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Precolonial History of the Owan People: A Research Agenda

The trend in precolonial Nigerian historiography has been the attempt to concentrate studies on prominent kingdoms, major ethnic nationalities, and coastal communities. Consequently, the histories of acephalous societies have been neglected by historians. A. E. Afigbo once warned Nigerian historians against the danger inherent in the overconcentration of research on the history of megastates to the neglect of ministates, arguing that the history of the smaller polities should not be presented as footnotes to the history of major states. The raison d'être of this paper is to draw attention of historians to one of these neglected communities, the Owan peoples of Nigeria. They inhabit Owan Local Government Area of Bendel State, and consist of eleven clans: Emai, Ighue, Ihievbe, Ikao, Iuleha, Ivbiadaobi, Evbiomoin, Ora, Otuo, Ozalla, and Uokha. Linguistically, they belong to the Edo-speaking people centered in Benin. While it is true that Owan history has been neglected, that of their women suffers doubly because of their gender and as members of the society. Clearly such questions as what Owan society has been like in the past; how it has come to be what it is; what factors operate within it; what currents and forces move the people; and what general and personal factors have shaped events in the area should be the concern of historians interested in Owan history. In answering these questions the origins of the people and the evolution of precolonial sociopolitical institutions should be investigated. The economic arrangements which have sustained the society over the years will no doubt be of interest to would-be researchers. In addition, the links between the various groups and clans in term of trade, politics, and social relations should be studied. An examination of precolonial judicial arrangements and how they coped with crime and punishment will lead to an understanding of the currents within Owan society. Since all societies are dynamic, changes which occurred in the precolonial setting may reveal the resilience of indigenous institutions. Any reconstruction of Owan history must of necessity examine published, archival, and oral evidence. It is hoped that this research agenda will spur historians to focus attention on major aspects of Owan history—origins, economic, political, and social relations—with equal attention to the roles of men and of women.