A HISTORY OF ETTE CIRCA 1800 - 1960: A STUDY OF MIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT
A HISTORY OF ETTE CIRCA 1800 - 1960: A STUDY OF MIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT
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Date
2008-03
Authors
OGWUCHE, EJALO JACINTA
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Abstract
The subject of this work is an attempt on the history of Ette from C. 1800 - 1960. In the
northernmost part of Nsukka Division is Ette, the Idoma / lgala ethnic minority
sandwiched between the Igbo of Enugu-Ezike family groups in the south and the Igala
of Olamaboro and Igala-Mela/Odolu Local Government Areas of Kogi State
respectively. Before the imposition of British colonialism on Nigeria at the beginning
of the 20th century the people in this territory including those in the present day
Igalaland and Idomaland were commonly called Akpoto or Okpoto by outsiders. But
within the territory, each ethnic group knew and called itself by a separate name. When
the British imposed their rule in this territory it was constituted as part of the old
Okwoga Division till 1918 when Okwoga was re-demarcated to join Northern
Province. Ette was then constituted into the old Obolo Division by an Inter-provincial
Boundary Commission in 1920. This division became Nsukka Division in 1922. Ette
then became the only non-Igbo speaking group in this Division except the Iga people
around Ogurugu on the Anambra River area.
The outline on the pre-colonial Ette society indicates different versions of traditions of
origin, migration and settlement. This was followed by the basic unit of organization
from the household to kindred, then to the clan to Ette land. Our evidence indicates that
Ette had reached some advanced stage in their socio-political development before the
advent of colonialism. This can be seen in the mode of production and hierarchy of
authority that developed. The establishment of colonial administration and Christianity
altered the Ette essence. This is because with the re-organisation of the Northern and
Southern provinces, Ette became part of a division where she constitutes a microminority
status which undermines development in the society.
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A THESIS REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE
POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD
OF MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN
HISTORY
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA