Early history of Ejeme
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Date
2012
Authors
Onyekpe, J.G.N.
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Volume Title
Publisher
Historical Society of Nigeria
Abstract
In the reconstruction of Nigerian history, the major endeavour of Nigerian historians during the period, 1950s – 80s, communities and peoples who did not develop into large, centralised or "mega" states and kingdoms were neglected. But small polities or "mini" states organised as village or village-group republics or chiefdoms devised effective systems and methods of organising themselves despite their small sizes. In the last two or so decades, there has been some redirection of research efforts to small communities. The outcome of research efforts in this new direction known as "micro studies" has helped and is continuing to help in the reconstruction of the larger history of zones or regions and national history. The present study of Ejeme is an effort in this new direction. This paper analyses the historical foundation, socio-political organisation, and the economic substructure of Ejeme, and shows that "success" is not a monopoly of the so-called large, centralised states and kingdoms. Significantly, we employed oral sources in the reconstruction of Ejeme history and this has been gratifyingly rewarding.
Description
Scholarly article
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Citation
Onyekpe, J. G. N. (2012). Early history of Ejeme. Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, 21, 117–132.