Book
Studies in Ibo political systems: chieftaincy and politics in four Niger states
University of California Press • Berkeley • Published In 1972 • Pages:
By: Nzimiro, Ikenna.
Abstract
This study is an intricately detailed comparative analysis of the political systems of the riverain Ogbaru people living along the banks of the Niger and its tributaries. The so-called 'city-states' of Abo, Onitsha, Osomari, and Oguta served as the primary focus of this political analysis. The source is divided into three parts, the first of which describes the political structure of each of the four 'states' and the functional roles of the political offices contained therein in terms of policy making, adjudication of justice, execution of laws, and in defense of the state. The second part of this work deals almost exclusively with the role of kingship as an institution and as a focus of political values. The third and final portion of the book is a re-evaluation by the author of the theme of the study as noted above (parts 1 and 2) in order '… to examine the common characteristic features of the whole political system, as well as to show the similarities between particular states' (p. xvi). External cultural contacts which have affected the political institutions of the state are also examined in this source. These contacts were primarily with Benin, Igala and Europeans.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2003
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Western Africa
- Document Type
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator Types
- Ethnologist
- Indigenous Person
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- John Beierle ; Jan Simpson ; 1981
- Field Date
- esp. 1960-1961, July 1963-end of 1964 (?)
- Coverage Date
- Early nineteenth century - 1960s
- Coverage Place
- Riverain Ndi Ogbaru peoples (Abo, Onitsha, Osomari, Oguta), Nigeria
- Notes
- Francis Ikenna Nzimiro
- An enlarged form of the author's thesis, Cambridge, 1967
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 277-281)
- LCCN
- 79187745
- LCSH
- Igbo (African people)