In recent times, Nigerian historians have increasingly focused on the need to bring the histories of small nationalities into the mainstream of Nigerian history. This contribution on the Utagba-Uno, an ethnic group of Ndokwa, a west local government area in Delta State, is consistent with this approach in Nigerian historiography. The book presents a reconstruction of this people’s pre- and post- colonial history over five centuries. It provides an account of the pre-colonial environment, and detailed information on the traditions and origins of the culture of the Utagba-Uno people. It surveys the indigenous systems of government of this people, critiquing their broad system of gerontocratic rule, as well as later socio-political developments. Finally it explains the evolution of various intractable problems and divisive tendencies, which are arguably threatening the survival of the Utagba-Uno, as this people is increasingly subjected to the forces and pressures of modernisation.
Utagba-Uno: A Political History (AD 1600-2001)
In recent times, Nigerian historians have increasingly focused on the need to bring the histories of small nationalities into the mainstream of Nigerian history. This contribution on the Utagba-Uno, an ethnic group of Ndokwa, a west local government area in Delta State, is consistent with this approach in Nigerian historiography. The book presents a reconstruction of this people’s pre- and post- colonial history over five centuries. It provides an account of the pre-colonial environment, and detailed information on the traditions and origins of the culture of the Utagba-Uno people. It surveys the indigenous systems of government of this people, critiquing their broad system of gerontocratic rule, as well as later socio-political developments. Finally it explains the evolution of various intractable problems and divisive tendencies, which are arguably threatening the survival of the Utagba-Uno, as this people is increasingly subjected to the forces and pressures of modernisation.
