1.1 Introduction
This work is on the inter-group relations between Ukwuani and Urhobo peoples up to 1900. One aspect of Ukwuani and Urhobo history that has not received much attention from historians in recent times, is the effect of inter-group relations between them. Many have written on the various aspects beginning with the origin, culture and annual festivals of the Ukwuani's and the Urhobo's. Yet, the more recent events — the inter-group relations between them, which virtually have affected nearly all aspects of Ukwuani and Urhobo lands has not caught the attention of many historians despite the fact that many of these people are now living witnesses to the events. It is therefore, the aim of this study to construct the history of Ukwuani and Urhobo in relation to their experiences and analyze the events as they occurred and show how they were affected in terms of their political, social and economic activities up to 1900.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Ukwuani is an ethnic group in part of Delta State in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and it is administratively divided into three local government areas, namely; Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani Local Government Areas of the same state1 with the administrative headquarters located at Aboh, Utagba-Ogbe (Kwale) and Obiaruku respectively.
Geographical Background Of The Ukwuani's
Ukwuani land is located between longitude 6061 and 6042 East, latitude 6031 and 5025 North2 and they constitute a political division in Delta State of Nigeria. With a population of about 500,000 inhabitants in 1963.3 Ukwuani land is bordered on the North by the Benin Division, on the south by the Ijaw Division, on the South-West by Urhobo and Isoko Divisions, on the East by the Niger River, on the North-East by Ika and Asaba Divisions, and on the South-East by Ahoada Division of the Rivers State.
The geographical position of Ukwuani, places the country within two belts and they include the Deltaic Swampy Forest, which covers the southern and south eastern coastal towns as well as the tropical rain forest situated in the Northern part of the territory.5 In the swampy region, numerous creeks and impassable dense forest abound which also experience flood during certain period of the year. The area also has adequate rainfall all year round and the vegetation is a mixture of evergreen forest and the savannah grassland with very fertile soil.
Ukwuani is a language spoken in parts of Delta and Rivers States in Nigeria, notably: Abbi, Aboh, Afor, Akoku, Amai, Ndoni (Rivers), Isukwe (Rivers), Onuaboh, Ashaka, Ebedei, Emu, Ejeme Aniogo, Ezionum, Eziokpor, Utagba-Ogbe (Kwale), Ndemili, Obiaruku, Obetim Uno, Obikwele, Owa Alidima, Umuaja, Ossissa, Utagba-Uno, Umutu, Onicha-Ukwuani, Obinomba, Iselegu, Umukwata, Owa Abbi, Utchi, Abgragada, Ushie, Ogume, Azagba and Umuolu.
Garri which is produced from cassava forms one of the major export communities in this region and both palm oil and kernels are extensively produced for internal use and for export. Certain cash crops like cocoa and rubber are also cultivated while the latter forms one of the main export cash crop in the territory.8 In addition, other cash crops like maize, melon, tomatoes, okro, beans and groundnut are also cultivated and produced in abundance both for subsistence and for commerce with the neighbouring towns and villages. It is no wonder that many of the people in the region are traders while a few are weavers.
Additionally, Kwale and Aboh are very often referred either to the inhabitants of the Ukwuani country or the territory itself. But in either case, the terms or names so employed are basically unsuitable for the word ‘Kwale' goes back to the days of British pacification of Ukwuani land. Consequence upon this initial hostile attitude of the Ukwuani towards the British, the first political officer had to fall back on a town which was then predominantly Urhobo speaking (although some speak a bit of Ukwuani) and now part of the Urhobo Division. This provincialism which existed in the area made them pronounce Ukwuani-Ukwuale or Kwale.
According to an oral account given by Chief Obodiowe Edike,9 the choice of Abraka as temporary British headquarters was motivated by a number of factors; firstly, the town was friendly to the administrators. Secondly, it was situated on a level plain as against the swampy impassable path of Ukwuani. Thirdly, it was sighted on the main road leading to Warri - the provincial headquarters, and so facilitated communication and re-enforcement of troops. And fourthly, Abraka was very close to River Ethiope, the only source of pure water in the division.
Because of the choice of Abraka as a station, the British were much more familiar with Urhobo-speaking elements, in and around Abraka than they were with the Ukwuani people. As these Urhobo people called their Ukwuani neighbours “Ukwuale” or “kwale”, their own rendering of Ukwuani, this name gained currency. The British thus adopted the word ‘Kwale' as a simplified word for Ukwani and called the headquarters ‘Kwale'. Thus, the new station built in Utagba-Ogbe on a Government Reserved Area became known as ‘kwale'.10 This name was used in all official correspondence until 1950 when at the instance of the people, the proper name ‘Ukwuani' was officially adopted.
It is imperative to point out here that Ukwuani community as has been outline in previous paragraph and these communities share common boundary with each other. In addition, the land occupies a very strategic position in Nigeria as all the major roads in the country converge in Ukwuani land, accounting for her rapid development. For instance, the New Sapele-Agbor Road popularly referred to as the “New Road” passes through Ukwuaniland. The Warri-Umutu-Ekuku-Agbor Road enrout to Onitsha also passes through Ukwuani land as well as the Agbor-Ogwashi Road to Onitsha. Source of water supply in Ukwuani land is through rivers and rainfall and most recently taps and bore-hole. It is also worthy of note that Ukwuani has never recorded any earthquake or earth tremor and there is no major mountain or rock in the different communities that make up the Ndokwa nation.
Geographical Background of the Urhobos
The Urhobo, also a very prominent part of the Delta State in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, constitute the largest ethnic group in same state and are spread over nine (9) Local Government Areas which includes Ethiope East, Ethiope West, Okpe, Ughelli South, Ughelli North, Sapele, Udu, Uvwie and part of Warri South.12 The Urhobo occupy a contiguous territory bounded by latitude 50151 and 60 North and longitudes 50401 and 60251 East.13 They have about twenty two polities which includes: Agbarha-Ame (Agbassa), Agbarha-Otor, Agbarho, Agbon, Arharwarien, Avwraka, Ephon-Otor, Eghwu, Evwreni, Idjerhe, Oghara, Ogor, Okere (Urhobo), Okparabe, Okpe, Olomu, Orogun, Udu, Ughelli, Ughivwen, Ughowerun and Uvwie.
The area is bounded on the North by the River Ethiope (except at the Northwest corner where it stretches into a strip of land on the right bank of the river). On the south, it shares a boundary with the Western Ijaw Local Governments of Bomadi and Patani while on the East by the Ukwuani and Ndokwa West Local Governents as well as Isoko North and on the West by the Warri South Local Government. Thus, their immediate neighbours are the Binis to the North, the Ijaw to the South, Ukwuani's and Isoko's to the East and Itsekiri to the West.
Located in the evergreen forest of southern Nigeria, the Urhobos are predominantly farmers. Such products as yam, cassava, maize, plantain, banana and cocoyam constitute the core products of subsistence farming embarked upon by almost every family. It was however, for the abundance of oil palm products that early European interest in Urhobo land was generated as we see in subsequent chapters in the course of this work. Although not as popular as oil palm, rubber is a primary cash crop that survives the economy of the people.
Fishing is another occupation through which the Urhobo people make their living and this is not surprising as a number of rivers and creeks flows through the land. Among these are the River Ethiope which flows through Sapele and parts of Abraka clan, the Warri River which seeps through land areas in Ughievwen (Okwagbe), Agbarho, Agbon, and Abraka clans. Also, a tributary of the Forcados River, known as Okpare, runs through Obomu clan into Ekakpamre creek and Kiagbodo River.
Apart from fishing which is made possible by the presence of these rivers, the Urhobo's who live along these rivers produce the local gin also known as ‘Ogogoro' from raffia palms. Pottery and raffia mats also form a lucrative soruce of revenue for the people especially the Ughievwens in Ughelli South Local Government Area.
Additionally, with respect to the population, the National Census count of 1932 gave the Urhobo division a population of about 359,000. But during the census counting of 1952, the government of then Mid-Western Region of Nigeria gave Urhobo Division a population of 323,000.18 That means the Division recorded a drop of 36,000 in population which is an absolute absurdity.
In all parts of Urhobo land, the average annual temperature is about 270C with no marked seasonal or monthly variations. Mainly on account of the fact that the Niger Delta lies across the part of the South-West moisture-laden winds blowing from the Atlantic Ocean. All parts of Urhobo land experience heavy rainfall, in that annual rainfall average of 2500mm or more in characteristic of most areas.
It is also important to point out here that some of the different communities that make up the Urhobo land share common boundary with each other and the land occupies a very strategic position in Nigeria as some major roads in the country passes through the Urhobo land, also accounting for her rapid development. Source of water supply is through rainfall, rivers, taps (and borehole in contemporary times) and most importantly, Urhobo land has never recorded any earthquake or earth tremor and there are no mountains or rocks in the different communities of Urhobo land.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Ukwuani and the Urhobo People Up to 1900 - A Study of Inter-group Relations.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation reveals that an Inter-group relation constitutes a social phenomenon that stems from contact between people. Inter-group relations may manifest as inter-ethnic, inter-religious inter-national, inter-gender, conflict, etc.; they are characterized by human actions, which are inevitable. Intergroup conflict causes changes to occur, both within the groups in conflict and between them. Within the groups, members will usually overlook individual differences in an effort to unite against the other side, and with this concerted effort the focus is on the task (Tandfonline, 2021).
The issue of inter-group relations on Ukwuani and the Urhobo People in Nigeria is not new as it has attracted scholarly attention for some decades now. As recurring as this subject may have been to analysts of inter-group relations on Ukwuani and the Urhobo People inNigeria, it cannot be abandoned, because the dimension which it has taken threatens the existence of the country (Tandfonline, 2021).
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to evaluate the Ukwuani and the Urhobo People Up to 1900 using Inter-group Relations as a Case Study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To assess the Inter-group Relations of Ukwuani and the Urhobo People Up to 1900
- To find out about the Pre-Historic Origins of Urhobo Cultural Units
- To evaluate the Urhobo's Subcultures and the Conquest of Western Niger Delta’s Rainforests
- To find out about the Properties and Characteristics of Cultural Units of Urhobo Land
- To assess Urhobo Reactions to British Colonial Ethnography of Urhobo Land
1.5 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit to 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.
1.6 Methodology
The researcher adopts a multi-dimensional approach in her efforts to get at the substance of this work. The researcher made use of both primary and secondary sources of obtaining pieces of information. Books, journal articles, encyclopedia, dictionaries, magazines, unpublished project works etc were consulted as secondary source materials. People from the age of twenty were considered qualified as respondents.
1.7 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Ukwuani and the Urhobo People Up to 1900 using Inter-group Relations as a case study.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- 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.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- 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).
