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JSS2 History Lesson Note Third Term
JSS2 History Lesson Note Third Term
There were several non centralised states that existed in pre-colonial Nigeria.
Examples of such States were the Igbo society, Tiv, Ebira, Idoma, Ibibio, Anaang, Urhobo, and
Ijaw states.
Tiv nation or ethnic group is located in North central part of Nigeria in Benue state,
Taraba state, Nassarawa state and a part of Cameroon Republic. Tiv is the largest ethnic group
in Benue state and the seventh largest ethnic group in Nigeria.
ORIGIN OF TIV
The Tiv believe they emerged into their present location from the southeast part of Africa. It is
claimed that the Tiv wandered through southern, south-central and west-central Africa before
arriving at the savannah lands of West African Sudan via the River Congo and Cameroon
Mountains and settled at Swemkaragbe the region adjoining Cameron and Nigeria in the
beginning of 1500 CE. The Tiv people started spreading in different batches; some moved
southward across Obudu mountains others moved northward spreading over Mdema and Waka
district, while others moved into core Benue valley present day core Central Nigeria. These
dispersions took place in the early 1500 CE to 1600 CE.
Tiv people trace their history to a man called Tiv who gave birth to two sons Ichongo and
Ipusu.
Tiv people are predominantly farmers. They grow crops like yam, millet and
sorghum.
Week 3
Idoma people are located in Benue state and a part of Naarawa state and Cross River
state. Idoma nation is the second largest ethnic group in Benue state.
There are many divergence views as to the origin of Idoma people but most historians
believe that they do more people migrated from Apa in Kwararafa kingdom as the results of
the defeat Kwararafa kingdom suffered in the hands of Ali Ghaji the then emperor of Kanuri
as well as other factors.
It is believed that during the migration, Idoma people settled in the present day Tiv
land before majority of Idoma people were pushed to the present day location while others
found their way to Nasarawa state and Cross River State.
Idoma land is very fertile and rich in nutrients. Hence, the people of Idoma land are
great farmers. Idoma land can grow many types of crop plant ranging from yam to millet,
sorghum, sweet potatoes, cocoyam, cowpea, Guinea corn, rice, cassava, etc.
Idoma people also involved in trade and commerce. They are also involved in the
craft of basket making, and making of agricultural tools, etc.
Week 4
Ebira people are currently located in about eight states majorly in the north-central
part of Nigeria. Being a fragmented nature of society, there are various groups of Ebira people
of which Ebira Tao is the largest of the sub ethnic groups in Ebira nation. Other ethnic groups
are Ebira Mozum, Ebira Panda, Ebira Toto, Ebira Etuno, Ebira Agatu, and Ebira Oloko.
Ebira people according to oral tradition were under Wukari kingdom or Kwararafa
confederation until around 1680AD when they migrated from Wukari to settle in the present
location they are known between 1680AD and 1750AD.
Wukari was (is) the headquarter of Jukun people in present day Taraba state. It means
that Ebira people can trace their origin to the jukun people. When the Ebira people left Wukari
land, they did not leave alone, they left with other ethnic groups like the Idoma and the Igala
nations.
Farming and cloth weaving all the major occupation of Ebira people. They cultivate
yam, cassava, Guinea corn, rice, groundnut, etc.
The Ebira people also re animals like goats, sheep and cows for local consumption.
They also engaged in fish farming as a result of the presence of large number of rivers and
streams in Ebira land.
Week 5
There are several school of thoughts (or oral tradition) on the origin of Igbo people.
Why some people believe that Igbo people are some of the last race of Israel who settled in
North Africa around 2,000 BC and later migrated to their current location in Nigeria, others
believe that Igbo ethnic group originated from Awka-Nri and Orlu (Isuama) area from where
they spread to other parts of Igbo land.
It is believed that Igbo people first settled and lived in the ‘core Igbo centre' area
earlier mentioned (ie. Orlu and Awka-Nri area) from 2500 BC and it was from Orlu and Awka-
Nri that's the first migrated northward to Nsukka area and then southward to Ikwerre, Asa,
Ndoki and Uratta area. Also from Orlu area, people migrated to the east and South Eastern area
like Arochukwu, Umuahia, Edda, Ohafia and Ngwa.
It is also believed that evil people are of negro race who came from the southern
fringes of the Sahara in the North West of ancient town of Timbuktu (Mali) and Khartoum
(Sudan). This group concluded that Igbo people traveled down to their present location from
Sudan.
Week 6
Igbo society in general operate a village republican system while some other Igbo
communities operate a monarchical system.
Even though a typical Igbo society was stateless society where power was not
centralised, some people communities who lived in a river area like Onitsha, Agbor, Asaba,
and Oguta because of their nearness and interaction with centralised States like Igala Kingdom
and Benin Kingdom developed the culture of establishing their own Igbo kingdoms with kings
called Obi or Igwe. Most of Igbo society however operate a republican system where people
ruled themselves through the village assembly and village group.
The political structure in Igbo land is such that household grow into sub lineage unit
which grow into lineage assembly which eventually grows into village assembly.
The household which is made up of the husband, his wife and children constitutes the
bottom socio-political units in Igbo land.
Household that share common ancestors come together to form the sub lineage unit.
This is the second level of socio-political group in Igbo land and the Okpara is the head of the
sub lineage unit.
Sub lineage unit sharing common remote ancestors come together to form a lineage
assembly.
However the most significant of these assembly in Igbo land is the village assembly
that comprises of male members from each family, sub lineage and lineage assembly who come
together on a regular interval to discuss the affairs of their various socio-political unit.
There are also Age Grades and secret societies that assist the lineage assembly and
village assembly in executing certain decisions within their community.
Evil people are majorly into farming, trade and manufacturing of local farming tools
like hoes, knives, etc.
Week 7
Ijaw people believed that their ancestors (Oru-Otu) descended from the sky. Ijaw
people first settled in central Delta before some of them migrated to the east and the west of
Niger Delta area.
Ijaw people are into fishing, hunting, salt making and farming. They were also into
trade as they had to exchange their salt and fishes for all the things they needed.
Week 8
Ibibio people are the earliest settlers in Cross River valley of southeastern Nigeria.
Orrong tradition states that ibibio people first settled in their present location around 7000
BC. It is argued that the original homeland of ibibio is at Usak Edet (Isangele) in the present
day Republic of Cameroon.
The migration of ibibio people from Cameroon to Nigeria was in two dimensions.
The first group passed through an overland route. This group are the first settlers at Ibom
(Arochukwu). It was from Ibom that this group of ibibio people spread to other ibibio
communities like Uyo, Abak, Ikot-Ekpene.
The second group passed through the sea to the mainland and settled in Uruan,
Oron, Eket and Ibeno.
Ibibio people are majorly into farming, fishing and trading. They were also great
carvers of wood.
Week 9
Urhobo people are one of the largest ethnic group in Delta state. Urhobo people are
located in south Southern part of Nigeria in the Niger Delta area.
ORIGIN OF URHOBO PEOPLE
Urhobo people share more affinity to Edo people of Benin, the Ijaw people and the
Igbo people.
Urhobo territory was occupied towards the end of Ogiso Dynasty around 1170AD.
This was a period when a group of people occupying Benin land left Edo in search of a new
land where they can farm on and call their own. In other words, Urhobo land was occupied
between 1200AD and 1500AD.
Take for instance, the Orogun, Olomu, Aghon, Abraka, Utuo, Uwherun and Mototo
clans migrated from Benin land and are linked to Benin Kingdom. The Evwreni, clan migrated
from Igbo land and a link to Igbo people. The Ughelli, Ewu, Agbarho, Ogele Ogo and
Ughienvwe clans migrated from Ijaw land and are linked to the Ijaw people.
Urhobo people are predominantly farmers. They grow cassava, plantain, Yam, palm
oil and the exchange your farm produce with their neighbouring Ijaw and Itsekiri who produce
salt and fish.
Week 10
Anaang people are one of the major ethnic groups in Akwa Ibom state. Anaang people
are also in Obi-Ngwa local government area of Abia State. They also live in southwestern part
of Cameroon.
ORIGIN OF ANAANG PEOPLE
The oral tradition of Anaang people even though it cannot be fully ascertained
revealed that the Anaang people are of Jewish tribes who migrated from Egypt first to Ghana
around 7500BC.
The Anaang people lived among ‘Twi’ people of Ghana who gave them the name
Anaang. Anaang migrated eastward from Ghana towards the highlands of Cameroon. Anaang
people left Cameroon family by family, clan my clan and migrated Westward until they settled
in the coastal southeastern Nigeria now in Akwa Ibom state.
Each family organized themselves into clans and overtime the Anaang state or nation
was established
OCCUPATION OF ANAANG
The Anaang people are predominantly farmers, traders and craftsmen. They are
renowned for their artwork, mural paintings, masks and cement sculptures.