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Chuku, Gloria
2018.
Igbo historiography: Part III.
History Compass,
Vol. 16,
Issue. 10,
Article contents
The Works of A.E. Afigbo on Nigeria: an Historiographical Essay
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 May 2014
Extract
Nigeria in the post-independence years has seen its share of hardship. Politically dominated by military dictatorships, economically dominated by the ravages of underdevelopment, and culturally dominated by internal ethnic tensions and external stereotyping, Nigeria certainly seems to have suffered from an overabundance of problems and a dearth of solutions in the last forty plus years. This period, full of scholarly debate on these issues, also closely parallels the academic career of A.E. Afigbo. Afigbo, who graduated with a Ph.D. in History from the University of Ibadan in 1964, was the first History doctorate produced on Nigerian soil. He is both a product and a victim of the Nigerian nation, and his scholarly writings deeply reflect these contradictions. From that point in 1964—the era of hope and anguish—to the present day—the era of anguish without hope—he has been among the vanguard of scholars in Nigerian history and African studies. He wanted to write about the past, but the present pressured him severely. Starting as a “Nigerian,” he became a “Biafran” during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-70), and again a “Nigerian” thereafter. These transitions provide some kind of “political charter” to some of his writings.
It has been a remarkable career. He has authored or co-authored eight books, edited four more, and published well over a hundred journal articles. Afigbo has earned numerous prizes for his scholarship, has served on the editorial board of many acclaimed scholarly journals, including the Journal of African History and History in Africa, and has been inducted into many prestigious societies, including the Nigerian Academy of Letters. Nigeria has also honored him with its highest academic award, the National Order of Merit.
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References
1 Afigbo, A.E., “The Benue Valley in Nigerian History” in Falola, Toyin, ed., Nigerian History, Politics, and Affairs: the Collected Essays of Adiele Afigbo (Trenton, 2005), 63–76Google Scholar.
2 E.g., Afigbo, A.E., “Trade and Trade Routes in 19th Century Nsukka,” Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria (henceforth JHSN) 7/1(1973), 77–90Google Scholar, explains how certain areas became recognized for certain trade goods.
3 Afigbo, “Benue Valley.” Other pieces with similar themes include Afigbo, A.E., An Outline of Igbo History (Owerri, 1986)Google Scholar; Afigbo, A.E., “Igboland before 1800” in Ikime, Obaro, ed., Groundwork of Nigerian History (Ibadan, 1980), 73–88Google Scholar.
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5 For instance, Afigbo, A.E., “Igbo Political Leadership: Past, Present and Future,” (Okigwe, 1999), 5Google Scholar, describes Igbo political leaders as primus inter pares.
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9 The relationship between the British colonial administration and local elites is thoroughly discussed in Afigbo, A.E., The Warrant Chiefs: Indirect Rule in Southeastern Nigeria 1891-1929 (London, 1972)Google Scholar.
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11 Ibid.
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13 Aiigbo, “Lugard in Southeastern Nigeria.”
14 Ibid.
15 See, e.g., Afigbo, , “Chief Igwegbe Odum: Omenukor of History,” Nigerian Magazine 90(1966), 222–31Google Scholar; idem., Warrant Chiefs.
16 E.g., Afigbo, , “Native Revenue Ordinance in the Eastern Provinces: The Adventures of a Colonial Legislation” in Falola, , Nigerian History, 319–41Google Scholar.
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19 Afigbo, , “History and the Nigerian Polity: the Case of the 1979 Federal Constitution” in Falola, , Nigerian History, 437–52Google Scholar. Afigbo discusses the merits and demerits of Nigerian federalism in other essays as well, including “Background to Nigerian Federalism: Federal Features in the Colonial State,” Publius 21/4(1991), 13–30Google Scholar; “The Nationality Question and the Federal System in Nigeria” in Olaniyan, R., ed., Federalism in a Changing World (Ile-Ife, 1989)Google Scholar.
20 E.g., A.E. Afigbo, “Black Africa's Intellectual Elite and the Challenge of Globalization” (unpublished paper presented at an international conference on Africa and Globalization organized by CBAAC, Lagos, August 2001).
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24 Afigbo, , “The ‘Bini Mirage’ and the History of South-Central Nigeria,” Nigeria Magazine 137(1981), 17–24Google Scholar; idem., “Oral Tradition and Historical Explanation: A Case Study from Central-Southern Nigeria” in N.C. Ejituwu, ed., The Multi-Disciplinary Approach to African History (Port Harcourt, 1998).
25 Afigbo, “‘Bini Mirage’:” idem., “Oral Tradition;” idem., “The Anthropology and Historiography of Central-Southern Nigeria before and since Igbo-Ukwu,” HA 23(1996), 1-15.
26 Ibid.; idem., “Colonial Historiography,” in Toyin Falola, ed., African Historiography: Essays in Honor of Jacob Ade Ajayi (London, 1993), 39-51.
27 Afigbo, A.E., “Monocausality and African Historiography: the Case of Efik society and International Commerce,” Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana 14/1(1974), 117–27Google Scholar.
28 Afigbo, “Anthropology and Historiography.”
29 E.g., Afigbo, A.E., “The Aro Expedition of 1901-2: an Episode in the British Occupation of Ibo Land,” Odù ns 7(April 1972), 3–27Google Scholar, in which Afigbo explains that perceptions of the dominance of the Aro in late nineteenth century were largely overemphasized in British colonial sources and have been perpetuated to the present.
30 Afigbo, , “The Blackman in the Context of Global Civilization,” Nsukka Journal of Humanities 11(2000/2001), 15–29Google Scholar; Afigbo, “Black Africa's Intellectual Elite.”
31 Afigbo, , “Of Men and War, Women and History” (valedictory lecture to the University of Nigeria at Nsukka, 1992)Google Scholar.
32 This agenda comes through clearly in Afigbo, , “Some Thoughts on the Teaching of History in Nigeria,” Ikenga 2/2(1975), 1–13Google Scholar.
33 Afigbo, , “Some Aspects of Rural Development in Igboland” (paper presented at conference on rural development sponsored by NTA Aba, 1987)Google Scholar.
34 Ibid.
35 Afigbo, “Igbo Political Leadership.”
36 Afigbo, “Some Aspects.” Afigbo's respect for tradition carries beyond political and economic considerations. In “Religion in Nsukka: A Historical Prolegomena” in Falola, Toyin, ed., Igbo History and Society: the Collected Essays of Adiele Afigbo (Trenton, 2005), 549–58Google Scholar, he urges Christians not to derogate traditional religious beliefs, but to try and understand the cultural basis and value of traditional Igbo religion.
37 For instance, Afigbo argues against the idea that the Igbo do not constitute a nation, using historical analysis, in “The Idea of Igbo Nationality and its Enemies” in Falola, , Igbo History and Society, 425–46Google Scholar.
38 Afigbo, , “Traditions of Igbo Origins: a Comment,” HA 10(1983), 1–11Google Scholar; Other essays on Igbo origins include “The Place of Amaigbo in Igbo Traditions of Origin and Migration” in Falola, , Igbo History and Society, 585–90Google Scholar.
39 Afigbo, , “Our Essential History and Us,” Falola, Toyin, ed., Igbo History and Society, 91–106Google Scholar.
40 See, for instance, Afigbo, , “The Igboness of Asaba, or a Matter of Identity” in Falola, , Igbo History and Society, 605–12Google Scholar.
41 Afigbo, , “The Indigenous Political Systems of the Igbo,” Tarikh 2(1973), 13–23Google Scholar.
42 Ibid.
43 Afigbo, , “The Age of Innocence: the Igbo and Their Neighbours in Precolonial Times,” Ahiajoku Lectures (1981), 6–27Google Scholar; idem., “Towards a Study of Weaponry in Precolonial Igboland” in Nigerian Warfare through the Ages (Kaduna, forthcoming), explains that warfare technology among the precolonial Igbo was undeveloped, indicating that war was not common enough to stimulate innovation in weaponry or the creation of an industry specifically to produce weapons.
44 E.g., Afigbo, , “Patterns of Igbo Resistance to British Conquest,” Tarikh 4/3(1973), 14–23Google Scholar.
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46 Afigbo, , Weaving Tradition in Igbo Culture (Lagos, 1985)Google Scholar; Afigbo also discusses the textile industry in idem., “Oral Tradition.”
47 Afigbo, “Some Aspects.”
48 Ibid.
49 Afigbo, , “Nsukka Zone: Culture, History and Development” in Falola, , Igbo History and Society, 559–68Google Scholar; idem., “Development in Okigwe: an Ethno-Historical Perspective” in Falola, Igbo History and Society, 569-76; idem., “Culture and Development in Okigwe Senatorial District: From ‘Need’ to ‘How’” in Falola, Igbo History and Society, 577-84.
50 Afigbo. “Nigeria's Socio-Ecology;” idem., “Developing a New Civil Society and/or Order for Nigeria: the Problems and the Prospects” (lecture given to University of Ibadan Alumni Association, Owerri Chapter, 2000).
51 “Nigeria's Socio-Ecology.”
52 Afigbo, “History and National Development,” probably paints the clearest picture of the way that Afigbo hopes the study of history can contribute to national unity and the role of national unity in economic development.
53 Afigbo, , “Towards a Culture of Peace in Nigeria” in Falola, , Nigerian History, 559–70Google Scholar; idem., “Myth, History and National Orientation in Nigeria” in A. Banjo, ed., Humanity in Context (Ibadan, 2001), 79-127, pushes for a pan-Nigerian history curriculum, among other things.
54 Afigbo, , “Myth, Society, and History,” Tarikh 9(1991), 8–18Google Scholar.
55 Afigbo, , “History, Archaeology and the Schools in Nigeria,” West African Journal of Education 20/3(1976), 401–15Google Scholar.
56 Afigbo, , “Southeastern Nigeria, the Niger-Benue Confluence and the Benue in the Precolonial Period: Some Issues of Historiography,” HA 25(1998), 1–8Google Scholar; idem., “Prolegomena to the Study of the Culture History of the Igbo Speaking Peoples” in F.C. Ogbalu and E.N. Emenanjo, eds., Igbo Language and Culture (Oxford, 1975).
57 Afigbo, “Of Men and War;” idem., “Igbo Interest in Nigeria: the Prelude” in Falola, Igbo History, 469-76, argues that precolonial Igbo communities had strong economic ties with non-Igbo communities well before the amalgamation of Nigeria.
58 Afigbo, , “Ancestral Igbo Religion and Cosmos and the Idea of World Religion,” (paper presented at an International Conference on Religion organized by the Whelan Research Academy, Owerri, Imo State, October 2002)Google Scholar.
59 Afigbo, , “Time and Its Measurement in Igbo Culture,” Nigerian Heritage 10(2001)Google Scholar; idem., “The Dialogue of Civilizations: Aspects of Igbo Wisdom Knowledge,” Bulletin of Ecumenical Theology 13(2001).
60 Afigbo, “Towards a History;” idem., Obi Ikenga: The Case for a Pan-Igbo Center for Igbo Studies (Uturu, 2000).
61 Afigbo, “Our Essential History and Us.”
62 Ibid.
63 Afigbo, “Myth, History and National Orientation in Nigeria.”
64 Afigbo, “Towards a History;” idem., “Our Essential History and Us.”
65 E.g., Afigbo, , “Fact and Myth in Nigerian Historiography,” Nigeria Magazine 122/23 (1976), 81–98Google Scholar. This article also criticizes earlier trends in the historiography for their “irrationalities,” including the racist ideology of colonial historiography and the need of Islamic historians to link their societies to Mecca causing misinterpretations of Nigeria's past. Also, idem., “Monocausal Explanations in African History: a Prevalent Distortion,” Tarikh 6/1(1978), 31-38. However, in “History as Statecraft” (Nigerian National Merit Award: Award Winners' Lecture” in Falola, , Myth, History, and Society, 357–80Google Scholar, Afigbo recognizes the tendency of history to support an agenda, and finds no fault with this per se. It is simply a matter of what that agenda is and if it meets the needs of the time.
66 Afigbo harps against the “brain drain” in “Blackman in the Context of Global Civilization.”
67 Afigbo, “Towards a Culture of Peace.”
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