2 - The ‘Middle Belt’ Historiography of Resistance in Nigeria
Corresponding Author(s) : Samaila Suleiman
Afrika Zamani,
No. 27 (2019): Afrika Zamani: An Annual Journal of African History
Abstract
Existing studies on Nigerian historiography cover renowned historians, major historical writings and prominent historiographical traditions of the major ethnicities such as Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, with little or no attention paid to the multiple ethnic minorities in the Middle Belt area. Using a range of sources, from oral interviews with historians and activists, and a textual analysis of the writings of Middle Belt intellectuals, this study maps out the textual tradition of Middle Belt historiography, its ideological background and political undertones. This article argues that the writings of Middle Belt intellectuals represent the tension between distinct intellectual trends and political agendas in postcolonial Nigeria. Animated by a discourse of marginality and resistance to the dominant interpretations of northern Nigerian historiography, the article advances a fresh approach to the Middle Belt as an epistemic struggle by the ethnic minorities of northern Nigeria to reassert their ‘historical patrimony’ or reclaim their ‘historical dignity’ through the creation of projects that highlight their historical past.
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- Bagudu, N. & Dakasa, C.J. 2001, The Right to be Different: Perspectives on Minority Rights, the Cultural Middle Belt and Constitutional change in Nigeria, Jos: League for Human Rights.
- Barth, H., 1857, Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa, Vol. II, New York.
- Bohannan, L.P., 1954, Tiv Farm and Settlement, London.
- ______________ 1969, The Tiv of Central Nigeria, London: International African Institute.
- Coleman, J., 1965, Nigeria: Background to Nationalism, Berkeley: University of California Press.
- Dudley, B.J., 1968, Party Politics in Northern Nigeria, Cass.
- Falola, T. & Aderinto, S., 2010, Nigeria, Nationalism and Writing History, University of Rochester Press.
- Forde, D., 1956, Peoples of the Plateau Area of Northern Nigeria Part 7, London: International African Institute.
- Gonet, N.D., 2013, The Rudiments of Kingship in Yil-Ngas, Jos: Willota Press.
- Goyol, A. & Dimka, E., 1999, Pusdung: Ngas Festival of Arts and Culture, Jos. Gwom, S.L., 1992, The Berom Tribe of Plateau State Nigeria.
- ______________ 1994, History of Wase Local Government Council of Plateau State of Nigeria.
- ______________ 1995, History of Jos and Political Development of Nigeria ; The Berom and religion: Practices and prospects.
- Hamman, M. 2007, The Middle-Benue Region and the Sokoto Jihad 1812-1869, the Establishment of the Emirate of Muri, Kaduna: Arewa House.
- Hodgkin, T., 1975, Nigerian Perspectives: an Anthology, London: Oxford University Press.
- James, I. 1986, The Ham and their Neighbors in History, Jos: Jos University Press.
- Kukah, M.H., 1993, Religion, Politics and Power in Northern Nigeria, Ibadan: Spectrum Books.
- Kwanashe, G.A., 2002, The Making of the North in Nigeria-1900-1965, Kaduna: Arewa House.
- Lakai, N.F., 1998, An introduction to Tarok History.
- Last, M., 1967, The Sokoto Caliphate, London: Longman.
- Logams, P.C., 2004, The Middle Belt Movement in Nigerian Political Development: A Study in Political Identity 1949-1967, Abuja: Centre for Middle Belt Studies. Maishanu, H.M., 2008, Five Hundred years of Historical Writings in Borno and Hausaland, Ibadan: Macmillan. Mallo, Stephen, The History of Ron, Jos: Acon, (nd).
- Mamdani, M., 2012, Define and Rule: Native as Political Identity, Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
- Mangwvat, M., 2013, A History of Class Formation in the Plateau Province of Nigeria, 1902–1960: the Genesis of a Ruling Class, Durham: Carolina Academic Press.
- Mohammed, A.R., 2014, History of the Spread of Islam in the Niger-Benue Confluence Area, Igalaland, Egbirraland and Lokoja C. 1900-1960, Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.
- Nye, A.M., 1988, The Afizere (Jarawa) People of Nigeria, Jos: National Museum Press.
- Ochonu, M., 2014, Colonialism by Proxy: Hausa Imperial Agents and Middle Belt
- Consciousness, Indiana: University of Indiana Press.
- Okeke, O., 1992, Hausa-Fulani Hegemony: the Domination of the Muslim North in Contemporary Politics, Acena Publishers, Lagos.
- Okpeh, O.O., & Ugbegili, S.I., 2013, Themes on Nigerian History: peoples and Cultures, Ibadan: Vast Publishers.
- Okpu, U., 1977, Ethnic Minority Problems in Nigerian Politics: 1960-1965, Uppsala.
- Sai, A., 1939, Akiga Story: the Tiv Tribe as seen by one of its Members, London: Oxford University Press.
- Takaya, B., & Tyoden, S., 1987, The Kaduna Mafia, Jos: University of Jos Press. Trouillot, R., 1995, Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History, Boston: Beacon Press.
- Vansina, J., 1972, Oral Tradition: a Study in Historical Methodology, Translated from French by H. M. Wright, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.
- Vansina, J., 1985, Oral Tradition as History, Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
References
Bagudu, N. & Dakasa, C.J. 2001, The Right to be Different: Perspectives on Minority Rights, the Cultural Middle Belt and Constitutional change in Nigeria, Jos: League for Human Rights.
Barth, H., 1857, Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa, Vol. II, New York.
Bohannan, L.P., 1954, Tiv Farm and Settlement, London.
______________ 1969, The Tiv of Central Nigeria, London: International African Institute.
Coleman, J., 1965, Nigeria: Background to Nationalism, Berkeley: University of California Press.
Dudley, B.J., 1968, Party Politics in Northern Nigeria, Cass.
Falola, T. & Aderinto, S., 2010, Nigeria, Nationalism and Writing History, University of Rochester Press.
Forde, D., 1956, Peoples of the Plateau Area of Northern Nigeria Part 7, London: International African Institute.
Gonet, N.D., 2013, The Rudiments of Kingship in Yil-Ngas, Jos: Willota Press.
Goyol, A. & Dimka, E., 1999, Pusdung: Ngas Festival of Arts and Culture, Jos. Gwom, S.L., 1992, The Berom Tribe of Plateau State Nigeria.
______________ 1994, History of Wase Local Government Council of Plateau State of Nigeria.
______________ 1995, History of Jos and Political Development of Nigeria ; The Berom and religion: Practices and prospects.
Hamman, M. 2007, The Middle-Benue Region and the Sokoto Jihad 1812-1869, the Establishment of the Emirate of Muri, Kaduna: Arewa House.
Hodgkin, T., 1975, Nigerian Perspectives: an Anthology, London: Oxford University Press.
James, I. 1986, The Ham and their Neighbors in History, Jos: Jos University Press.
Kukah, M.H., 1993, Religion, Politics and Power in Northern Nigeria, Ibadan: Spectrum Books.
Kwanashe, G.A., 2002, The Making of the North in Nigeria-1900-1965, Kaduna: Arewa House.
Lakai, N.F., 1998, An introduction to Tarok History.
Last, M., 1967, The Sokoto Caliphate, London: Longman.
Logams, P.C., 2004, The Middle Belt Movement in Nigerian Political Development: A Study in Political Identity 1949-1967, Abuja: Centre for Middle Belt Studies. Maishanu, H.M., 2008, Five Hundred years of Historical Writings in Borno and Hausaland, Ibadan: Macmillan. Mallo, Stephen, The History of Ron, Jos: Acon, (nd).
Mamdani, M., 2012, Define and Rule: Native as Political Identity, Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Mangwvat, M., 2013, A History of Class Formation in the Plateau Province of Nigeria, 1902–1960: the Genesis of a Ruling Class, Durham: Carolina Academic Press.
Mohammed, A.R., 2014, History of the Spread of Islam in the Niger-Benue Confluence Area, Igalaland, Egbirraland and Lokoja C. 1900-1960, Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.
Nye, A.M., 1988, The Afizere (Jarawa) People of Nigeria, Jos: National Museum Press.
Ochonu, M., 2014, Colonialism by Proxy: Hausa Imperial Agents and Middle Belt
Consciousness, Indiana: University of Indiana Press.
Okeke, O., 1992, Hausa-Fulani Hegemony: the Domination of the Muslim North in Contemporary Politics, Acena Publishers, Lagos.
Okpeh, O.O., & Ugbegili, S.I., 2013, Themes on Nigerian History: peoples and Cultures, Ibadan: Vast Publishers.
Okpu, U., 1977, Ethnic Minority Problems in Nigerian Politics: 1960-1965, Uppsala.
Sai, A., 1939, Akiga Story: the Tiv Tribe as seen by one of its Members, London: Oxford University Press.
Takaya, B., & Tyoden, S., 1987, The Kaduna Mafia, Jos: University of Jos Press. Trouillot, R., 1995, Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History, Boston: Beacon Press.
Vansina, J., 1972, Oral Tradition: a Study in Historical Methodology, Translated from French by H. M. Wright, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.
Vansina, J., 1985, Oral Tradition as History, Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.