industries and Other Economic Activities; Craft; Pottery; Mat Making; Trading Activities: Afikpo and Her Neighbours; Market Days and Local Trade; External trade; Trade Routes and Transportation; Commodities of External Commerce; Medium of Exchange; Activities of Christian Missions in Afikpo and Unwana; Christian Missionary Activities; Impact on the Society; Britain and the Conquest of Afikpo; Appointment of Warrant chief

Description
This book is the maiden history of Afikpo. It is the product of intensive and sustained research on Ehugbo society which started in 1975. The delay in its publication is due to several reasons. The first is that the research was not continuous. There was a terrible time lag. The second is that the research had focussed on different aspects of Afikpo history. The result was files of materials, each of which required painstaking attention. The third constraint includes lack of time, and other technical and financial reasons. The net result of these and numerous other problems is that the materials remained pigeon-holed for years. But in response to people's call especially during the 1992 Convention of the Afikpo Town Welfare Association (ATWA), I decided to release the first volume of the history. The purpose of this survey is to place the pre-colonial, the colonial and the post-colonial history of Ehugbo in its proper perspective, to have the facts where they belong. It is for this reason that emphasis has been placed on chronological analysis. The work, therefore, provides a peg on which to 'hang' other facts. Writing a history of this nature is fraught with problems. The first is that of collecting reliable data as almost all available data are pre-historic. This problem is accentuated by the present morbid local political consciousness of the people. The single advantage of this work is that most of the materials were collected in the 1970's when the people, including the elders, were less politically conscious. It was easier then to extract more reliable information. The materials were also collected from a cross-section of the Ehugbo community and cross-checked with other sources such as archaeology, anthropology, ethnography, archival records and extant written works.
Keywords
History, Nigerian history- Afikpo
Citation
URI
https://nigeriareposit.nln.gov.ng/handle/20.500.14186/1685
Collections
Monographs/Books