BASIC 8

THIRD TERM LESSON

NOTE
SCHEME OF WORK FOR THIRD TERM

1. Non centralised state: meaning and characteristics of a non centralised state

2. Tiv pre-colonial state: origin and occupational activities of the tiv people
3. Idoma pre-colonial state: origin and occupational activities of the idoma people
4. Ebira pre-colonial state: origin and occupational activities of the ebira people
5. Igbo pre-colonial state: origin of igbo people
6. Igbo pre-colonial state: socio-political structure igbo society and its economy
7. Ijaw pre-colonial state: origin and occupation of ijaw people
8. Ibibio pre-colonial state: origin and occupation of ibibio people
9. Urhobo pre-colonial state: origin and occupation of urhobo people
10. Anaang pre-colonial state: origin and occupation of anaang people
11. Revision
12. Examination
Week 1

NON CENTRALISED STATE: MEANING AND CHARACTERISTICS OF NON

CENTRALISED STATE

Specific objectives: At the end of the class, I should be able to

1. Explain the meaning of a non centralised state

2. State characteristics of a non centralised state

Non centralised State is a state where governmental power is not concentrated in a

single authority but shared amongst units of government. A non centralised States is republican
in nature and allows people to directly participate in the day-to-day running and management
of their own affairs as a society.

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.

CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-CENTRALISED PRE-COLONIAL STATES

1. The village is administered through council of elders: The village in a non

centralised state is seen as a political unit made up of group of families culturally
related. Hence, every family head comes together to form the council of elders so as to
deliberate and make decisions on how to effectively administer the state (village).
2. The village allows for the formation of Age Grades: Non centralised States allows
for the formation of Age Grades that perform different roles in the society – the roles
could be administrative roles, defence, maintenance of law and order, legislative roles,
etc. Each age grade is made up of young men in a given age bracket in the village.
3. The political system in a non centralised state is republican in nature: it allows
people to participate in the day-to-day running of the affairs.
4. Leadership in a non centralised States is not hereditary and not acquired by force
or conquest: leaders in non centralised states are appointed or selected by the people
5. Wealthy and influential people are recognised with titles in a non centralised state.
Week 2

TIV PRE-COLONIAL STATE: ORIGIN AND OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF

THE TIV PEOPLE

Specific objectives: At the end of the class, I should be able to

1. Explain the origin of the Tiv people

2. Discuss the occupational activities of the Tiv people

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.

OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE TIV PEOPLE

Tiv people are predominantly farmers. They grow crops like yam, millet and
sorghum.
Week 3

IDOMA PRE-COLONIAL STATE: ORIGIN AND OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVITIES

OF THE IDOMA PEOPLE

Specific objectives: At the end of the class, I should be able to

1. Explain the origin of the Idoma people

2. Discuss the occupational activities of the Idoma people

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.

ORIGIN OF IDOMA PEOPLE

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.

OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF IDOMA PEOPLE

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 PRE-COLONIAL STATE: ORIGIN AND OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF

THE EBIRA PEOPLE

Specific objectives: At the end of the class, I should be able to

 1. Explain the origin of Ebira people
2. Discuss the occupational activities of the Ebira people

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.

ORIGIN OF EBIRA PEOPLE

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.

OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE EBIRA PEOPLE

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

IGBO PRE-COLONIAL STATE: ORIGIN OF IGBO PEOPLE

Specific objectives: At the end of the class, I should be able to

1. Explain the origin of Igbo people

Igbo ethnic group is the third largest ethnic group in Nigeria. They are located in the
southeastern part of Nigeria in Abia state, Anambra state, Ebonyi state, Enugu state, and Imo
state. There are also population living in Rivers state, Edo state, and Delta state.

ORIGIN OF IGBO PEOPLE

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 PRE-COLONIAL STATE: SOCIO-POLITICAL STRUCTURE IGBO SOCIETY

AND ITS ECONOMY

Specific objectives: At the end of the class, I should be able to

1. Explain the socio-political structure of Igbo nation

2. Discuss the economy of Igbo nation

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.

ECONOMY OF IGBO PRE-COLONIAL STATE

Evil people are majorly into farming, trade and manufacturing of local farming tools
like hoes, knives, etc.

Week 7

IJAW PRE-COLONIAL STATE: ORIGIN AND OCCUPATION OF IJAW PEOPLE

Specific objectives: At the end of the class, I should be able to

1. Explain the origin of Ijaw people

2. Mention the occupational activities of the Ijaw people
 Ijaw people are located in the Niger Delta region in the south Southern part of Nigeria.
Ijaw is the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. Ijaw people are located in Bayelsa state, Delta
state, Edo state, Akwa Ibom state, and part of Abia and Ondo state.

ORIGIN OF IJAW PEOPLE

Historically, it is almost impossible to give a precise account as to whence the Ijaws

originated. Different accounts have been given by different historians. But what is certain is
that the Ijaws are one the world’s most ancient people

Ijaw people are believed to be descendants of the autochthonous people (ancient

African tribe) known as (H)ORU. These distinct set of people (H)ORU who speak ORU
language have existed as an ethnic group for nearly 5000 years (3000BC) but only settled in
the lower Niger and Niger Delta region around 500 BC.

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.

OCCUPATION OF IJAW PEOPLE

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 PRE-COLONIAL STATE: ORIGIN AND OCCUPATION OF IBIBIO

PEOPLE

Specific objectives: At the end of the class, I should be able to

1. Explain the origin of ibibio people

2. Discuss the occupational activities of the ibibio people
 Ibibio is the largest ethnic group in Akwa Ibom state and the sixth largest ethnic
group in Nigeria. Ibibio people are located in south south region of Nigeria in akwa ibom
state, Cross River State and Eastern part of Abia State.

ORIGIN OF IBIBIO PEOPLE

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.

OCCUPATION OF IBIBIO PEOPLE

Ibibio people are majorly into farming, fishing and trading. They were also great
carvers of wood.

Week 9

URHOBO PRE-COLONIAL STATE: ORIGIN AND OCCUPATION OF URHOBO

PEOPLE

Specific objectives: At the end of the class, I should be able to

1. Explain the origin of Urhobo people

2. Mention the occupation of Urhobo people

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.

Each of these groups eventually came together to form Urhobo nation.

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.

OCCUPATION OF THE URHOBO 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 PRE-COLONIAL STATE: ORIGIN AND OCCUPATION OF ANAANG

PEOPLE

Specific objectives: At the end of the class, I should be able to

1. Explain the origin of Anaang people

2. Mention the occupational activities of Anaang people

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.