RETHINKING THE COLONIALISM THESIS IN NEMBE–OGBIA RELATIONS
Keywords:
Colonialism, Ogbia, Nembe, Niger Delta, Intergroup Relations, Hegemony, Precolonial AfricaAbstract
This paper critically examines the application of the concept of colonialism in describing historical relations between Nembe and Ogbia communities in the Niger Delta. it argues that the characterization of Nembe economic dominance and military engagements as colonialism reflects a conceptual misapplication rooted in Eurocentric analytical frameworks. drawing on historical evidence, oral traditions, and theoretical insights from hegemony and postcolonial studies, the paper demonstrates that Nembe influence was characterized by commercial centrality, strategic dominance, and episodic conflict rather than institutionalized colonial rule. the study concludes that the colonialism thesis obscures the complexity of indigenous political systems and calls for a reconceptualization of power relations in precolonial African societies. this reinterpretation contributes to ongoing debates in African historiography by challenging oversimplified analogies between European colonial structures and indigenous Arican systems of power, trade, and diplomacy.References
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