Lagos Historical Review

Editorial

Tunde Oduwobi — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

No Abstract

Book Review

Kenneth C. Nwoko, Friday Aworawo — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Revolutions in History: A Multi-Disciplinary Window into Our Changing World

Book Review

Augustine Obomeighe Ayeni — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Title of Book: Iuleha History and Language Studies
Author: Augustine Obomeighe Ayeni
Publication Details: Headmark Publishers; Benin City, 2019.
Number of Pages: viii+69, Index.
ISBN: 97832461-27

Book review

Sholabomi Eniola Omisanya — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Title of Book: Ijebu Under Colonial Rule 1892-1960: An
Administrative and Political Analysis
Author: Tunde Oduwobi
Publication Details: First Academic Publishers, Lagos, 2004.
Number of Pages: 243+xiv

Archives, Sustainable Development and Nation-Building: A Nigerian Perspective

Ayodeji Olukoju — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The anti-colonial movement in Africa during the twentieth century drew inspiration from history. In the post-independence era, archives, records and other repositories, which contain strategic socio-economic and political databases, and material evidence of the nation’s memory, are critical to nation-building and development planning. This essay highlights the potential and challenges of archives and records as enablers of national integration and development. It demonstrates how they could help in constructing national narratives that foster cohesion in a heterogeneous nation. They could also be managed to effect healing and closure in a post-conflict situation. However, deliberate and accidental gaps in the creation, archiving and accessibility of the records vitiate their potential in nation-building. These challenges could be tackled by, among others, the application of digital technology and the recourse to neglected photo archives and archived documentaries. The essay draws relevant lessons from across the globe.

Decolonising Urban Governance: The Persistent Impact of Colonial Legacy on Zimbabwe's Cities

Sylvester Marumahoko — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The article begins by raising a compelling question: "How does the colonial legacy shape contemporary urban governance practices and policies in Zimbabwe?" Through a blend of qualitative and archival research, it draws on post-colonial, spatial, dependency, and critical urban theories to illuminate this issue. The findings reveal that while urban governance in Zimbabwe has evolved since independence, the shadows of colonial rule continue to cast a long influence over its landscapes and social fabric. Even as Zimbabwe purportedly adopts several bold initiatives aimed at dismantling these colonial remnants, the article emphasises that the path to decolonisation is fraught with challenges—persistent resistance from traditional governance structures, a profit-first mindset overshadowing community needs, entrenched poverty, widespread mistrust, and a sprawling informal economy that could complicate progress made so far. Ultimately, the analysis emphasises that decolonising urban governance in Zimbabwe is not just a journey but a complex undertaking that demands inclusive strategies, community empowerment, and sustainable development, all while grappling with the enduring legacies of colonialism.

Africa’s Transition to Pan-Continentalism and Nkrumah’s Contributions, 1945 – 1958

Ikonnaya O. Osemwengie, Omon M. Osiki — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Kwame Nkrumah, a foremost African nationalist and first President of independent Ghana alluded to the claims that he did not concede to the idea of continentalism in his pan-Africanist career until the 1970s. However, his speeches, actions and activities from 1945 onward, when he made his debut at the Pan-African Congress in Manchester, show otherwise. It can be argued that Nkrumah had always acted in favour of a wider union and association both in the context of a West African Union (his attempt for the first time to incorporate the French-speaking parts of West Africa in the West African National Secretariat {WANS}) and on a continental basis. This paper examined the view that even though it may have been sub-conscious, Nkrumah was an uncontestable factor in the transition of pan-Africanism from its racial perspectives to it being territorialised thereby contributing immensely to its continental descriptions especially between 1945 and 1958 without even realising it. The study is based on the quantitative method of research and relied heavily on the historical methodology, which combines both primary and secondary sources of data, including newspaper sources, official documents as well as books and journal articles. The findings of the study indicate that the activities of Nkrumah served to nurse the idea of a union of African peoples to protect their interest in the face of European colonialism. Finally, the study concluded on the note that Nkrumah indeed contributed to pan-Africanism and Africa’s transition to pan-continentalism during his active political activism and recommends that more studies of his should be encouraged among those interested in African political and intellectual studies.

Intelligence and Secret Services in Diplomacy

Bridget Oghale Omoruyi — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Intelligence, in the international arena, refers to information that meets the needs of policy makers. It largely refers to issues related to national security - that is, defence and foreign policy. It is the foundation for state policies as it provides the basis for decisions taken by governments. A nation armed with intelligence has power, hence the maxim knowledge is power is apt as intelligence provides advance warnings of developments in other countries that will or could affect a country’s interests. Such advance warnings give policy makers the time for an appropriate response. The actions, policies and capabilities of other nations and important non-state actors (international organisation, terrorist organisations etc.) are of great concern. Policy makers must keep track of powers in a variety of areas, including economic, military and societal, whether they are friends, neutrals, enemies or allies but rivals in certain contexts. Also, it has become important to keep track of non-state actors-terrorists, traffickers and others, hence the necessity of the existence of secret services. Secret services are intelligence agencies who are not just collectors of secret information, but also analysts, as their analysis also adds to the secret information. In this study, the role of intelligence is examined, the problems of intelligence are analysed as well as the activities of secret services, using the secret services of five countries as case studies, thus contributing to the growing literature on intelligence and secret services. The study is based on the quantitative method of research and relied heavily on the historical methodology, which combines both primary and secondary sources of data, including newspaper sources, official documents as well as books and journal articles. The findings of the study indicate that each nation’s use of intelligence and secret services is a unique expression of its history, needs and preferred government structure. The study recommended the effective and efficient use of intelligence and secret services for the optimum diplomatic practice of a country.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Women's Health Development in Nigeria, 1973 – 2019

Moses Imayi — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Women and children are often disadvantaged in many facets of life arising mainly from the structures and cultural practicesin many societies. In the case of Nigeria, and largely Africa, the case is worse as women are still subjected to various forms of abuse. Since its establishment in 1969 and the redirection of its focus in the 1970s to issues around sexual reproductive health, the United Nations Population Fund has played a major role in changing things for the better. This study is an analysis of the activities of the UNFPA in Nigeria from 1973 to 2019. In particular, the study examines the contributions of the UN agency to women’s health and some other aspects of social development in Nigeria during the study period. The findings show that the UNFPA has made extensive contribution to women’s health development in the country. The work recommends that, to fully accomplish its objectives, UNFPA needs to broaden its coverage and as well adopt holistic approach in addressing issues of population control and reproductive health in Nigeria. The study also recommends how Nigeria can derive maximum benefits from the UNFPA.

The Challenges of Peacebuilding Due to the Exclusion of Farming Community in the TRC in South Africa: The Case of Ntabamnyama

Lethiwe Zondo — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This research investigates developments in Ntabamnyama, beginning in the 19th century. The Ntabamnyama had their land forcibly taken from them by White settlers and this generated intense conflict. The occupation by White settlers was without treaty or payment, which effectively denied indigenous people's prior occupation of and connection to the land. This has been a major issue for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which never passed through Ntabamnyama. The concept of Mfecane, disruption of boundaries and governance, which already existed before 1820, is affirmed by the theoretical framework used in this piece of work, which discounts ownership through discovery using the telanulius by recognising the history of the people before the one told by white men in South Africa and their collaborators in the country. The conclusion arrived at is that absolute peace can be restored if what was stolen from Ntabamnyama Indigenous Community can be restored, their land, rivers, mountains and skies with their stars.

Hope and Despair: Africa and the Politics of Climate Change, 1992-2024

David Aworawo — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Climate change is one of the most important global issues in the early twentyfirst century. It has also been a central theme of international diplomacy since the 1990s. Climate change and other manifestations of environmental degradation worldwide have posed a threat to sustainable development and efforts to improve the quality of life of a large section of global population. Indeed, many experts on the environment regard climate change as a threat to the very survival of humanity on planet earth. It is thus one of the most pressing issues in contemporary international relations. This article analyses the nature of Africa’s involvement in the politics of climate change and action to address the climate problem. Using mainly reports of international organisations, government records, newspaper reports and other secondary sources, the work analyses Africa’s engagement with the global community on the climate issue and the extent to which it has contributed to the continent’s ability to effectively respond to the problem. It interrogates Africa’s climate diplomacy and action within the context of the conflicting ideas on national interest and global governance. Power politics theory and perspectives on global governance are utilised as framework for analysis. Many studies on Africa’s involvement in climate politics have focused on the pattern of diplomatic engagement and the outcome. This work examines the issue from a broader context by interrogating Africa’s diplomatic engagement within the domain of international politics and the crisis of global governance. Furthermore, the climate crisis is a dynamic subject that requires regular and persistent analysis to understand its nature and dimensions as events unfold and the global community responds to them. It concludes that for both Africa and the rest of the global community, an approach that reflects more of altruism and less of national and group interest is that which will yield positive result and help to effectively address the climate crisis.

Revd. Emmanuel Moses Líjàdù, Ifá and the Promotion of Yoruba Literacy, 1862-1926

Insa Nolte, Olukoya Ogen, Ayodeji Abiona — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines the interwoven and reinforcing relationships between religion and literacy within the African context by interrogating a narrative, which primarily privileges and ascribes the promotion of Yoruba literacy to the activities of mainstream Christian missionaries. Methodologically, the paper relies on archival data and other primary sources such as the diaries and private papers of Moses Lijadu and the conduct of oral interviews with members of his family, copious textual analyses of Lijadu’s works and a robust engagement with relevant secondary literature. Essentially, the study illustrates how the documentation of the knowledge of an African traditional divination system played a significant role in the promotion of Yoruba literacy. Thus, the study locates the centrality of Ifá, the indigenous Yoruba divination system, in the tapestry of the discourse on the introduction of literacy in Yorubaland. Put differently, the paper explains how, ironically, the introduction of literacy by Christian missionaries aided the documentation and preservation of the knowledge of Ifá which the missionaries passionately sought to undermine and obliterate.

Civil Service Administration in Ethiopia, 1961-1974: A Historical Analysis

Mengistu Nega Mitiku , Teclehaimanot Engida — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study is an administrative history of Ethiopian modern civil service from 1961 to 1974. The year 1961 is selected because it forms an important watershed in the administrative history of modern civil service since it witnessed a significant structural and functional change in the Ethiopian civil service institutions as the result of the issuance of the Public Services Order No.23/1961. On the Other hand, in November 26, 1974 (as soon as Därgue took over the leadership of the country), one of the first historic steps it took was to examine the general administration of the government from various angles and establish a high-level "Administrative Reform Committee" to restructure civil service administrative agency in the direction of the "Ethiopia First" policy announced at the time. The study is based on the qualitative method of research and used both primary and secondary sources to interpret and analyse the administrative history of Ethiopia during the selected period. These sources were cross-checked and triangulated to achieve the desired result. The style of periodisation was the important approach used for comprehending the analysis. The study found the following major findings: Firstly, it found that among the leaders who administered the Ethiopian Civil Service Administrative Organ, Commissioner Mammo Tadässä and Käbädä Gäbrä Mariyam made a great significant contribution for the structural changes in the Ethiopian Civil Service Administration during this period. Secondly, efforts to make free the civil service from political influence were unsuccessful in Ethiopia from 1961-1974. This was because the capacity required for the job to be done was not well developed and the institution was not in a position to work freely

Nigeria-Biafra War and the University System: Historicising the No Victor, No Vanquished Concept in the Post-War Years Nigerian Political Development, 1970-2019

Amiara Solomon Amiara, Nwokike Ozioma, Victoria Uchime — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

While the phrase ‘No victor, No vanquished’ remains an influential concept in the post-Nigerian-Biafran war studies, its practicability, if not rhetoric, in Nigerian politics has been lessening in the recent years. Despite scholars’ best efforts to rethink and redefine the concept, it has resisted all attempts to transform it into a workable tool. This article explores the propriety of the phrase No victor, No vanquished and suggests that the idea is an impediment to Nigerian unity and the university system, particularly the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where the Department of Mechanical Engineering was closed down for its engagement in manufacturing ogbunigwe, a bomb that was used during the war. The Methodology used in this study id the historical method and the data for the study were drawn from secondary source. The study found that the post-war slogan of No victor, No vanquished was a grand design of the cut-throat politics that led to the outbreak of the war for reintegrating the secessionist group into the body of Nigerian politics without suggesting such reintegration processes. Also, it discovered that the Nigerian-Biafran war still retains some of its former influential causes that make the reality of the concept rhetoric. The article concludes that the concept is an extension of ethnic marginalisation that does not address the present Nigerian political problems. It recommends a reconsideration of the application of the concept for better inter-group relationship and coexistence in the country.

Book review

Samuel Ademola Arogundade — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Title of Book: The History of African Development
Editors: Ewout Frankema, Ellen Hillbom, Ushehwedu
Kufakurinani, and Felix Meier zu Selhausen
Publication Details: African Economic History Network, 2023.
Number of Pages: 297 pp.
ISBN: 978-94-6447-652-1