PREFACE

In the last three decades, African historical studies have made tremendous progress. However, this development is as a result of the collective efforts of Africanist historians worldwide. In the first half of the 20^th century, the view, now hardly, seriously contestable, that African history can be as fascientaing as well as intellectually rewarding and enriching as any other history, would not have been taken seriously. Historians of Nigerian antecedent have played their role and have continued o play key role, in not only making the study of the African past a respectable and rewarding academic pursuit but also have contributed towards the expanding of the frontiers of historical knowledge. There is no gainsaying the fact that when the history of history in Africa is chronicled, the pioneering works of Professors Kenneth O. Dike, Saburi Biobaku, G.N. Uzoigwe, H.F.C Smith, J.C. Anene, J.F. Ade Ajayi, Emmanuel A. Anyandele, Tekena N. Tamuno, and I.A. Akinjobin and others, will stand out as good spectrum of historical scholarship.

The African Historical Studies gained a vigorous momentum in the 1950’s, and was, and has continued to be, a puissant contribution to the decolonization praxis. Quite early, the African historians, assumed the intellectual leadership of this process. With a view to achieving greater objectivity, depth and breath, the critically re-examined various dimensions of the African past. Oftentimes, these historians agreed with the Whig historians, Croce, Thucydides, and Polybius that all history is contemporary history, and as such, historians study the past not for purely antiquarian reasons but essentially to enable us understand present challenges and, hopefully, prepare for the future.

From the conception to the birth of this book titled: Issues in the Multi-disciplinary and Methodological Approach to African history and International Studies, the editor, an Associate Professor, in Department of History and International Studies, Imo State University, Owerri, identified as one of its fundamental functions the dissemination of historical information to the wider community outside the precinct of the university. Usually, prominent scholar, mainly historians and a few academics in their own right, who are non-historians contributed their quota in a bid to reflect the interdependency of disciplines and interdisciplinary methodology for the benefit of undergraduate and post graduate students in history and international studies. The main objective of the History and International Studies Programme at the Imo State University, Owerri, and elsewhere by extension is to enable every student to acquire an excellent grasp of the content and methodology of Nigerian and African History in the context of World History. However, defined, this emphasis on “Methodology” is reflected in courses like introduction to History and International Studies, Field Research in History and International Studies, History of Political thought and Historiography.

The book is published as an aid to these activities in the Department. The book should, therefore, prove useful and support these activities. Infact, the contributors are drawn from several Universities in Nigeria and are recognized experts in the field they have written about.

In chapter 1, Chukwuemeka Tony Nwosu, examines Historiography as the Writings of History by Historians. The chapter gives a historical account that History is a subject matter of historiography. The term historiography refers to the study of historians’ methods and practices. He stated that a major aspect of the study of historiography had to do with defining the idea of evidence, rigors and standards of reasoning for historical inquiry. The chapter assessed philosophy of History as it relates to historiography and suggests that the ‘facts of history are incontrovertible evidence which historians have selected for scrutiny. Thus, millions have crossed the Rubicon, but the historian tells us that only Caesar’s crossing was significant. All historical facts come to us as a result of interpretative choices by historians.

In chapter 2, Johnson O. Ndubuisi deals with Historiography through the Ages. Thus, the chapter examines the meaning, importance, evolution, changes and continuity on the subject matter of historiography. The chapter discussed the important role historiography plays in the study of history which continues to resonate in time and space across regions of the world. Historiography aptly distinguishes the mere facts of history from historical knowledge and practice.

In chapter 3, in an engaging account, Chukwuemeka Tony Nwosu, discusses the link between History and Philosophy. The chapter focuses on the value of History in providing lessons for progress and the future of society. With regards to methodology, it shows the scientific nature of history in historicism as a quest for general laws and the pursuit of common good and truth as the ultimate value of history and philosophy, which every student of history and international studies, at all levels need to know.

In chapter 4, Chukwuemeka, Anthony Ebiriukwu, methodologically shows the value of multi-disciplinarity in historical studies. Using Chinua Achebe’s “There was a country”, and the experience of the Biafran war, it demonstrates how semiotics can add value to historical research and interpretation of events. A study of Biafran War artifacts gave rise to differing interpretations of the war. It shows the advantage of synergy in inter-disciplinary approach in the humanities.

In chapter 5, Donald Uchenna Omenukor, using the Hegelian perpectives, did a better treatment of the relationship between history and philosophy. The chapter shows philosophy in historiography. The chapter will make for enlightening reading for both undergraduate and graduate programmes.

In chapter 6, George Ogbonna Mbara interrogates the historiography of the Postcolonial African historian with the intent to identifying the seemingly existing lacuna in the objectivity of the colonial and postcolonial African history. The chapter also crticially examined the role of history and the historian in the reconstruction, interpretation and analysis of past events.

In chapter 7, in his own contribution E.J. Alagoa, a renowned professor emeritus of history, made a scholarly summation of the value and importance of inter-disciplinary approach to the study of Africam history generally and also linguistics. This chapter will enable students to appreciate how these disciplines have contributed to history as historians have engaged their methods over time.

In chapter 8, Francis Fayam like E.J. Alagoa, seeks to reiterate the significance of inter-disciplinary approach to historical studies, that is, to establish the relationship between history and other disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. Historicans, through inter-disciplinary approach can use findings, hypothesis, theories, postulations, insights and analytical tools of other disciplines in historical reconstruction.

In chapter 9, M.A. Chigbo, focuses on the “basics” of preliminary issues in historical research. The work is essentially devoted to highlighting guidelines for embarking on a fruitful field research work necessary for writing proposals, theses and dissertation from a historical perspective. The choice of topic, for instance, especially by the student ought to be a product of general background reading on the area of research interest. The subsequent literature review helps to affirm, the topic and narrow down the field of study. Students need to know this to reduce over dependence on supervisors for topic selection and the growing proclivity for reproducing existing studies.

In chapter 10, Chukwuemeka Tony Nwosu, discusses a critical chapter in terms of content. The matter is summed up in the creative tensions between advocates of the Traditional method or qualitative method and the progressive school who believe in addition of quantitative method to the historians research tools. The chapter beautifully argues for the use of “Mixed Method”. Social and economic historians can no longer run away from the use of quantification. In fact, the growing prominence of International Studies requires addition of statistical know-how to the historian’s tool kit. The chapter is compulsory reading for both undergraduate and postgraduate students of history and international studies.

In chapter 11, Cyril Anaele, reinforces the argument about the use of quantitative method in the study of history and International Studies, which began in chapter ten. It argues with evidence that the use of quantitative approach is gaining ground among historians due to its leaning towards empiricism and weaning of history from impressionistic accounts. In simplified presentation the chapter outlines the features and advantages of quantification such as the use of tables, histograms, line charts, graphs, which require interpretation by the historian. The justification for quantification as provided in this book is apt because it adds great value to the study of history and international studies as a discipline.

In chapter 12, Chukwuemeka Tony Nwosu and Anthonious Chukwudi Akukwe, strengthens the argument for the use of computer technology but supports further the case for inter-disciplinary approach. It traces the history of development of computer, functions and applicability of computer to the study of African history. It shows the relevance of computer to historical skills, preservation of oral traditions in Microsoft word, storage of archival and archaeological data. Given the rather slow migration of historical studies towards quantification and the growing popularity of International Studies among new generation historians, most of whom would have shied away from history, the advocacy for the use of computer technique in historical research is critical for sustainability of the discipline. The case is strongly made in this chapter as being indispensable to historical research.

In chapter 13, Dan Chukwu and James C. Chukwu, competently recapitulates the relationship between history and archaeology and the academic value of the later to the former. It supports the case for continued support of history by archaeology with evidence of archaeologyical findings from around Nigeria, including NOK, Igbo-Ukwu, Diama, Iwo Eleru, and many others. The content and scope are all relevant, rich and adequate.

Chapters 14, 15, and 16, Frank Amugo, Nwosu Tony Chukwuemeka and Chikere Reginal Keke respectively, all focused on the Role and Significance of Oral Tradition and Archaeology in historical reconstruction. The chapters dwell on the familiar history of nationalist African historiography that challenged colonial historiography and its Eurocentric perspective on African history, particularly the denigration of black Africa as one without history. The pioneering work of Jan Vansina on the use of Oral tradition in reconstruction of African history and the application of archaeological evidence in support of African history are expertly discussed in the three chapters.

In chapter 17, Johnson O. Ndubuisi, addresses the fact that history and International Studies are siamese twins sharing an umbilical cord that cannot be separated because the root of international relations as the reductionists have tended to brand it, is in itself a product of history. A historical analysis of the origin, evolution and resurgence of international studies is completely presented and the justification for multi-disciplinary approach to the study of history and international studies.

In chapter 18, Ejitu Nnechi Ota et al, identifies six major traditional theories of history including, The Cyclical, The Linear, The Great Man, The Everyman, The Geographic and The Marxist theories of history. Positivist and advocates of historicism believe in the search for general laws that are applicable to history, especially international studies. The use of theories further undersocres the essence of inter-disciplinary approach. The content of the chapter is apt and very essential for demonstration of the scientific status of history.

In chapters, 19, 20, 21 and 22 deals with the relationship between history and literature, linguistic, Geography and Sociology and Anthropology respectively. These four chapters treat in greater detail the relationship between history and each of these disciplines. These four chapters were authored by Nwosu Tony Chukwuemeka, Charles Okeke Okoko, Okechi Dominic Azuwike and Chris Ugwu, respectively.

Taken together, the chapters in this volume have occupied the attention of the editor, Chukwuemeka Tony Nwosu, for close to two decades of research and teaching at Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. The weighting and vast array of issues examined here by contributors of unprecedent intellectual sagacity are germane to deepening understanding in the Multidisplinary and Methodological Approach to African History and International Studies. It is therefore anticipated that the discussions and analyses in this work will stimulate greater interest in Multidisciplinary approach to the study of African history and International Studies where this anticipated hope is accomplished in the final analysis, then of course our objectives would have been monumentally achieved.

Chukwuemeka Tony Nwosu PhD

Department of History and International Studies,

Faculty of Humanities,

Imo State University,

Owerri.