History · Lesson 2

Kanem-Borno, Hausa, Oyo, Benin, Igbo, Delta states and 19th-century changes

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: Section A 3 Evolution of States (Kanuri, Hausa, Nupe, Jukun, Igala, Idoma, Tiv, Ebira, Igbo, Ibibio, Yoruba, Edo, Efik, Ijo, Itsekiri, Urhobo; centralised and non-centralised states); 4 Economic activities and growth of states; Section B 2–7 (Borno, Yorubaland, Benin, Nupe, Igbo and Efik in the 19th century)

WAEC: Section A state formation; Section B Borno, Yorubaland and the Niger Delta and Cross River states in the 19th century

NECO: Section A state formation; Section B Borno, Yorubaland and the Niger Delta and Cross River states in the 19th century

What you will learn

Distinguish centralised and non-centralised societies and explain how states formed.
Trace Kanem-Borno to 1800 and its main rulers.
Explain the origins, growth and government of the Hausa states.
Describe the Nupe, Jukun, Igala, Idoma, Tiv and Ebira.
Explain how law and order were kept in Igbo and Ibibio societies.
Describe the rise and government of Oyo and Benin.
Explain the House system and the Delta and Cross River states.
Explain the 19th-century history of Borno, Yorubaland, Benin, Nupe, Igboland and Old Calabar.

Key points

Centralised states: one ruler and court. Non-centralised: elders, assemblies, age grades, oracles.
Kanem-Borno: Saifawa; Hume (Islam); Ali Gaji (Ngazargamu); Idris Alooma (firearms, Sharia).
Hausa Bakwai: Daura, Kano, Katsina, Zazzau, Gobir, Rano, Biram; Bayajidda legend contested.
Rumfa of Kano (1463–1499) and al-Maghili; Amina of Zazzau.
Nupe (Etsu, Tsoede), Jukun (Aku Uka, Wukari), Igala (Attah, Idah).
Tiv segmentary lineages; Tor Tiv only from 1946.
Igbo: Umunna, Ofo, assembly, age grades, Ozo, oracles, Umuada.
Oyo: Alaafin, Oyo Mesi, Basorun, Ogboni, Are-Ona-Kakanfo; Gaha 1754–74.
Benin: Eweka I; Ewuare c.1440–73; Esigie and Idia; Uzama and Iyase.
Delta: House system; Jaja founded Opobo 1869; Olu of Warri; Ekpe in Calabar.
Borno: 1808 Fulani; Kukawa 1814; Saifawa end 1846; Rabeh 1893–1900.
Yorubaland: Afonja, Ilorin; fall of Oyo; Osogbo 1840; Ijaye 1860–62; Kiriji treaty 23 Sept 1886.
Nupe: Bida 1857, RNC 1897. Benin: Ovonramwen 1888–1897. Calabar mission 1846.

Start here: What a state is and how states formed

A state is a community of people living in a defined territory under a government that can make rules, settle disputes, collect revenue and defend the community. Long before the British arrived, the peoples of the Nigeria area organised themselves in a great variety of ways. Historians group these into two broad types, but remember that many societies sat between them.

Centralised states had a single ruler at the top, a court of titled officials, a system of tribute or taxation and an army. Examples: Kanem-Borno (the Mai), the Hausa states (the Sarki), Oyo (the Alaafin), Benin (the Oba), Nupe (the Etsu), Igala (the Attah) and the Jukun (the Aku Uka).
Non-centralised (sometimes called "stateless" or "segmentary") societies had no single paramount ruler. Authority was spread among lineage heads, village assemblies, age grades, title societies, secret societies and oracles. Examples: most Igbo communities, the Tiv, the Ibibio and the Idoma. "Stateless" does not mean "lawless": these societies kept order very effectively.

Factors that encouraged state formation

Agriculture and surplus. Settled farming produced food surpluses that could feed craftsmen, priests, soldiers and rulers.
Trade. Control of trade routes and markets brought wealth and the need for order. Borno and the Hausa cities grew on trans-Saharan and regional trade; Benin and the Delta states grew on Atlantic trade.
Iron technology. Better tools cleared land faster; better weapons helped rulers expand.
Religion and ideology. Divine kingship (Oyo, Benin, Igala, Jukun) or Islam (Borno, Hausaland) gave rulers legitimacy.
Migration and conquest. Many traditions describe newcomers who founded dynasties, such as Oranmiyan in Benin or Tsoede in Nupe.
Defence. Insecurity encouraged people to gather behind walls under strong leaders.
Able leadership. Founders and reformers such as Ewuare of Benin or Idris Alooma of Borno.

Worked example 2.1 (WAEC-style, 15 marks)

Compare the political organisation of a centralised and a non-centralised society in pre-colonial Nigeria.

Model plan: Define both types (2 marks). Choose one of each, e.g. Oyo and the Igbo. Compare point by point: head of government (Alaafin versus no paramount ruler); law-making (Alaafin in council versus the village assembly); justice (palace courts versus elders, oracles and title holders); military (standing cavalry versus age grades called up as needed); checks on power (Oyo Mesi and Ogboni versus wide participation). Conclude that both systems provided order suited to their environment. Point-by-point comparison scores better than two separate descriptions.

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Practice questions

1. The ruler of Kanem-Borno was titled

Mai
Alaafin
Oba
Etsu

Show answer

A: Mai
Later Shehu under the El-Kanemi dynasty.

2. The Mai of Borno famous for firearms and reforms in the late 16th century was

Ali Gaji
Dunama Dabbalemi
Umar Ibn Idris
Idris Alooma

Show answer

D: Idris Alooma
Reigned c. 1571–1603.

3. The ‘Hausa Bakwai’ were

seven Borno chiefs
seven Igbo villages
the seven legitimate Hausa states
seven Yoruba towns

Show answer

C: the seven legitimate Hausa states
Including Kano, Katsina, Zazzau, Gobir, Daura, Rano, Biram.

4. In the Bayajidda legend, the state regarded as the origin of the Hausa states is

Zaria
Daura
Kano
Gobir

Show answer

B: Daura
Bayajidda killed the snake at Daura.

5. The Oyo Mesi could force an Alaafin to commit suicide by presenting

an empty calabash (or parrot’s eggs)
a sword
a white horse
a crown

Show answer

A: an empty calabash (or parrot’s eggs)
The Bashorun led the Oyo Mesi.

Key words

Centralised state: A polity with one ruler, officials, tribute and an army.
Segmentary society: A society organised by lineages without a single ruler, such as the Tiv.
Mai: Title of the ruler of Kanem-Borno before 1846.
Shehu: Title of the el-Kanemi rulers of Borno.
Saifawa: The ruling dynasty of Kanem-Borno until 1846.
Sarki: Hausa king.
Galadima: Senior Hausa (and Borno) official.
Alaafin: King of Oyo.
Oyo Mesi: Seven kingmakers of Oyo, headed by the Basorun.
Ogboni: Yoruba earth cult and council of elders.
Are-Ona-Kakanfo: Commander of Oyo provincial army.
Uzama: Benin hereditary kingmakers.

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