1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of Study
Before 1960, the region now known as Nigeria was made up of independent kingdoms. While some were large, others were small. The small ones tend to take shelter under the big kingdoms for protection and security as well as free trade. This reliance on bigger kingdom is due to territorial closeness, tribal connection and trade relations. Oza-nogogo, a small kingdom in today's Delta State of Nigeria, had at one time relied on great Benin Kingdom for security and trade connection.
Furthermore, these kingdoms from the North to South, West to East of Africa lacked written source and their personal record because they saw the important of education at the eleventh hour. The Ika community whose origin and culture as well as the political system is traceable to Benin.
The Oza-nogogo in particular, was under the guidance of the Benin kingdom before colonial rule, however, after being made a village that constitute the Ika community under the Agbor clan, she created a language known as Ozara or Oza which was a mixture of Edoid and Ika languages.
1.1 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to scrutinize the historical background of Oza-nogogo people dating from early times to in the pre-colonial period, their settlement pattern as well as the socio-economic and political life in general to the era of British conquest of Nigeria through signing of treaty. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To make know what constituted the origin, nature and activities of the people of Oza-nogogo in the pre-colonial times;
- To provide answer to popular questions ask by people such as ‘why do Oza-nogogo claimed Delta instead of people'; and
- To realize the socio-economic and political life of the people before the advent of colonialism in Nigeria in general and the Oza-nogogo people in particular.
1.3 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What constituted the origin, nature and activities of the people of Oza-nogogo in the pre-colonial times?
- What is the reason why Oza-nogogo claimed Delta instead of people?
- What is the socio-economic and political life of the people before the advent of colonialism in Nigeria in general and the Oza-nogogo people in particular?
1.4 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.5 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the historical background of Oza-nogogo people dating from early times to in the pre-colonial period, their settlement pattern as well as the socio-economic and political life in general to the era of British conquest of Nigeria through signing of treaty.
1.6 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
- Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
1.7 Methodology
In the course of research of this project, relevant and essential data and information was gotten from two main sources, which are primary and secondary sources.
The Primary Sources: This project largely rest on oral interview. This is so due to lack of written record or literature, as a result this work lies largely in oral traditions. Oral interviews were conducted with intellectuals and experience individuals whose personalities are of high esteem, who hold the history of Oza-nogogo at their memory bank. Those interviewed included title holders, chiefs, clergymen, farmers, as well as the Ogisi of Oza-nogogo. They all answer all the questions relevant to this work.
The Secondary Source: This sources stem from the village youth and libraries in Benin and Delta states. Information from this source helped to guide and supplement information obtained from the primary sources.
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