CHANGE AND CONTINUITY IN OHAFIA, 1901-1960; A STUDY IN THE IMPACT OF COLONIAL RULE AND MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE ON A CROSS RIVER IGBO COMMUNITY
CHANGE AND CONTINUITY IN OHAFIA, 1901-1960; A STUDY IN THE IMPACT OF COLONIAL RULE AND MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE ON A CROSS RIVER IGBO COMMUNITY
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1987-08
Authors
AKI, Samuel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This thesis investigates, from the point of
view of Ohafia clan, the contentions questioN of
the extent to which indigenous Igbo society
changed under the pressure of colonial and
missionary establishments. It has a total of six
chapters including the conclusion.
Chapter one is an invocation of the Marxian
mode of production concept for a portrait of
Ohafia socio-economic formation on the eve of
British intrusion. This is intended as a basis
for gaugirg the extent of social change and
continuity that occurred over the colorial period.
Chapter two examines British efforts at
political and administrative control of Ohafia
through the novelty of native courts and a
revolutionary system of justice. This is shown
to have introduced far-reaching changes in Ohafia
society especially as the new code of behaviour
was antithetical to such customs as warfare and
human sacrifice Igbo reaction and political predeliction,
however, obliged the British to engage
in interminable local government; reforms which in
the end still failed to completely transform or
replace indigenous oontrol systems.
In the same way the activities and impact of
christian missionaries are examined ir chapter
three. Missionaries were deeply convinced that
Ohafia customs were 'barbaric' and deserved to be
jettisoned. Their schools became a powerful
instrument of campaign against Ohafia customs.
Missionaries sowed a seed of far-reaching transformation
in Ohafia, particularly as they converted
individuals in the community and prepared
the children for carreers which radically departed
from the traditional ones. But, as long as these
converts remained in Ohafia, they found themselves
in a socio-cultural milieu where christian ethics
alone was inadequate. They therefore continued
to lean on the discredited Ohafia culture for support
even without knowing it.
In chapter four, we bring out the impact of
the school more clearly. Colonialism had closed
such avenues for achievement as warfare and slave
raid and replaced them with education. By 1940
several people had recorded various achievements
in western education. It was from this time that
a new elite, armed with education ard salaries,
emerged to eclipse the traditional elite of warriors
and yam barons and to begin to influence and direct
Ohafia society towards a western-oriented path of
modernity.
Meanwhile, the colonial pax had solved the
security problem of Igboland and drawn Ohafia
people irto the burgeoning produce trade. But the
participation of the Ohafia people was highly
limited, since they lacked the resources reeded in
the colonial economy, Yet, the flooding of their
markets with superior manufactures, the extirpation
of traditional currencies, and the monetisation of
their economy helped to integrate the pre-capitalist
Ohafia economy with the advanced capitalism of the
west. Ohafia people had to migrate to urban centres
in various parts of Nigeria and ever beyond to be
able to benefit from the colonial economy. This
army of migrants were also harbingers of social
change.
By our terminal date, far-reaching changes
had been introduced into Ohafia society. But this
had not destroyed the essence of Ohafia society.
Description
A Thesis submitted to the Postgraduate School,
Ahmadu Bello University, in Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements for the Degree of Master
of Arts in History.
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA
August, 1987
Keywords
CHANGE AND CONTINUITY IN OHAFIA,, STUDY,, COLONIAL RULE,, MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE,, CROSS RIVER ,, IGBO COMMUNITY