ISD 123
INTER-GROUP RELATIONS IN NIGERIA 1500-1900
COURSE OUTLINE
1. INRODUCTION
2. THE ROLE OF ISLAM AND CHRISTAINITY IN NIGERIAN
SOCIETY FROM 1500-1800 AD
3. THEINSTITUTION OF SLAVERY AND SLAVE TRADE.
4. HAUSALAND FROM 1500-1900 AD
5. THE NATURE OF POLITICAL INSTITUTION IN HAUSALAND
6. THE NATURE OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMY AND POLITICAL
DEVELOPMENT IN HAUSALAND
7. THE NATURE OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMY AND POLITICAL
DEVELOPMENT IN THE NIGER DELTA SOCIETIES 1800-1900 AD
8. THE SOCIETY AND ECEONOMY OF THE PEOPLE IN NIGER
BENUE VALLEY
9. BENIN: THE TRANSFORMATION OF BENIN KINGDOM INTO AN
IMPERIAL STATE AND HIS AFTERMATH
10.THE NATURE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE
BENIN PEOPLE.
11.CONCLUSION AND REVISION
RECOMMENDED TEXTS
1. GROUNDWORK OF NIGERIAN HISTORY
2. THE CONCEPTUAL AND THEORETICAL ARISING FROM THE
STUDIES IN INTER-GROUP RELATIONS IN NIGERIA DURING THE
19TH AND 20TH CENTURY BY OKPEH.O. OKPEH JUNIOR
3. INTERGROUP RELATIONS IN NIGERIA DURING THE 19TH AND 20TH
CENTURY EDITED BY OLAYEMI AKONWUMMI
4. THE HISTORY OF WEST AFRICA FROM 1000 TO 1800 AD BOOK 1
5. HISTORY OF WEST AFRICA FROM AD 1000- PRESENT DAY P. O
OLATUN
EXAM GUIDELINES
UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
LIST YOUR POINS THEN GIVE VIVID AND SPICY
EXPLANATIONS/REASONS WHY WITH EXAMPLES.
FINALIZE YOUR WORK BY SUMMERIZING THE POINTS YOU LISTED.
THE ROLE OF ISLAM IN NIGERIAN SOCIETIES FROM 1500-1800 AD
Islam is one of the major world religion alongside with Judaism and Christianity.
Islam professes monotheism and that is the belief in one single God. Islam in
Arabic language means “Total Surrender” or submission to the will of “GOD”. A
Muslim is that person that has totally submitted or surrendered to the will of God.
“Allah” is the Arabic name for “God”. The teachings of Islam is that there is only
one all powerful and all-knowing God, and this God created the whole universe.
It also teaches that all Muslims are equal before Allah, and all of them must show
the highest loyalty to “Allah and that makes all Muslims belong to one
community known as “Ummar” irrespective of their ethnic and national
background.
The Spread of Islam
After the rise of Islam in the 7th century, it started to spread into Egypt north
Africa and west Africa, Spain and into Persia and India, and by the end of the 10 th
century, it went beyond the east in the following centuries. It spread into Anatolia
and the Balkan state to the North and sub-Sahara state to the south. Islam is
recorded to be one of the fastest growing religion in the world. The strength of
Muslims in the whole world per membership is well over one billion people.
• The reason for the growth of Islam or the Muslims community has been its
openness to new members.
• By mainly declaring yourself a Muslim is a sufficient evidence by conversion to
Islam and does not require any confirmation from any authorities.
Prophet Muhammad
Prophet Muhammad was born around 570 AD in Mecca, 40 years later he started
preaching a new religion called Islam and his teachings were based on the existing
morals and social codes in Arabia. Muhammad is believed by Muslims to be the
last in the series of prophet sent by Allah, with various codes or system of law for
living which was carefully inscribed in the Quran.
Some of the prophets sent
by Allah includes Moses (who was regarded as the law giver). Jesus Christ who
Christians believed to be the son of God rather than a prophet who the Muslims
believe him to be. It is important to know therefore that the Muslims believe that
both the Quran and the Bible are Holy books and they provided humanity with
the means to know good and evil, and that all humans would be accountable for
their deeds and actions on the judgement day.
But in the year 622 AD, Prophet Muhammad teachings met with severe and
hostile opposition and because of that, he fled from Mecca to “Yathrib” which
was later changed to Medina. In the last ten years of his life until his death, in
632 AD Prophet Muhammad was able to lay the foundation for an ideal Islamic
state. In addition to the general moral injunctions the requirement of the religion
came to include a number of institutions that continued to characterize the Islamic
religious practices till date and that includes the five pillars of Islam.
Pillars of Islam
1. Allah is the only God and Muhammad is his prophet is known as “Shahada” in
Islam.
2. Salat: Offering of the five prayers daily.
3. Zakat: Alms giving to the poor and destitute in the society.
4. Sawn: Fasting is compulsory for all Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan.
5. Hajj: Performance of Holy pilgrimage to the Holy cities of Mecca and Medina at
least once in a lifetime in the life of all Muslims.
The five pillars of Islam are the most central reforms of Islam and they
constitute the core practices of the Islamic faith.
Note: Read how Islam spread into Nigeria. i.e., through which parts they came
into Nigeria.
Influence of Islam on the Fortune of Northern Nigerian Society
1. It provided a more convenient apparatus for state governance as Islam supports
the idea of a centralized government ruled by a pious Muslim, who is also
expected to play a role of a religious and secular head of state.
2. The unifying force presented by Islam also gained the rulers more control and
authority over the citizens as they view their leaders as a religious head of state.
3. Islam being a literate religion made administration proceedings from the central
state to independent settlement less cumbersome and more precise. The orders of
the Sarki could be deduced to writing i.e., (the laws).
Politically the acceptance of Islam has its influence on the various administrative
titles of the state and its entire structure of the system. Some rulers took up title
like Caliphs, Waziri or prime minister and Imam who were believed to be scholars
and advisors to the overall rulers. Sharia was introduced which means Islamic
legal code of living in Arabic.
Note: “The introduction of sharia laws also reduced the arbitrary use of powers
and judgement which were based formally on the whims and emotions of their
rulers.
1. Economically there was increase in trade for those states that accepted Islam.
2. Islam facilitated business transactions as payment for goods and services were
calculated in terms of figures.
3. More Muslim traders and scholars were attracted to cities where its rulers were
Muslims.
4. Islamic taxation which was more systematic was implemented.
Socially and Religiously
1. Islam created a distinctive moral code for dressing and behaviour.
2. It upholds turban for its male folks as well as the veil for the women and regular
washing of hands, among others.
3. Fornicators and criminals were punished by stoning to death or cutting of the
limbs, respectively.
4. Arabic language became the official language of the state.
5. Introduction of burnt bricks for building of king’s palace and mosques.
6. Friday was declared the day of worship and prayers.
7. Though the rulers in the northern state accepted Islam as their religion, they still
had strong attachment to their traditional forms of worship that constituted the
base of their powers in the society and is still practiced till date.
In conclusion therefore it is with credit of Usman Danfodio that the religion of
Islam saw massive transformation and revival in the early years of the 19th
century and from February 1804, he led a Jihad that swept across the entire
Hausa states, which eventually led to the creation of the Sokoto Caliphate.
THE ROLE OF CHRISTAINITY IN SHAPING THE FORTUNE OF
NIGERIAN SOCIETIES FROM 1500 TO 1900 AD
Christianity is one of the world oldest leading religion and it is based on
the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Joseph and Mary are the
biological parents of Jesus Christ. To some scholars, Christianity is seen as a
perfection of Judaism, however it is a book religion (i.e., literature) and it is highly
influenced by the Graeco-Roman’s culture and also by Egypt which is connected
to the Bible. Ethiopia is one of the earliest states that survived Christianity in its
early stage. Christianity teaches about the community way of life (it teaches love),
it has its own way of worship and services/fellowship.
How did Christianity Spread to the Nigerian Societies
Christianity was imported into African by the Europeans and Benin
kingdom with some early states in the Niger Delta region were the first to receive
the Portuguese explorers who had in their company some catholic priests whose
main intention was to spread Christianity in this part of the world.
Factors Responsible for the Spread of Christianity
1. There was an urgent need to check the spread of Islam (in order to spread their
own religion)
2. They need to win souls for Christ.
3. They need to have more trade relations with African states (1 major reason).
Take note: However, in the 1515, the missionaries succeeded in building schools
and palaces for the ruling councils and this schools were strictly attended by the
princes and the children of the nobles.
Reason: The kings of those empires in the earliest times up till this period were
seen as a god by the people and their followers, so it was a tactical intelligence
on the part of the Europeans to capture the royal and noble children to get them
to go to the school so that the follower’s people can follow suit since they can’t
refuse their god.
Right from early times, the female children were only allowed to get stick up with
their mother to learn domestic chores, so they were not opportuned to go out and
learn or to go to churches or schools as they were left to be in the kitchen always.
Then it was only the male children that were allowed to go to school and learn.
The home base/headquarters of the missionary activities in Benin was sited at a
village named Ughoton and it was founded by a Benin priest named Ikaladeran
in the 11th century and 12th century. Between the year 1500 AD and 1800 AD
Christianity had gained ground in Warri, Bonny, Okrika, Opopo and every
important state at that time. By the 19 th century Christian societies/evangelical
movement started springing up and the very first one of them all was the British
missionary society founded in 1792 by William Carey.
• London missionary society founded in 1795.
• Glasgow missionary society founded in 1976.
• The British and Foreign Bible Society founded in 1796.
• General missionary Society of the Methodist founded in 1818.
But it is important to note that missionaries’ activities were limited to the coastal
regions alone until the discovery of Quinine to prevent malaria in 1850. The rulers
in the hinterlands after the discovery of Quinine, it still proved difficult to be
penetrated by the missionaries. Until they were brought under the European rule,
and this paved way for them to spread the gospel into the hinterlands. In order for
the missionaries to win the souls of these people certain measures were put in
place to appeal to their conscience. These measures that were put in place were
practically to ease their pains and soothe them, so they now saw the missionaries
as liberators.
1. They stopped the killings of twins.
2. Slavery and the use of human beings for sacrifice were also abolished.
3. They tried to stop the practice of polygamy.
4. They also stopped the ideas of taking titles (i.e., because of the rituals
associated with it).
5. They also tried to stop body tattoos.
6. They also tried to stop secret societies.
7. They also tried to stop traditional dances in the early times.
8. They also tried to abolish the mode of dressing especially for the females.
9. During baptism traditional names were changed before being baptized.
10.They introduced the western education and taught Africans how to read and
write.
11.They also interpreted the Bible to local languages, to achieve this a Western
Library and Technical Education were established, and in order to interact with
the people freely they initiated a scientific and systematic study of local
languages and gave most of them written form.
In the advent of Europeans in African soil greatly affected the economic growth
positively: trading of goods and commodities were very vital, diplomatic relations
between states were established mostly with the Portuguese, and Benin kingdom
was the first state to send an ambassador to a foreign state (Portugal). The
introduction of Christianity helped in facilitating the speedy growth of inter-group
relations both internally and with the outside world.
THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY AND SLAVE TRADE
What is Slave Trade?
Slave trade is a business or a process of procuring, transporting, and selling of
slaves especially from Africa to the New World. The three terms there defines the
slave trade, without it there is no slave trade (Processes).
What is Slavery?
Slavery, in the simplest terms, is any system which the principles of property law
are applied to people allowing individuals to own, buy and sell another or other
individuals. Note: The law means it is backed up by the constitution/law and it is
legalized in those times. In recent times it has become illegal.
Who is a Slave?
A slave is a person who is the property of a wholly and entirely subject to another
person. A slave is a born servant or a person who is entirely under the dominion
of some influence or persons. For example, somebody can be a slave to his or her
house, when the person is under the dominion of his or her house. Some includes
alcohol, hard drugs, etc. anything that you are under influence of is you being a
slave to it.
What is Enslavement?
Enslavement means forcing someone to remain or live perpetually in a bad
situation.
As in most of the world and in Africa to be precise, slavery was practiced from
pre-historic era or times.
Rhema: Slavery is an institution or social practice of owning human beings as
property especially for the use as forced labourers. It will interest you to know
that, in this present day, people are still enslaved. So, in African societies, slaves
were recognized as properties, others see them as dependent that could be
incorporated into their family in due time.
African slaves were bought to do hard labour in farms, plantation, and as domestic
workers, some even serve as wife, concubines to their owners, while others are
used for entertainment. From the 7th century down to the 20th century, Arab
Muslims and Europeans traded in African black slaves in the west, central and
east Africa and sending them to the north Africa and Asia but from the 15th century
to the 19th century, Europeans bought millions of slaves from Africa and send
them to the Caribbean’s, North central and south America. This created an avenue
for some African societies to start seeing slave trade as their major source of
revenue and thereby scrambling (fighting) for more slaves.
The Origin of Slavery
Some historians are of the view that slavery originated as a result of warning
groups taking captives. Those captured were taken far away from their homes. In
order for them not to escape. Other scholars saw slavery as one of the methods of
producing wealth available to common people.
• All valuable things are also taken.
• To increase productivity in the farm (farm owners bought more slaves in
order to have more productivity and wealth in the farm).
As a result of that, a whole of landowners were acquiring more slaves.
Consequently, there were series of organized riads or attacks on smaller
communities in search of more slaves. Females constituted a larger scale of slaves
and were engaged in agricultural works, economic functions like trading to
engage in cotton, spinning, dyeing of clothes. Some were used for food
preparation, washing of clothes and cleaning of the houses. Meanwhile some
powerful men in the society can have them as wives or concubines or as
entertainers. The men slaves were the ones doing the farming, wearing, and doing
construction works, they also took part in rearing of animals and with time when
the slaves are found diligent with his/her duties and dedicated, trustworthy, some
experienced slaves were recommended respect (all these happen with time).
These functions include tax collectors, police, army, or soldiers in the armed
forces, etc.
The Effect of Slave Trade on Africa
1. It brought disunity among the people.
2. People began to live in fear of being attacked at any moment.
3. There was increase in welfare in Africa. (in order to acquire more slaves as
some communities saw it as a source of revenue) because in Africa at that time,
slavery was a source of revenue to the people.
4. Because of the constant exportation of African slaves to Europe and America,
there was a drastic reduction of human resources in so many/most African
states. Which means able bodied men and women were taken out of African
soil while the weak and old were left to die in poverty.
Note: Slave trade penetrated Nigeria or Africa through the Arab people.
The End of Slavery in Africa
From the 18th century which is considered to be the age of enlightenment.
European economy interest shifted from agriculture to industry. In the age of
enlightenment, because there was a technological revolution or transformation,
many people or slaves were not required to work anymore in the farm because
the work they were supposed to do what was now done by machines. The
revolution was Europe and America.
Then a movement to abolish slave trade began after the technological revolution.
• Therefore in 1807 Slave trade was outlawed (taken out of law) in Britain
and United states.
• Britain outlawed slavery in all her territories that she had acquired.
• In 1833, France did the same thing in her colony.
• In 1848 and 1865 America ended slavery after the American civil war.
• In 1888, Brazil did the same thing in her country.
By the 20th, European forces had defeated most African slave trading states and
the Trans-Sahara, and its African slave trade came to an end. But it is important
to note that after all these abolishment, the practice of slavery and slave trade still
continues illegally.
THE TRANSFORMATION OF BENIN KINGDOM INTO AN EMPIRE
AND ITS AFTERMATHS FROM 1500 TO 1900 AD
The history of Benin kingdom which in the later part of the period rose to an
imperial status and subsequently earned the name of an empire. The period saw
the consolidation of various elements in the kingdom trying to adjust to the
monumental innovations introduced by Oba Eware the Great into the sociopolitical realm of the kingdom.
After the death of Oba Eware, the great, his son Oba Ozolua continued with the
warrior traditions established by his father to consolidate the achievements of his
father (Oba Eware the great).
Note 1: The first reason was the doggedness of the successors by consolidating
the achievements of their past predecessors. Their will to continue on with the
achievements.
The reign of Oba Ozolua was also remarkable because of the Portuguese
explorers who first made the first contact with the kingdom and continued to
make attempt to reach the great kingdom.
Note 2: The Benin kingdom was remarkable and viable in terms of trade and
business. If the Benin kingdom was not viable economically, there was no reason
for the Portuguese explorers to come back again.
Then, Oba Esigie, the son of Oba Ozolua, was another outstood ruler. It was
during his reign that the Portuguese sailor “Jao Alfonso d’Aveiro” reached the
court/palace of the Oba. Benin kingdom is one of the longest surviving ruling
empire in the whole world. That’s why the Oba of Benin is referred to as His
Royal Majesty just like the Queen of England.
Another remarkable achievement recorded during his reign was his successful
prosecution of Idah war, which was occasioned due to the coalition of Oliha (a
high ranking Uzama chief (a highly respected chief in the palace) with the attah
of Idah to attack the kingdom.
The remarkable role played by Idia the mother of Oba Esigie in leading the
advanced army and killing the Idah general, and eventual victory recorded over
the enemies led to the introduction of the title of the Queen Mother with her
own palace and arrays of guards and assistants. It was also to the credit of
Oba Esigie that the rival town of Udo which persistently contested with Benin
for supremacy over the years was recorded.
Note 3: It shows that Benin Kingdom had a very dependable army. It had military
might which was no rival to any other. Benin Kingdom had a formidable army.
Due to the importation of firearms from the Portuguese it helped Benin kingdom
expand their territories even as far as to Lagos during the reign of Oba
Ehengbuda.
It was during his reign that the practice of Bronze and Brass casting gained
recognition. It is generally believed that this act was introduced into Benin from
Ife and the act of Ivory was also developed during his reign.
Note 4: As early as that times, Benin kingdom had established industries such as
Bronze and Brass casting including Ivory.
The Portuguese started making contact with Benin Empire from the year 1504,
when the Oba received the European traders and adventurers, the Oba also
established a diplomatic relations with the Portuguese and the Enogie of Ughoton
to Portugal as an ambassador.
Note 5: that shows that Benin Kingdom had a robust international relations with
Portugal or the Portuguese.
Some historians also claimed that Oba Esigie could read and write and as well
could speak Portuguese language and had his own son educated in the language.
Some sources also say that though Oba Esigie did not convert into Christianity
but had some of his sons, chiefs and slaves converted to the Christian faith.
Note 6: As early as that time Benin Kingdom knew Christianity and Christianity
had an impact on the people of Benin kingdom (i.e., people became morally
upright due to the positive impact of Christianity.)
Human sacrifice was a phenomenon during his reign, but it was not done
indiscriminately, and it was only the Oba that has the power to order such rituals
and it was only done as the last resort (in situation of national emergency).
The economic development recorded with the coming of the Europeans and the
introduction of the exotic goods into the society like firearms, helped to improve
the fortune of Benin over and above her neighbouring states. In order to gain total
control of trade with the Europeans, the Oba obtained or acquired a royal
monopoly over the trade and only his appointed agents could buy and sell directly
with the Europeans.
Note: The Oba did not allow the Europeans to have monopoly over the trade
because they will have to decide everything about the trade, how to buy, how
much to sell and all that, so that they won’t have economic edge over the Benin
people. This shows that the Benin kingdom had economic prowess.
With his central role in the control of the economy and being patron to all the
guild the Oba stood to reap more revenue from these profitable commercial
relationship with the Europeans.
Rhema Sure Banger: Due to the maintenance of the economic buoyancy, the
military might and the political fortune of the empire, Benin kingdom continue to
experience advancement. Expediate or Elucidate?
During the reign of Oba Ehengbuda, the usual practice of the Oba leading the
army to war was abolished. The Iyase was then saddled with the responsibility
to lead the army to war, this action gave the Oba the opportunity to withdraw
entirely to the palace and performed only the endless round of rituals that was
meant to affirm his semi-divine status and could appear in public only when few
annual ceremonies are celebrated. Access to him was highly restricted but the
incident of human sacrifice increased greatly during his reign.
Note: It goes to show that the Oba was seen as an earthly god by the people of
Benin. It was because of the consolidation of their power and the throne that made
the people subject to them that no one would dare to question them. The people
saw the Oba as a direct messenger from Osanouba (God), it is why they were seen
as demi-gods.
It was Oba Eware that established the institution of primogeniture by which the
eldest surviving son of the incumbent Oba is conferred with the title of Edaiken
(the heir apparent to the throne) and was made an elder in the Uzama council of
chiefs (The King makers).
It is the Chief Uwangue of Benin kingdom that has the right to announce the
death of an Oba, this made choice of a successor is preserved of the chiefs who
subsequently began to enthrone those candidates that they could manipulate. E.g.,
When the Oba is sick it is only the Uzama chiefs that have access to him and if
he dies the last words of the Oba will be passed on to the Uzama chiefs and due
to their corrupt nature they might choose to go against the last wishes or words
of the late Oba. i.e., “If the late Oba asks them to crown his first son as the new
Oba they might choose his weakest son that they can manipulate and crown him
the new Oba.” Which will eventually lead to the weakness of the central
administration and contraction of territories of the empire due to weakness (as
many viziers and tributary states took advantage of this opportunity to make
successful bid from Benin hegemony, in spite of these the economic system of
Benin kingdom flourished and the chiefs benefitted immensely from this.
The only Oba called Akenkpaye whom deprived the chiefs of their dues, was
forcibly eliminated from the throne, but trouble soon broke out when the chiefs
were unable to manage the resources or revenue coming out from the trade link
with the European traders, and they soon splitted into different camps, who later
started fighting among themselves in form of a civil war.
Each group wanted to have total monopoly of trade with the Europeans. It was
during the reign of Oba Akenzua I that normalcy returned to the kingdom.
This was the achievements that brought back normalcy:
1. The relevance of the Oba was re-affirmed after the ascension of Oba
Akenzua I.
2. He restored the balance of the level of pre-eminence among the chiefs, with
Uzama maintaining the primary position.
3. He transferred the leader of the army from Iyase back to Ezomo
reaffirming the supremacy of the Oba.
4. He reorganized the economic balance of the kingdom.
5. He ensured that the close tributaries that broke away were brought back to
the kingdom.
6. He successed during his reign to bring back Benin Kingdom to an
appreciable level and in its local and international obligations, with
Europeans present taking a new dimension in the 19th century.
Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi: He successed from Oba Osemwende and his
ascension to the throne was through varied turbulent process that led to his,
having to effect a purge in the ranks of the chiefs, assistants and supporters of his
opposition. During his reign Benin had control of her major assets to the sea, and
the Europeans became very uncomfortable with his(the Oba) alliance with the
Uhrobos, ijaws & Itsekiries and the Europeans sought to limit Benin hegemony
tendencies in the lower Niger Delta region. The Europeans were very interested
in the rubber plantation that was in large quantity in that are and they were
desirous of having control over the trade on their own terms without due regard
to the Oba whom they considered to be huge hinderance to them as he has central
control over all trades in Benin. So the Europeans decided to take him out.
Anywhere the terms of trade was not favourable to Oba and the people of Benin
kingdom, he will have that market closed down and his actions made the
Europeans to think of possible ways to curtail his powers. This was the situation
that confronted the Oba in the opening years of the 1890s and finally led to his
capture and deportation to Calabar, and when that happened there was a political
gap the Benin people never had an Oba during the occupation of the Europeans.
READ
Hausa land from 1500-1900 AD (Look at those factors responsible for the
development of the Hausa City states beginning from the end of the 15th century.
Contributions of Rumfa Muhammad. The fight between Kano & Katsina for
supremacy of the Hausa city states.
EXAM FOCUS
• Know the definitions & examples of slave trade, slavery, enslaved &
enslavement.
• Reasons & effects of slave trade on African society.
• Islam (how it filtered into Nigeria & why is it considered to be the fastest
growing religion.
• Christianity, the effects of Christianity in Nigeria.
• Benin kingdom
• Hausa city states.