INTER-GROUP RELATIONS OF MBANO IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA AND ITS NEIGHBOURS, 1906 TO 2006
Inter-group relation is not an entirely new field in historiography. Scholars of different backgrounds have expressed divergent views on changes that have occurred in this area of study. Investigations and findings on the theme differ from epoch to epoch. Historically, social, political, cultural and economic considerations, account for changes in the nature and form of inter-group relations in human society. Igbo culture, custom, tradition, and belief systems are dynamic and heterogeneous. Facts of history contribute either to a hostile or harmonious relationship among individuals or groups. The Mbano of Imo State, South-eastern Nigeria appears to enjoy some peaceful and harmonious relationship with their neighbours, through their social interactions and economic relations, especially, through cultural festival, marriage, trade and agriculture, though not without occasional skirmishes. Given the nature of their relationship, this study investigates the factors at play in the society in the face of growing conflict in Igboland and Nigeria at large. Two factors account for the changes in the contour and dynamics of relations between the people. These inter-alia include colonial rule in the area beginning from 1906-1960 and the Nigeria-Biafra war, 1967-1970. The study examines the issues intrinsic in the changes brought by the two episodes to the form of relationship existing between Mbano and its neighbours. It therefore argues that common claim to history, ancestry and cultural ties account largely for the mutual relationship existing between the people, the impact of the two episodes notwithstanding. The work concludes that, in spite of the marked changes wrought on the society mainly through colonial administrative reorganisation, Western education, Christianity and the Nigeria-Biafra war, the people have maintained mutual relationship as people that share common ancestry. They have also continued to emphasize umune as a bond of unity among them and their neighbours. The cordiality of relationship between the people demonstrates the Igbo saying that, indeed, ‘peoples’ neighbours are their brothers/sisters’ -‘agbata obi madu wukwa umunne ha’. The method adopted in the study combines both descriptive and historical narrative. Qualitative research methodology was used in the re-interpretation and analysis of verifiable information collected from different sources. The approach was interdisciplinary and presentation of findings was both chronological and thematic.
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Mahusiano ya kati ya makundi ya Mbanwa katika Jimbo la Imo, Nigeria na Majirani zake, 1906-2006 Mahusiano ya kati ya makundi si uwanja mpya kabisa katika historia. Wasomi wa mitazamo tofauti-tofauti wameonyesha maoni tofauti-tofauti kuhusu mabadiliko yaliyotokea katika eneo hili la utafiti. Uchunguzi na matokeo juu ya mandhari hiyo hutofautiana kutoka enzi moja hadi nyingine. Kihistoria, masuala ya kijamii, kisiasa, kitamaduni na kiuchumi, huelezea mabadiliko katika asili na fomu ya mahusiano ya kati ya vikundi katika jamii ya kibinadamu. Utamaduni, desturi, mapokeo, na itikadi za Waigbo ni zenye nguvu na zisizo na umoja. Mambo ya hakika ya kihistoria huchangia uhusiano wa uadui au wa upatano kati ya watu au vikundi. Mbano wa jimbo la Imo, kusini mashariki mwa Nigeria wanaonekana kufurahia uhusiano wa amani na upatano na majirani zao, kupitia mwingiliano wao wa kijamii na mahusiano ya kiuchumi, haswa kupitia sherehe za kitamaduni, ndoa, biashara na kilimo, ingawa sio bila mapigano ya mara kwa mara. Kwa kuzingatia asili ya uhusiano wao, utafiti huu unachunguza sababu zinazohusika katika jamii katika uso wa mgogoro unaoongezeka huko Igboland na Nigeria kwa ujumla. Sababu mbili husababisha mabadiliko katika sura na mienendo ya mahusiano kati ya watu. Miongoni mwa mambo hayo ni utawala wa kikoloni katika eneo hilo kuanzia mwaka 1906-1960 na vita vya Nigeria na Biafra mwaka 1967-1970. Utafiti huo unachunguza masuala ya ndani katika mabadiliko yaliyotolewa na matukio hayo mawili kwa namna ya uhusiano uliopo kati ya Mbano na majirani zake. Kwa hiyo, inadai kwamba madai ya kawaida ya historia, ukoo na uhusiano wa kitamaduni huelezea kwa kiasi kikubwa uhusiano wa pamoja uliopo kati ya watu, licha ya athari za matukio mawili. "Kama matokeo, licha ya mabadiliko makubwa yaliyotokea katika jamii, hasa kupitia marekebisho ya utawala wa kikoloni, elimu ya Magharibi, Ukristo na vita vya Nigeria na Biafra, watu wamehifadhi uhusiano wa pamoja kama watu wanaoshiriki ukoo wa kawaida. """ Pia wameendelea kusisitiza umune kama kifungo cha umoja kati yao na majirani zao. Urafiki wa mahusiano kati ya watu unaonyesha kusema kwa lugha ya Igbo kwamba, kwa kweli, majirani wa "watu" ni ndugu zao - "agbata obi madu wukwa umunne ha". Mbinu iliyopitishwa katika utafiti huo inachanganya hadithi ya kuelezea na ya kihistoria. Mbinu ya utafiti wa ubora ilitumiwa katika kutafsiri upya na kuchambua habari inayoweza kuthibitishwa iliyokusanywa kutoka vyanzo tofauti. Mbinu ilikuwa interdisciplinary na uwasilishaji wa matokeo ilikuwa wote chronological na thematic. Kutowajibika: Kwa kununua hii Research Project Material, wewe kukubali kutumia tu kama mwongozo wa kufanya utafiti wako mwenyewe kitaaluma.