Deapartment of History and Diplomatic Studies

Permanent URI for this collection

https://kwasuspace.kwasu.edu.ng/handle/123456789/6054

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 41

The Christian Missions and Western Education in Ilorin, Nigeria: A Century of Resistance and Challenge, 1847-1957.
(Carfax Publishing, Taylor & Francis Group, 2001-04) Eliasu Yahaya
This paper surveys the introduction of Western education by the Christian missions in Ilorin township, Nigeria and the nature of resistance they initially faced. This aspect of Nigerian history has often been neglected in previous research. This study examines why there was initial resistance to missionary education and how after a strenuous effort, it became possible to establish such schools in Nigeria. The intensification of humanitarian concerns at the end of the slave opened up West Africa to active missionary work. Thus, by the 1840s various missionary denominations had penetrated the Yorubaland and challenged the old order with the introduction of new ideas and ways of life. Indeed, the coming of the various Christian mission into Nigeria has been well documented. According to the records, the first missionaries to arrive on the scene were the Wesleyan Methodist who settle at Badagry in 1842. They were followed immediately by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in December 1842, the American Baptist Mission in 1853 and Roman Catholic Mission (RCM) in the 1860s.
The Christian Missions and Western Education in Ilorin, Nigeria: A Century of Resistance and Challenge, 1847-1957
(Carfax Publishing, Taylor & Francis Group, 2001-04) Eliasu Yahaya
This paper surveys the introduction of Western education by the Christian missions in Ilorin township, Nigeria and the nature of resistance they initially faced. This aspect of Nigerian history has often been neglected in previous research. This study examines why there was initial resistance to missionary education and how after a strenuous effort, it became possible to establish such schools in Nigeria. The intensification of humanitarian concerns at the end of the slave opened up West Africa to active missionary work. Thus, by the 1840s various missionary denominations had penetrated the Yorubaland and challenged the old order with the introduction of new ideas and ways of life. Indeed, the coming of the various Christian mission into Nigeria has been well documented. According to the records, the first missionaries to arrive on the scene were the Wesleyan Methodist who settle at Badagry in 1842. They were followed immediately by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in December 1842, the American Baptist Mission in 1853 and Roman Catholic Mission (RCM) in the 1860s.
Christian Churches in Ilorin, Nigeria: A Brief Historical Survey
(2004-04) Eliasu Yahaya
The paper provides a brief historical survey of the establishment of Christian churches in the state of Ilorin, Nigeria. After examining the early resistance to the spread of Christianity in Nigeria, the paper reviews the history of the first and second generations of churches in Nigeria. The paper then surveys the social impact of church and mission in Ilorin, including the religious and educational aspects all of which contributed to the improvement of the educational standards in Nigeria, even among the Muslim schools. The paper concludes that most of the innovative and positive ideas introduced through the church schools were readily adopted by the Muslim schools, once they saw the advantages that were to be derived from them.
The 1936 Baba Isale “Coup” and Aftermath: A Historical Analysis of an Intrigue in the Struggle for Supremacy in Colonial Ilorin
(The Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies, Bayero University Kano, 2011-07) Salihu, Ismail Otukoko
Introduction Pre-colonial and colonial history of Ilorin was punctuated by various crises and conflicts that have been described as incidents in the struggle for power—political and economic—and supremacy. During the 19th c., there were struggles and contestations between the first Emir Abdul-Salami (c.1823-c.1836) and other group leaders like Afonja, Sholagberu and the Sarkin Gambari Bako. From the 1860s to 1890s, struggles continued between successive Emirs and their Baloguns (ward\war chiefs) led by the “Balogun Agba” (the most senior Balogun and the de facto Commander-in-Chief of the Ilorin army) such as Baloguns Fulani Hina Konu, Gambari Karara and Alanamu Ali Inakoju. Although colonialism put an end to some of the main causes of conflicts, it did not, however, put a final stop to them. Rather, colonial rule introduced new impetus and conditions for both continuity and change in the struggle. Thus colonial Ilorin recorded, among others, such crises as the 1907 “hunters revolts” in and around Ilorin town and this is believed to have been instigated by the Balogun Ajikobi Biala, Magaji Gari Salihu and one Ajai or Ajia Ogidilolu; the 1913 anti-tax riots staged largely by the Oke Imale (“Yoruba”) quarters, the Baba Isale crisis of 1936 and the Ilorin Talaka Parapo phenomenon of the 1950s. The 1936 Baba Isale crisis provides an important incident reflecting continuity and change in the struggle for power, prestige or influence and supremacy in the 20th c. Ilorin. It also represents the last major incident in the contest for Ilorin among members of the traditional ruling aristocracy during the colonial rule.
From Traditionalism to Democratic Radicalism: A Re-examination of the Ilorin Talaka Parapo Phenomenon, 1954-1958
(Department of History and International Studies, Kogi State University, Anyigba, 2012) Salihu, Ismail Otukoko
The period of decolonization in Nigeria (1950-1960) was characterized by diverse struggles at various levels. Among the most noticeable developments during the decade are party politics, electoral, political and other forms of struggle for power as well as separatist and minority agitations. Within the defunct Northern Region, the Ilorin emirate was the first to experiment with democratic local government. It therefore had its own fair share of the emergent contestations. In Ilorin town, the headquarters of the Ilorin Emirate, the unfolding of the events associated with the emergent struggles revolved around the colonial reforms aimed at democratizing the local government, which started in the early 1950s. The reforms resulted in a struggle for the control of Ilorin between the hitherto privileged traditional ruling class and the underprivileged class of commoners. Within a period of five years, Ilorin was shaken to its very foundations by the phenomenal rise and fall of a commoners’ movement known as the Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP)—a movement that emerged as a champion of “tradition” but ended up as a major “enemy” of Ilorin traditional institutions and their interests. In view of the confusing signals given out by the ITP at its inception coupled with Ilorin’s peculiar circumstance both as a border territory between the North and South of Nigeria and as the only “Fulani Emirate” in Yoruba land, the ethnic conflict framework has dominated analysis of the rise and transformation of the Ilorin Commoners’ movement. Such framework, however, ignores the multiethnic composition of Ilorin town itself and of the membership of the Ilorin Talaka Parapo.
Opposition Party and the Politics of Opposition: The Collapse of the Ilorin Experiment in Democratization of Local Government, 1950-1960
(Department of History and International Studies, Kogi State University, Anyigba, 2012-06) Salihu, Isamil Otukoko
Political parties—whether as incumbents or opposition—are an important institution in any process of democratization and democratic politics. They could make or mar political processes as well as impact positively or negatively on the society. Since the introduction of party politics in Nigeria, struggle between incumbent and opposition parties has been a dominant and recurring phenomenon. The collapse of the First Republic, regarded as the country’s first experiment in nation building, resulted mainly from the conflict between political parties (NPC\NCNC coalition) in power and the opposition (Action Group). A major feature of the conflict was the struggle to acquire or maintain power and all benefits associated with it. This explains the ‘Pull Him\them Down’ syndrome that characterized power relations between the two groups. In the defunct Northern Nigeria, Ilorin emirate was the first to experiment with a “test case” in democratically elected local government through reforms of the Native Authority system. Within a period of less than two years, the experiment collapsed due, among others, to the conflict between the party in power and the opposition party, each of which had a taste of power and lost it during the period between 1952 and 1960. The intense struggle for power pitched the traditional ruling aristocracy against the commoners’ class of emergent wealthy businessmen and eventually not only led to the collapse of the first experiment in democratic local government but also the fall of the Commoners’ Party and the defeat of the motion to transfer Ilorin to the Western Region.
Ilorin Potsherd Pavements and the Reconstruction of the Culture History of a Frontier City: The Historical Significance of some Neglected Artifacts. West African Journal of Archaeology (WAJA), 44(2): 21-52
(West African Archaeological Association, 2014) Salihu, Ismail Otukoko
Ilorin history, including its cultural history, has relied primarily on oral and written accounts, which are limited in exploring the history of Ilorin before the mid-18th century. Yet, Ilorin is believed to have been founded between the 15th and 16th centuries and to have developed into ‘a very important centre in northern Yoruba land many centuries before 1800’. In view of the limitations of oral and written sources in providing information on pre-19th century Ilorin, series of archaeological reconnaissance surveys were carried out in the city over the last ten years. These efforts have yielded a lot of cultural entities including potsherd pavements, pottery, grinding hollows, and bones in some parts of Ilorin. The potsherd pavements in particular are stylistically in herringbone pattern. These bear striking resemblance to the potsherd pavements of Daima, Lake Chad area, Kabrais districts in Togo, Nupe, Ikeja, Ile-Ife, Wushishi in the Kaduna Valley, and Ibadan among others. Based on the range of potsherds and potsherd pavements recently discovered, this paper, therefore, examines the historical significance of the artifacts with a view to throwing light on the material culture history of Ilorin. The paper argues that the material finds are capable of shedding more light on pre-18th century cultural history of Ilorin, and thus calls for the protection of these materials as they are endangered by human activities and other natural phenomena.
The Fizzling Out of a ‘Minority’ Movement\Party: The Ilorin Talaka Parapo, 1954-1965
(Bahiti & Dalila Publishers, Lagos, 2014) Salihu, Ismail Otukoko; Aliyu S. Alabi
During the last decade of colonial rule in Nigeria, minorities’ agitations emerged in the country preparatory to her independence. In this period, Ilorin served as a kind of guinea pig in the experiment to democratize local governance in the Northern Region. One of the major outcomes of the experiment was the sudden emergence of a grass root movement, the Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP). Its unforeseen political ascendancy culminated in a major threat not only to the established traditional institutions, as a frontier Emirate of the old Sokoto Caliphate but also the continued unity of the Northern Region. The sudden fall from power of the ITP in 1958 and its subsequent fizzling out by early 1960s was unprecedented in the history of minority movement and opposition party in Nigeria. This paper seeks to examine the whys and hows of the fizzling out of a dynamic minority party through the interplay of power and interests of the groups involved. Though its origin was not rooted in Yoruba irredentism, its fall and subsequent disappearance from Ilorin’s political landscape had much to do with the question of the Ilorin-West Merger, one of the hotly contested issues during the era of decolonization and incessant minority agitations in Nigeria. It also partly derived from the issue of power relations between majority and minority groups represented by the common people (the Talakawa) and the traditional ruling elite respectively. In spite of its vibrancy and success in politics and local governance, the ITP fizzled out and Ilorin has not witnessed its resurgence.
The Place of Christian Missions in the History of Printing Press in Nigeria.
(Department of History and International Relations, Veritas University Abuja, 2014-06) Eliasu Yahaya
Christian Missions have been famous for the introduction of Christianity into Nigeria since 1842. In addition, different Christian domination thought it wise to westernize Nigeria through western education which they brought into the country. This effort perhaps may be perceived as one of the best legacies the Christian missions gave to the generality of Nigerians. Apart from the aforementioned achievements, the Christian missions introduced the printing presses into the country which gave impetus to the printing of reading materials and religious books which improved the literacy and literary standards of Nigerians. It is against this background that this paper intends to examine the place of Christian missions in the history of printing press in Nigeria. This area of study has been neglected by researchers not knowing that the importation of printing technology was necessitated by the Christian missions to further preach Christianity and its doctrines to different Christian disciples in Nigeria. The example of the Revered Henry Townsend who was reported to have brought the first printing press in Nigeria in 1852 is note worthy. This produced news bulletin to the churches and the whole Nigeria. It has been difficult to separate the history of Nigerian press from the history of Christian religion in Nigeria because the history of press would not be accomplished without a reference to the tremendous contributions of the Christian Missions in Nigeria (Sobowale, 1985:27).
Ilorin and the Laderin Heritage: A Comparative Analysis of Some External and Internal Creations of Ilorin’s Past
(Department of History and International Relations, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, 2014-12) Salihu, Ismail Otukoko
Ilorin has been a coveted and contested polity. Indeed, contestation over Ilorin remains a phenomenon that continues to attract attention of all and sundry. Between c.1824 and 1836, the Old Oyo Yoruba violently, albeit abortively, contested the “Fulani” control over Ilorin—a contestation that ended in the military defeat and final collapse of Yoruba Empire. The central role, which Ilorin played in the collapse of Old Oyo and the 19th c. Yoruba civil wars, is identified as a major influence on early local writers of Yoruba and Ilorin history like Samuel Johnson and Samuel Ojo. It is also one of the main reasons for Yoruba irredentism and contest for Ilorin, which have continued until recent times and culminated in abortive attempts by the pan-Yoruba political party, the Action Group and its ally, the Ilorin Talaka Parapo, to transfer Ilorin to the Western Region in the 1950s. Recently, similar contestations culminated in abortive moves for “a Yoruba Oba” (so-called “Onilorin”) of Ilorin. A major feature of nearly all forms of contestation over Ilorin is the recourse to its early “history” and the tendency of contestants and commentators to explore new battle grounds and tactics including the print and electronic media—newspapers, leaflets, home videos and the internet. In all these, the traditional accounts of early Ilorin, especially those based on external sources have been central to such controversies as the so-called “Ilorin’s crisis of identity” and what is here termed “Laderin Heritage” created and imposed on Ilorin by Reverend Samuel Johnson.
Migration, Settlement Pattern and Transformation in Ilorin in Ilorin History.
(Fig & Olive Ltd., Abuja, 2015) Salihu, Ismail Otukoko
Origin and Settlement Pattern of the People of Aliagan Quarters and their Neighbours.
(Fig & Olive Ltd., Abuja, 2015) Salihu, Ismail Otukoko
A Historical Overview of Islam and Islamic Scholarship in Ali-Agan Quarters in Ilorin
(Centre for Ilorin Studies (CILS), University of Ilorin, Nigeria, 2015) Eliasu Yahaya
From 1000AD, it was not unlikely that Islam had started to find its bearing out of Arabia which was its main origin. In addition, it was this time or thereafter that we could mention Islam Per se in Africa. But prior to this time, West African communities were ardent worshippers of gods and goddesses, animate and inanimate objects such as moon, stars, trees and so on. It must be pointed out that prior to the coming of Islam, West African communities had strong traditional background and were involved in the worship of deities. It was this situation that Islam later encountered in West Africa. By 722AD, there was a resurgence in Arabia. This resurgence culminated into the dispersal of many Arabs outside Arabia. Around 7th century, the Arabs had settled amongst the African communities and at the same time Islam was making its ways into North Africa. Islamic culture and traditional cultures created inter-group conflicts among the Muslim Arabs and the Berber settlers of North Africa. After sometime, the Arabs were able to establish themselves strongly in North Africa which resulted into exposing the Mediterranean region of North Africa which included places such as Libya and Morocco to Islamic faith. However, available evidences seem to suggest that Islam was known amongst the West Africa communities which antedated the time of the arrival of Arabs of North Africa.
The Development of Western Education in Ilorin Emirate during the Colonial Rule, c.1900-1960.
(Department of History and International Relations, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin., 2016-12) Eliasu Yahaya
The colonial government’s propensity towards the growth and development of her colonies in Africa directly informed the introduction of western education. It is clear that the British government in her quest to ensure efficiency of its administration required manpower for the implementation of social and economic policies, particularly in Nigeria. The paper focuses on the introduction of western education through missionary activities in the southern Nigeria. After their arrival in Benin in 1842, the missionaries were involved in the evangelization and spread of Christianity among the people. It is argued that without the introduction of western education by the Christian Missionaries, the evangelical works would not have been properly coordinated. Using relevant sources, the paper argues that by 1909, western education was introduced into Nassarawa in Northern Nigeria by the British Administration, ad it was introduced to Ilorin in 1914. It argues that, with initial apathy from the Ilorin people, particularly those who perceived western education as a means of contamination and indoctrination of Muslims, it has become an important thrust for the acceleration of manpower development in Ilorin in post-colonial era. The paper therefore concludes that through the introduction of western education engineered various oppositions and resentments from the Muslim Community, it has enhanced the social, economic and political development of Ilorin during the post-colonial era. Keywords: British, Colonia rule, Western Education, Muslims, Development.
The Evolution of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria and Development of Women Education in Ilorin, 1942-2012.
(Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin., 2017) Eliasu Yahaya
This paper examines the historical development of Ansarul Islam society of Nigeria, 1942 – 2012, with emphasis on women education. Scholars have not done much in this area which deserves better attention if the philosophy of Ansarul Islam Society must be appreciated. Therefore, this paper employs the use of both primary and secondary sources to achieve the aim of this work in the development of women education in Ilorin. Apart from the use of primary and secondary sources, effort was made to use oral sources to further corroborate the primary and secondary sources that are used in this work. The paper discovers that women education as championed by Ansarul Islam empowered female members and enhanced dawah propagation among Muslim women. In conclusion, it observes that there is the need to further look into the place of women in education and Islamic propagation generally and other factors that may tend to impede the effort in the development of women education in the area under discussion. Keywords: Aslatu, Doctrine, Education, Impetus, Womenfolk.
Western Education in Northern Nigeria: A History of Muslim Female Education in Ilorin Emirate, 1914-1984
(Department of Religion and Philosophy, University of Jos., 2017) Eliasu Yahaya
The issue of female education did not receive adequate attention since the colonial period. Despite the introduction of Western Education by the British Government, the level of female education in the region was not encouraging. This was as a result of the fact that the motive of introducing western education was to train the sons of the Emirs at the expense of the female folk. The female did not form part of the experiment team at that period. This might not be unconnected with socio-cultural nature of the area especially Ilorin. In Ilorin, not much effort was made to ensure that women folk were enrolled for western education. Therefore, this paper makes use of both primary and secondary sources to examine the development of Muslim Female Education in Ilorin Emirate between 1914 and 1984. This becomes necessary to highlight the perceptions, problems and trends of Muslim women educations in Ilorin. It touches on the bandwagon effect, the delay in the embrace of Western education in Northern Nigeria on Ilorin. However, women education becomes crucial for viable socio-political and economic development because any state that fails to give proper attention to female education would fail to get to the level of statehood.
Evaluation of the Euro-Centric Views of African History.
(Department of History, Kaduna State University., 2017) Eliasu Yahaya
Some European writers who have tried to write the history of Africa’s past have done it with some sort of subjectivity and ridicule and this affected Africa’s civilizations as anything good in Africa was perceived as belonging to external influences. This posture was extended to the domain of writing as there were various views expressed to downplay the role of Africa in the development of History. Thus, this paper attempts the evaluation of the Euro-centric views of African history. This area has been neglected by researchers and scholars. This writer made use of both primary and secondary sources to strengthen the basis of his argument to write and evaluate the present work. It must be stated that, before the coming of colonialism into Africa, African historiography and indeed its historical activities over the ages was not wholesomely out of documentation and more importantly written history. This had been exemplified by the Islamic and Arabic scholars and in particular, many Arab travellers account within and around Africa, whose works have resulted into history of Africa and its activities exemplified by such Islamic and Arabic scholars. Thus, African historiography was rich with the availability of oral tradition in the Horn or North Africa, East Africa and where some oral traditions were written in Arabic before the coming of the acclaimed colonial masters into the African scene.
The Place of Christian Missions in the History of Nationalism in Nigeria, 1842-1914
(Department of History and International Relations, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, 2017-12) Eliasu Yahaya
The emergence and development of nationalism in Nigeria had its origin in the Christian missions that became firmly established in West Africa as from the mid-19th century. This paper focuses on the role played by the Christian missions in the promotion of nationalist aspirations in Nigeria. By using relevant source materials, the paper argues that as from 1842, the Church gradually became the pivot upon which the foundation of Nigerian nationalism was laid. It further state that the Church the only avenue for nationalists’ feelings and expressions and this lasted till the takeoff of Nigerian indigenized press in 1879. The Christian missions equally served as the only megaphone of nationalists’ development up to 1915. The study maintains that most of the scholars who have researched into the constitutional history of Nigeria had neglected the contributions of the Christian Missions to achievement. The paper concludes that the place of Christian Missions in the history of nationalism in Nigeria is quite unique and central by all standards. Keywords: Christianity, Church, Nationalism, Missionaries and Megaphone.
Sub-Regional Organizations in World Politics, 1945 - 1975: The Example of Economic Community of West African States
(Department of History, Kaduna State University., 2018) Eliasu Yahaya
The United Nations Organization was formed in 1945. However, one of its aims was to protect various generation of mankind from witnessing another war which had twice bedeviled mankind. By 1975 a sub-regional organization known as Economic Community of West African State was created to achieve economic integration within the West African sub-region. But its dramatic move to Economic (ECOMOG) as a peace-keeping mission and later to peace-enforcement force made it spectacular in World politics. But this area has not been adequately evaluated by scholars. Therefore, this paper examined the place of sub-regional organizations in world politics, 1945 – 1975; The Example of Economic Community of West African States. Thus, this article employs the use of both Primary and Secondary Sources to further improve upon the work under consideration. This work concludes that Economic Community of West African States requires the support of all particularly, the sub-regional states to achieve its set goal in international politics and economic emancipation in Africa.
Historical Development of Mosques in Ilorin Emirate, 1823-1992.
(College of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, Kwara State University, Malete., 2018) Eliasu Yahaya
The word, mosque or Masjid, occupies a significant place in the spiritual minds of the generality of Muslims. It has been stated that prayers are uniquely and strongly recommended to be offered in a Mosque as part of Ibadah for the Muslims. Mosques are places where Muslims congregate to know each other better and to form a solid community through religious interaction. In addition, praying at mosques in congregation promotes and teaches unit among the people as well as serves as meeting places where various problems are identified with a view to finding solutions to them. It is against this background that this paper chronicles the historical evolution of mosques in Ilorin, investigates their structural developments and examines their functions and challenges within the context of socio-economic, political and religious perspectives. The paper finds, among others, that appointment of Imam has become hereditary rather than eligibility on the basis of merit. In view of this, the paper suggests consideration of merit in the appointment of Imam of mosques. This will ensure Islamic activities in the Ilorin Emirate are commensurate with modern Islamic trends. Keywords: Afonja; Chief Imams of Ilorin; Emirs of Ilorin; Ilorin Emirate; Shaykh Alimi.

Browse

Browsing Deapartment of History and Diplomatic Studies by Issue Date

Results Per Page

Sort Options