Non-Centralized States – SS1 Nigerian History Lesson Note (Third Term)

A non-centralised state is a community in which political power is not held by a single ruler. It is also called a decentralised state.

Behavioural objectives

1. Explain what a non-centralised state is and give examples.
2. State the main features of non-centralised states.
3. Describe the socio-political institutions and structure of the Igbo in pre-colonial times.
4. List the factors that bound the Igbo together.
5. Describe the socio-political organisation of the Ijo, Efik and Itshekiri.

What are the key terms in this topic?

• Pre-colonial: the period before British rule in Nigeria.
• Segmentary system: a system in which power is shared among many small units, such as lineages and villages, with no king over all.
• Lineage: a group of people who trace their descent from one common ancestor.
• Oracle: a shrine or deity through which people sought answers and judgement, usually spoken by a priest.
• Exogamy: marriage outside one’s own kin group, such as the lineage.
• Age grade: a group of people born within the same few years, who do community tasks together.

Which peoples had non-centralised states?

Examples of non-centralised peoples include the Igbo, Ibibio, Urhobo, Isoko, Idoma and Tiv.

• Igbo: the south-east, organised in villages and lineages.
• Ibibio: the Akwa Ibom area, organised in villages and clans.
• Urhobo and Isoko: the Delta area, with village-based government.
• Idoma and Tiv: the Benue area, with government by lineage heads and elders.

How do centralised and non-centralised states differ?

A centralised state is ruled by one king, emir or oba with wide powers. A non-centralised state has no single ruler over the whole community.

What are the features of non-centralised states?

The main features are the absence of a central ruler and the sharing of power among many groups.

• No central government: no one ruler governed the whole people.
• The village as the basic unit: most political and social life centred on the village.
• The compound as the smallest unit: a compound held a family or household.
• Role of religion: shrines, priests and oracles shaped laws, judgement and daily life.
• Shared authority: elders, title holders, age grades and secret societies each held some power.
• Community participation: many adults took part in village decisions, so power was spread out.

How were the Igbo organised in pre-colonial times?

The Igbo were organised in a segmentary system, with villages and lineages as the main units and no king over all.

• Homeland: the Igbo heartland is generally placed around Awka and Orlu.
• Segmentary system: there was no central government headed by a king.
• Republican system: the Igbo system is also called republican, meaning no monarchy over all.

What were the socio-political institutions of the Igbo?

• Ama-Ala: village democracy, in which the village made its own laws.
• Kingship institutions: found in some towns, such as Onitsha, Nri and Oguta. These kings were not very powerful.
• Title societies: fee-paying organisations. Members gained rank and respect after paying for the title.
• Secret societies: groups such as Ekpe and the masquerade, which helped to keep order.
• Age grade organisations: groups of people of similar age who carried out community duties.
• The Osu: people dedicated to a deity, often called cult slaves, who were set apart from others.

What did age grades and elders do?

• Elders: heads of lineages settled disputes and guided village decisions.
• Age grades: members cleared paths and markets, helped to keep order and joined in defence.
• Village assembly: adults met to discuss matters that affected the whole village.

What were the main Igbo religious beliefs and the role of the Aro?

• Chineke: the supreme God in traditional Igbo worship.
• Ibiniukpabi: the oracle of Arochukwu.
• Agballa: the oracle at Awka.
• Igwekala: the oracle at Umunneocha.
• Amadioha: the oracle of Ozuzu.
• The Aro: they were also travelling traders.

What was the political and social structure of the Igbo?

Igbo society had five levels, from the village down to the household.

1. Village
2. Maximal lineage (ward)
3. Major lineage (ward section)
4. Minimal lineage (sub-ward section)
5. Household or family (smallest unit)

What bound the Igbo together?

Oracles, markets, trade routes and exogamy bound the Igbo together, although they had no central authority.

• Powerful oracles: the oracle of Chukwu at Aro, Amadioha and Igwekala drew people from many villages.
• Markets: the big central market was where every Igbo group met for socio-religious purposes.
• Trade routes: they linked all villages together.
• Exogamy: marriage outside the kin group created family ties between lineages and villages.

What was the socio-political organisation of the Ijo and Efik?

The Ijo and Efik were organised in clans, with villages that ran much of their own affairs.

• Clans: they were divided into clans known as ibe.
• No central control: no single ruler governed all the clans.
• High priest: only the high priest had authority over the clan.
• Village independence: villages under the clan enjoyed a large degree of independence.
• Village assembly: the assembly, known as amagula, was the main political authority.
• Secret societies: they maintained law and order and trained youths.
• Membership: women could not join the secret societies.
• Grades: the societies held meetings and had a system of grades.

What was the socio-political structure of the Itshekiri?

The Itshekiri had a compact system of government with Ode Itshekiri as the capital.

The main office holders were:

• Olu: head of administration and head of the chiefs (ojoye).
• Ologbosere: prime minister and chief adviser.
• Iyasere: war leader.
• Uwangue: custodian of the Olu’s regalia.

How were the Itshekiri governed and how did they earn a living?

• Monarch’s power: the monarch acquired more power over time.
• Competition: political competition was fierce.
• Economy: it was mainly fishing, salt production, textiles and similar work.

What were the strengths and weaknesses of non-centralised states?

Non-centralised states gave many people a say in government, but they had no single leader to unite them quickly.

• Strength, wide participation: elders, age grades and assemblies all shared in decisions.
• Strength, local control: each village settled its own affairs.
• Weakness, slow action: there was no single ruler to give orders to all villages.
• Weakness, weak unity: it was harder to unite many villages for a common purpose.

Evaluation

1. What is a non-centralised state? Give four examples.
2. State four features of non-centralised states.
3. Name three socio-political institutions of the Igbo in pre-colonial times.
4. What was the role of secret societies among the Ijo and Efik?
5. State the duties of the Olu, the Ologbosere and the Iyasere among the Itshekiri.

Assignment

List the five levels of Igbo political and social structure, from the village down to the household. Then state four factors that bound the Igbo together.