Law and authority in a Nigerian tribe: a study in indirect  rule

Meek, C. K. (Charles Kingsley); Lugard, Lord

Book

Law and authority in a Nigerian tribe: a study in indirect rule

Barnes & Noble • New York • Published In 1970 • Pages:

By: Meek, C. K. (Charles Kingsley), Lugard, Lord.

Abstract
As the result of the violent and widespread women's riot in 1929, which caught the British Colonial Administration in Nigeria by surprise, a commission of inquiry was established to look into the causes of the disturbances. After interviewing hundreds of witnesses, a report was produced containing some of the most interesting commentaries on colonial administration produced in recent times. This report indicated that the riots were triggered primarily by an unfounded fear that females were soon to be taxed (as male members of the community already were) coupled with a scarcity of money as the result of a heavy fall in the price of palm products. In addition, there was clear evidence that the Igbo people were generally discontent with the system of Native Administration established by the British. To rectify this situation, the government proceeded to undertake an intensive campaign of inquiry into the indigenous social and political organization of the peoples of South-Eastern Nigeria (including the Igbo area) with a view to establishing a Native Administration more in accordance with the institutions and wishes of the people -- the so-called 'indirect rule' which established pre-existing native institutions in a form of self-government on more progressive lines. Meek, as government anthropologist and a senior administrative officer, was asked to assist in this preliminary investigation. The material which he gathered for this report and later published, originally in 1937, dealing with Igbo systems of government and law, makes up the major portion of this source. The author notes that his material does not pretend to be a complete corpus of Igbo jurisprudence, but serves rather as a general guide to ascertaining the general principles by which Igbo communities govern themselves (p. xii). In addition to the major theme of Igbo jurisprudence and law, the source also contains interesting data on culture history and environment, religion, social and political structure (primarily in the Owerri, Awgu and Nsukka divisions), titles, kinship, age grades, marriage, childbirth and child rearing, and death and inheritance.

Government institutions

Death

Law

Age stratification

Cultural participation

Offenses and sanctions

Marriage

Justice

Reproduction

History and culture change

Infancy and childhood

Igbo