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)