Content uploaded by Siyan Oyeweso
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Siyan Oyeweso on Dec 19, 2015
Content may be subject to copyright.
THE UNDERTAKERS,
THE PYTHON’S EYE AND
FOOTSTPEPS OF THE ANT:
THE HISTORIAN’S BURDEN
22nd Inauguration Lecture
Delivered by
Prof. Siyan Oyeweso
Professor of History
LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO, NIGERIA, 2006
1
!
"!
! "
##"$##% & '
(
)*)'+
,# - ,./. 0
()1(23&4
!
5
6(
5
7
-##8
1(5
9:;9:<
*
=
23=&
4+>
2
9595
( )* )
(',./8'
? ( )
4
) @ ;
(<4!),./8
' ()0'
( 6 5
& ;65&< A ?
9
9B =
,./8$/"65
C+,/&>D+,.&>D
+# &>+
>?'
( )* ) A
) ,./" ? '
B?&2
22!
?4 ,./8$/" 7 ,..#$.,
* 2 0 ) 0
4
(
)* ) =
E
5 ) ,./8 '
+?@'>
+!'>!+!
>,./. +?'>B
,..%$,.. ?
3
E ? ' 6 5
51 9
F+?'
9>23G&9=
9 5
*+959'>H
4
5
959 '
99D
E
*
95 9 ' +>
EB7
9 '
,."#I%#I #
?
A ' ? 2 ' ?
+?
'4> 9 55D +?
' ? 9> 5 ( 'D +?
'99>5D+?
' 9>))*5
+?'9>*5
C
@D?99D(D
:@D &=2 @D (?D
2 & HD ( HD
5 6 H 9D & ?D 6
9D&FD!$2((D
4
9D (&F 9' &D
5D6)J
? ((
9 : =
4D
5
J
9!+?
'9>
=!E?
! = ?
=
4 H =
2 +' ?> (= ?
+ @ 9 9> 2($(? +'>
) 2
2 ( ! 9
99 )
2 3=& D
B
E?
'9 E ,..
5
23=&9D
1
An Idea of History
!
=H
' *
5
K'
!0
KH
E 9
3
2'
*
E
D
6=C!"#D!
## ! E
$
D
6
6'
6
615
+7>+,.,8>'
*4;)##8<
6
ED
;&,.%,C,<:
6
,.""
'+
I1*
> 6
E 9
:E+
>
'E
*
0 & C+ B
*
I&'1>;&,.8,C,.<
'EE
=
D
;5J,./LC=%<
THE HISTORIAN
+
>
; ,./L<
*H
E
'
BM
B '
7 0
*
4 )*
7
*
J7;H,.% <
23G&9
C5D(1:D!
THE UNDERTAKERS, THE PYTHON’S EYE AND THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE
ANTS
Who Are The Undertakers?
:
= 1
70
Undertakers and the Discipline of History
GG 9
4
4 7
B+
>M&
8
0F'3$?9
M
=
The Python
= #
)
D =
0
@ ( G
E #="E
=
(7%";L
<
( BJ
4)
The Ant
:E+&N
>:
+*
>
6
J
7E
J
The Undertakers and History
9
**
!@
?;,".%G,%"#<C
"!!#%
& ! "! !
# ' # ! " # # #
# "#(!"
# #$
%& % $ ! $
&& '&
$ ! & )
! "#!
# # "
# " ! " # !% #
# *
! ! #
#+## # " ! #,
-" ##
*##"#"
#!##
###%./"#0123%415%
B7@
& + >
+ >
*
!
D
$
H 7
7
A
9 @
?1
'
?
* ?1
' +
10
'>
! ?1
E
7
'
3,/;',./#C%#=
,<?
@?==
(3'C
# # "!
# #% & " "% & #
# # # % & + " !
* *#
# # !#
# ! % & "
( # %.6 0178%3879
38:5%
'EO !) ;"2(
C+ O (
D
&JP
O< #<##-@
PP C
;'E,."%C/,<
<# , ! , ! &#
*%= ," #"%
>" # % "# ,
%?##@#@#
?#%@## ##%&! "
11
! , #
% , & #. *
0142%A5%
31'E1@&J
E
6
0(62
;6,.. <
@< #" B())*
61 C
> B #!
# %C !9!
"!9# #
#% & 9# ! (
! # D
# # " )#
#'%
& # " ## # # # )
/ & #
# #%= #9# #
! %.< # #0A E8845%
3=&9())*
!
!,. % ) ,. . 6 ( :
1
( 9 9 -
99;-99< 9
9 9 ;999<
+7
>;=*##"<H
BC
MM&=
*
=
12
= #9!
JB6
The Lessons of History
+
>
;' ,. "< !H '
@
AC
"# #
#!99 %
!" #
F G" # #%
F"# #
! ! # ## % "
" ! "
# % " "
!%%%%
"F"#! #
F " # !
!# %.?
01:E5%
9+
>M:
( *C* ;
<C ;
< ;* ,. < K
4E)0
= G
7 7
7'
C @
+@F1 > 7
'
C @ # @+ & " " @ @# # ;
11
F< J
13
THE USE OF IMAGERY AND THE PRACTICE OF HISTORY
1
E
46K
B
4
'))'
2 9 2
'0=
6 ?
1
4*$*
;
,./#<
3=&9
J
'
'
? 2&+ >
0
0 ( & % 3% BE
CH< ##"#"%
14
'Q1 &
3,"'
A 9
E9
F
E $
B 6 () 1
6 *
C
!
## ! BD%
& #
! # ! #
##"D
. 5 #+
(+.&01715%%
23 G &96 J
I
@0
&?1
J 6 $
F,./#H
E J B
6MH M J
6 MH
* $J B =R= ,...
M
6MB
,./#9@*99
J
15
4
* 9 *
09'&
691 0
& & 6
E9 91
2,.,,'B2
@ 9
,.,8 B
91
@?@&
JB&J
=J
= 7
= J
,..% A A ( S ;,.%8 ,..,<
Q & ?1 +>
)" -6
J 2T 2 9 S &
@?9D?G2
9D)0&D(K2
D6+2>2
@ 6 9 - 9
16
9 9 2 0 0 9
D +>
61
)
71
16
7J
=
&?1,.##,.%#
G J
J 4
!K60
@ & ?1 ! 6 &
62 0 ! 9 9
H='
E7
BCK ( 9 A * ;(=
6< J 0@ 0
= : 6 JM
E & 2
K = K 9+#
J0@
9 J =
=
* 4
J B H
'
J
*= *
6 4 =
9
=
F 9
F'=
F '
17
E
=
E
+> +>
7
A&
H1 7
H1
61
99
=
=
9
!#6
6=
H==
=
==
)=B
15
E 6
'
E
18
)
$D
J
EJ
6
1*11
1 * '
*
+ >
'!
*66
6 : J E
!*
20J
AAAK
*'AK
A
A*A
K
(
'
7
A
CONCEPTUALISING CITIZENSHIP IN AFRICA
J
(: 595
6K ;956K<2 2 2 5
5&6KH:1/#
" ! ,. "
19
21 /B# '/!#@ ! @
/,..%
:1J
J
:J
(G&:+
F >
@ - ; # #
:1
'
:17
6;-,..,C,..L=8<
:=- F
F=
'
==
20
)2D
G
H
*
+J>
4*)
*
J *2
*''
=
J 11
1
K1
1
J 2
JF
J62
+E*>
= +
> ( 4 +U =
1GG>
21 E $ B
)
6 7
$=
79E
7 E
7'$
21
* 97
&B
"J
$ +
4J
E > =4
J61B
ANCESTRAL VOICES, ORGANIC CITIZENSHIP, AND ETHNICIZED
CITIZENSHIP
)EE
G6
) :
);*<
6 6 ' E= ) :
) A1
'))-,/8")
)?,/",=+0>+00>)
A106)
,"##=A:4
A1 : ,/"
,/% A1
)A1
: & C#
))G
1E=)=)
)
)
EJ
,.E=6
6#,
22
MH6
6J
$ MH 7E+===>
+J>
=4
6
6
J 6
BD
9
S A K1
9 *
* ' ;'<
!
6 E !
B
B
6B
K2,.
K ! ) :=)
))4:GA
9))
9B)
) 9 J
+>4
,...
( ) : ,.
K=C:
*@B*C
23
# ! C #
#!#9 # #C' ##
#% "! C' # #" # #
&##+ #C # %
) "" !"#
# #
# #' ## #
# # % 01A7 )% #
C " # # # #
# # # %<
##%
C ! # #
! ! ##017E%)%#C #
! ! # '
# #% ! # C !F/!
# C @! ) # C #
#"# ! !#
K 01:3 # # # ! ! #
! ! C' " " C" ! C
01:A%#! ##"
! # # ## ! C ! !
) ! " " # #
#####!C'!C
!""% !
C # ## # ##
" - !
9#!= &'#?%
23=&9
A9KA
! 20 2
+> 0 0
EG,.6
0J' 2
: G
202
=
C120
2
)C &2B0
G=2
'
2 2
0 0
' 2 0
4012
24
E
+> 2 1
)KC
; !) # !
"#9"
#! # H % & ##
#" # ! ) "
#)# ! "#'#
@ # #" %C! !
#%
,//"2)?
&&9
&#!#
?,//
23G&9 9
1
9&97)
*
J
BC E$
A
9M 2 *
AA9
6
4
7 :
H
! * 0 -
);)9<
B9)
B José) (é
9
25
0-10
- '* 7*( &
(*!*G)0&
'J - -,/. 'J
' H 9 &
A1&,.,8
'J-0?
,L,." 68)*9)490-1
' 2
+! 9 &
>'
26069
-1'*9
* 0 -1
*= 9 0
&
7
J*0-10-
68)*1 ,."
)-V&,.##
9 * -1
96
BC*-
M ) J E 6
M
+ > +>
7#MH
)=
E M& 7
*=)M&
6!7EM "
!# +*#L
###+!#%>
H" # #!
26
!H" C # ##"
# % " H" B
#! # # % = ! B
"# #
#%
)EN$)
KA)
*GE
)9E
) B
):*,/"
E ) K
! ) = ,/L8
)G))C)
) : &
C6:
) ,/"8 ) G *
)*
)G*)
)G*
& # 4B
)*=))=))=)=9*G
,.)E
)$B
)KJ=
)
6 ! )
) ) *
) 9 +> )
M ) +>
27
( ()*)
' * ) B
))A)*
)EK=
+C" # #C" " ;)
7)<
L# ) 9 ( )*
: )
( )*1 ) :
J66,J6
,... B H
*M
6*M
*
WHO OWNS THE LAND?
B
0
+
> 0
+
>T !
7
7 '
0Q +>
E
0
) =6
6+>T
A : ,"####
=
)?2+
28
:>+&'&J>
9 ; < E 6*
3 ) A
77 A:
+ >
?6
"## 9
+> +> 6
$BE
JB
The Authentic Indigenes and Autochthones
E=
B 6
6 ;( 9< = &
L.###0&) E 2* &
;)9<@;(<?;0<=;)9<0;:9<
=5 ; 9< : ;) 9< )
7EKG
KH&9&!&C" &-&!C#C'
"&-&!;GG
G
7EG<?
G
G: )G !
H+EH>
B6J
7
EAHL.
6E,. %C6G
& &6=9)
6
29
6 ( 6
+> 7
+>E
H
$ 6 +>
+>M&6
+>
I 7E >M (
4 B 2
+H>M!
M
THE FEDERAL CHARACTER POLICY AND THE INDIGENESHIP
QUESTION
$ B E
6 5
!@ 6
J6
'
='
64
E
J=
J6J
=B7
B B J
JJB
B
30
J6!
(-B7+J>
E N 6 *
J
6 J
6
+>
2!&
4 6 J
' ! !#
! ##* !#
# # " ! ( 4
E "
K ,. . ,./. ,... 6
&(
0 ,./
J6
*
E & ? 9
* (9?9,. %
( 6 ( 9 6
(*
(9 ' +9
> *
- !
F
EJGB=
F
7
7
31
9 9
* :
!@6
( -
9!#%
*G
!
$J
'
=J
! E * $
9
59 B
E 6
:=*
0
EDE
0 J
* 0 $
D
* D '
J
E
J 2
32
6 ,. .
TH
CONCLUSION
2 3 G & 9
J
= G6
!
G6
E
4
D
*D
D
6 +$>D
,.,8
' A@
9 6
+
> A +
>+
>
23G&9
(B*
C
! " # "#
% 6 788
"#A8"- %&"#
33
! "# " !
%
! %6
! ! A - 4 % & ! "
! % " ! F! #
! # " #
N M
! !##%;!
! "
* - # ##% *
" # ! " %
! #" "!# !#
!"%
&" #"#
#.#5# %
C*=
6===
=
'*
61J*
=
* (=
= =
6J
' J 6 M
JB
D
J *D = =
E==
=J
=J*
=
J *
@*
6
= 7
==
34
J
J
=6
E J
E
0
## E J
E
!J 6
B
')
B
H
+
#!
9'9'?==
99'S9'
JB
* & ?
==
= 2
J
H
J
4
35
HJH
MH
H61
*M
H
H
DB=D
9
9-*-0A9&
&@-:6!
)7
4 6
!
;< +( 6 9
' (*> (
,.%# =
6
*
)
7H
6
2 3=& 9 ? &
References
*9;##,<+&J@F
> ?I 3L6,
36
*!;,..<I6Q'(1*!
6!< #"@ < #6"
&;,..L<+H:>!
6
-2H26;,...<+S=A
C > ) ) ) ;< /
/G;C90<
:-.,./%<I )6 Q(=
: 61 0 6 9
I C # /
;1D*8G.
) ;,...< +=2 > ) )
);</ /G;C90<
* ;,. "< > = # $# ? .0::1901A45
C
;,../< +&J 6 >
0A ) ! ;< ?96#
& #;C!:!<
0 ;,./.< I6=0 & C &
:E1 ( : * ;<
&##6 E4= / % 3 3 C '
:0
;,./%<I:2,. .6&1
%3,%69,./%
;,..%< I & 9 6 !1 -
: @ ;< ;,..8< 6 # !
6#0128-0114%*C6&@
0?;,.. < + : !> ?
2'A=));< > #9
#/ ##;C3(<
& 9 ;,../< +J
J> @ 0 - @ ;< # #
)/B;C<
/ !6#? !0111;C!
(<
:9;###<+J6&>
+/J /B# ?#
?)&?;!@)3<
&J!&;&!&@<*2.=L#
37
: 9 ;,../< I? 0C : 61 ?
:C ,./% G ,.."1 & ?
6?&<CO)6"
:(,. I&J(&FC9
6&1 - ) ;< ;!# ;6
KCH(<
:(;,./#<I&991& @ 5
6
: (( :: ) ;< 6#/# 6#
;C':0<
:( (;,. "<+& C
> / # # 3 , 6 ,
-
: ( ;,. < &J ( &FC 9
6 &1 - ) ;<
;! #(
'9;,..%</!/B#?!>#
C#;6KC<
7 : ;,..%< +&J 9
?J6;3WW68
7:;,...<I9@&6&F
6C'&B1!;3WW36,
-);##,<+?C
B 6> 0E / @ ! @
$%
-;,./"<+!&F
6> 3,"6;<
- @ ;,..,< ; # # ;C
90<
AJ=;,.. < +(: F
A 6C X?Y > !
;3WW36,Z
A 2 ;,../< + ! 2C &
9 2 0 6 H )1 9 5
6 !< @ ,-
22;,..%< /B# '/! # @
!@/(C(5(
38
22;,../<IH?06>@F
& @ &J :B 9 1 & @
2,L5&9[
22;###<I&#? # !;
#C@ !(11%
22 ;##,< >O P/ #
<#@;(C(5(<
22;,.."<+??>
: & - ;< ?J ( C
((;?C&)?:@909<
2 2 ;##,< +0 7C
>(, )J=:5
5;< &##!; ;(=' *C &99
!@)3<
2 2 ;,..%< /B# ' /!#
@!@ / .( 6 -C ( 5
(<
2E ,..% I& &JC ? @
91&?"!9L
2;##,<:0''C:E(
&J Q 61 : @ &
;:2(@&<96
2 @ ;,../< +
6> ) 6 ;< /G ! ;?C
&)?:@909<
)= ) ;,..8< ?9 C ! " #
!;6-CH(<
):;,..#<+(&J6>! W3
68?
) : ;,..#<1 ( &J 61 6?&/ ?
# ## B.?53W368?
)*;,./%< I 9&6 61
9II
C#/;8=.
)*;,../<I0!C(
! ! 9 61
/!; !"
!:!5,8G,")
39
);###<+)J&J//C;/
#I ;C((<
& ;,..%<+&J 9 '>& ;<
/B &# # ;&C & 5
(<
40