Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ttngx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-05T07:02:22.633Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Making of the Ogoni Ethnic Group

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

V. Adefemi Isumonah
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The existence of the Ogoni ethnic group is taken for granted in the literature that has grown out of the minority rights and environmentalist campaigns of the 1990s. This article departs from this tradition by engaging the historical development of the Ogoni ethnic group, taking as its point of departure elite politics in the context of colonial categories and post-colonial politics. With comparative data on the development of ethnic groups in Nigeria, it shows how elite politics and state structures and administrative decisions influenced the development of the Ogoni ethnic group and the identity it purveys. It also shows that differing interests in oil with unequal power bases spurred rigid positions that served to facilitate or constrain the execution of the Ogoni identity-building project.

Résumé

L'existence du groupe ethnique Ogoni se pose comme une évidence dans la littérature issue des campagnes menées dans les années 90 pour la défense des droits des minorités et de l'environnement. Cet article rompt avec cette tradition en s'intéressant au développement historique du groupe ethnique Ogoni, en prenant comme son point de départ la politique d'élites dans le contexte des catégories coloniales et de la politique post-coloniale. Au moyen de données comparées sur le développement de groupes ethniques au Nigeria, il montre la manière dont les structures étatiques et politiques d'élites et les décisions administratives ont influencé le développement du groupe ethnique Ogoni et l'identité qu'il fournit. Il montre également que des intérêts divergents vis-à-vis du pétrole, avec des bases de pouvoir inégales, ont encouragé des positions rigides qui ont servi à faciliter ou à freiner l'exécution du projet de construction identitaire ogoni.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 74 , Issue 3 , August 2004 , pp. 433 - 453
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Abernethy, D. B. 1969. The Political Dilemma of Popular Education: an African case. Stanford CA: Stanford University Press.Google Scholar
Aboyade, O. 1983. Integrated Economics: a study of developing economies. London and Reading MA: Addison-Wesley Publishers.Google Scholar
Ajayi, J. F. Ade. 2000. ‘Ethnicity and nationalism in Nigeria’, in Falola, Toyin (ed.), Tradition and Change in Africa: the essays of J. F. Ade Ajayi.Trenton NJ: Africa World Press, Inc.Google Scholar
Alagoa, E. J. 1971. ‘The Niger Delta states and their neighbours, 1600–1800’, in Ajayi, J. F. A. and Crowder, Michael (eds), History of West Africa. Vol. 1. London: Longman.Google Scholar
Alagoa, E. J. 1999. The Ijaw Nation in the New Millennium. Lecture given at the 4th Convention of the Ijaw National Congress at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, 31 March 2000. Port Harcourt: Onyoma Research Publications.Google Scholar
Banton, M. 1997. Ethnic and Racial Consciousness. London and New York: Longman.Google Scholar
Brown, D. 1998. ‘Why is the nation-state so vulnerable to ethnonationalism?’, Nations and Nationalism 4 (1): 1–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cohen, R., and Deng, F. M.. 1998. Masses in Flight: the global crisis of internal displacement. Washington DC: Brookings Institution Press.Google Scholar
Coleman, J. S.Nigeria: background to nationalism. Berkeley: University of California Press.Google Scholar
Davidson, B. 1992. The Black Man's Burden: Africa and the curse of the nation-state. Lagos: Spectrum Books; London: James Currey; New York: Times Books.Google Scholar
Dike, K. O. 1956. Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta 1830–1885: an introduction to the economic and political history of Nigeria. Oxford: Clarendon Press.Google Scholar
Ejituwu, N. E. 1991. A History of Obolo (Andoni) in the Niger Delta. Oron: Manson Publishing Company; Port Harcourt: University of Port Harcourt Press.Google Scholar
Federal Government of Nigeria. n.d. The Ogoni Crisis: the truth of the matter. Lagos: Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.Google Scholar
Frynas, J. G. 1999. ‘Legal change in Africa: evidence from oil-related litigation in Nigeria’, Journal of African Law 43 (2): 121–150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Green, M. 1990. ‘Mau Mau oathing rituals and political ideology in Kenya: a re-analysis’, Africa 60 (1): 69–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guliano, E. 2000. ‘Who determines the self in the politics of self-determination? Identity and preference formation in Tatarstan's nationalist mobilization’, Comparative Politics 32 (3): 295–316.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gurr, T. R. 1993. Minorities at Risk: a global view of ethnopolitical conflicts Washington DC: United States Institute of Peace Press.Google Scholar
Human Rights Watch/Africa. 1995. Nigeria—The Ogoni Crisis: a case study of military repression in Southeastern Nigeria.Vol.7, no. 5. <www.hrw.org/reports/1995/Nigeria.htm>..>Google Scholar
Idemyor, V. 1999. ‘The role of multinational oil companies in Nigerian federalism: the continuing Ogoni crisis as an example’, Indigenous Affairs 2: 56–61.Google Scholar
Ikime, O. 1966. ‘The anti-tax riots in Warri Province, 1927–1928,’ Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria 3 (3): 559–573.Google Scholar
Ikime, O. 1972. The Isoko People: a historical survey. Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.Google Scholar
Ikoro, S. M. 1996. The Kana Language. Leiden: Research School, CNWS.Google Scholar
Iyayi, F. 1999. ‘Oil companies and the politics of community relations in the Niger Delta’. Paper presented at the CDHR Workshop ‘Oil Producing Communities of the Niger Delta’, Gateway Hotel, Ott, 20–23 September. Jalali, R., and S. M. Lipset. 1992/3. ‘Racial and ethnic conflicts: a global perspective’, Political Science Quarterly 107 (4): 585–606.Google Scholar
Jones, G. I. 1963. The Trading States of the Oil Rivers: a study of political development in eastern Nigeria. London: Oxford University Press, for the International African Institute.Google Scholar
Kasfir, N. 1976. The Shrinking Political Arena: participation and ethnicity in African politics, with a case study of Uganda. Berkeley and London: University of California Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kasfir, N. 1979. ‘Explaining ethnic political participation’, World Politics 31 (3): 365–388.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kpone-Tonwe, S. 1987. ‘The Historical Tradition of Ogoni, Nigeria’, M.Phil. thesis. School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.Google Scholar
Kpone-Tonwe, S. 1988. ‘Transportation and economic development in pre-colonial Ogoni: a case study of the canoe industry at Ko’, The Ethnographer 1 (2): 23–35.Google Scholar
Kpone-Tonwe, S. 1990. ‘History from the Earliest Times to about 1900’. Dissertation, Department of History, School of Graduate Studies, University of Port Harcourt.Google Scholar
Kpone-Tonwe, S. 1996. ‘Niger Delta place-names: a case study of the Ogoni region (1)’, Nigerian Heritage 5: 100–114.Google Scholar
Kpone-Tonwe, S. 1997. ‘Property reckoning and methods of accumulating wealth among the Ogoni of the eastern Niger Delta’, Africa 67 (1): 131–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kpone-Tonwe, S. 2001. ‘Leadership training in precolonial Nigeria: the Yaa tradition of Ogoni’, International Journal of African Historical Studies 34 (2): 385–403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lema, A. 1993. Africa Divided: the creation of ‘ethnic groups’. Lund: Lund University Press.Google Scholar
Loolo, G. N. 1981. A History of the Ogoni. Port Harcourt: s.n.Google Scholar
Maier, K. 2000. This House has Fallen: Nigeria in crisis. London: Penguin Books.Google Scholar
Moesinger, K., and Maglio, A.. 1994. ‘Ogoni in Nigeria: petroleum pollution in Ogoni region’, Trade and Environment Database, Case study no. 149. TED Case Studies [online journal] 3 (2). <www.american.edu/TED/ogoni.htm>..>Google Scholar
MOSOP (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People). 1992. Ogoni Bill of Rights presented to the Government and People of Nigeria, October 1990, with an appeal to the International Community, December 1991. Port Harcourt: Saros International; <www.nuos-ogoni.org/ogonibill.html>..>Google Scholar
Naanen, B. 1995. ‘The Ogoni: an endangered people’, Indigenous Affairs 2 (April/May/June): 18–20.Google Scholar
Nnoli, O. 1980. Ethnic Politics in Nigeria. Enugu: Fourth Dimension.Google Scholar
Osaghae, Eghosa E. 2001. ‘From accommodation to self-determination: minority nationalism and the restructuring of the Nigerian state’, Nationalism and Ethnic Politics 7 (1): 1–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pol, Yehudi D.van de, D.. 1998. ‘Shell in Nigeria: a strategic analysis’. Unpublished thesis. Department of Social Geography, University of Amsterdam.Google Scholar
Post, K., and Vickers, M.. 1973. Structure and Conflict in Nigeria, 1960–1966. London: Heinemann.Google Scholar
Robinson, D. 1996. Ogoni: the struggle continues Geneva: World Council of ChurchesGoogle Scholar
Sampson, L. N. 1984. ‘Ogoni and the 19th Century Niger Delta Trade’. BA essay in History, University of Port Harcourt.Google Scholar
Saro-Wiwa, K. 1985. Sozaboy: a novel in rotten English.Port Harcourt: Saros International Publishers.Google Scholar
Saro-Wiwa, K. 1989. On A Darkling Plain: an account of the Nigerian civil war. Port Harcourt and Epsom: Saros International Publishers.Google Scholar
Saro-Wiwa, K. 1992. Genocide in Nigeria: the Ogoni tragedy. Port Harcourt: Saros International.Google Scholar
Saro-Wiwa, K. 1993. The Ogoni Nation: today and tomorrow.Port Harcourt: Saros International Publishers.Google Scholar
Saro-Wiwa, K. 1994. Ogoni: moment of truth. Port Harcourt and Epsom: Saros International Publishers.Google Scholar
Saro-Wiwa, K. 1995. A Month and A Day: a detention diary. London and New York: Penguin.Google Scholar
Saro-Wiwa, K. 1996. ‘My story’, Liberty [Lagos] 7 (2).Google Scholar
Schermerhorn, R. A. 1970. Comparative Ethnic Relations: a framework fortheory and research. New York: Random House.Google Scholar
Smith, A. D. 1976. ‘Introduction: the formation of nationalist movements’, in Smith, A. D. (ed.), Nationalist Movements. London: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Smith, A. D. 1996. ‘Culture, community and territory: the politics of ethnicity and nationalism’, International Affairs 72 (3): 445–458.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SPDC (Shell Petroleum Development Corporation of Nigeria). n.d. Nigeria:Ogoni Brief.n.p.Google Scholar
Stavenhagen, R. 1991. ‘Ethnic conflicts and their impact on international society,’ International Social Science Journal February: 117–131.Google Scholar
Turner, T. E. 1997. ‘Oil workers and oil companies in Africa: Nigerian women and grassroots environmentalism’, Labour, Capital and Society 30 (1): 66–89.Google Scholar
Vuckor-Quarshie, G. N. K. 1997. ‘Development in the field of criminal justice administration in Nigeria: Saro-Wiwa in review’, Journal of African Law 41 (2): 215–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, G. 1976. ‘Nigerian political economy’, in Williams, G. (ed.), Nigeria: economy and society. London: Rex Collings.Google Scholar
Williams, G. 1980. State and Society in Nigeria. Idanre: Afrografika.Google Scholar
Williamson, K. 1968. ‘Languages of the Niger Delta’, Nigeria Magazine 97 (June/August): 124–30.Google Scholar
Williamson, K. 1988. The Pedigree of Nations: historical linguistics in Nigeria. Inaugural lecture, University of Port Harcourt, 7 April 1987. Port Harcourt: University of Port Harcourt Press.Google Scholar
Willink, H. 1958. Reports of the Commission Appointed to Enquire into the Fears of Minorities and the Means of Allaying Them. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Wolff, H. 1964. ‘Synopsis of the Ogoni languages’, Journal of African Languages 3 (1): 38–51.Google Scholar