Muhammad Murtala Gatawa - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
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Papers by Muhammad Murtala Gatawa
African Journal of History and Culture, Nov 30, 2013
This paper examines the phenomenon of inter-group relations amongst the Yoruba and Hausa communit... more This paper examines the phenomenon of inter-group relations amongst the Yoruba and Hausa communities in Agege, Lagos, Nigeria. Historically, Nigerian ethnic groups had achieved a high level of integration prior to the colonial conquest. Long distance trade, migratory movements and socioeconomic inter-group relations had helped made ethnic and cultural integration an integral part in the evolution of modern Nigeria. In this paper, an attempt was made to scrutinize some popular, but defective, assertions relating to inter-group relations, ethnicity and national integration in such multicultural societies as Nigeria. The paper seeks to validate the claim that the concepts of 'indigene'/'nonindigene' and 'son of the soil'/'settler' were, until recently, insignificant in the intergroup relations amongst Nigeria's diverse ethnic communities. This was in contrast to the prominence now given to the 'politics of belonging' in the Nigerian national discourse, in which the gap between the 'native/son of the soil' and 'stranger/settler' is becoming wider by the day. The situation has degenerated into conflicts or threats by such natives to send away strangers who, like in the case of Agege, are second or even third generation descendants of pioneer Hausa migrants. The study equally confirms the assertion that the indigene/non-indigene dichotomy has posed greater challenges to the cohesion of Nigerian state and its citizens. Finally, the paper is part of the outcome of intensive fieldwork and interviews carried out by the author between 2006 and 2008 in the course of writing a Doctoral Thesis on 'The Hausa Community in Lagos, 1861-2007'.
IIUC Studies, 2016
This paper intends to historicise the Yoruba-Hausa intergroup relations that dates back to pre-co... more This paper intends to historicise the Yoruba-Hausa intergroup relations that dates back to pre-colonial long distance trade, when Agege was established as a transit camp (Hausa-Zango) by Hausa Kola traders en route to Gonja (Ghana), an important kola producing region. The Community, however, grew up rapidly with the construction of railway line from Lagos to Kano by the beginning of the twentieth century. Thus, the Agege railway station doubled as kolanut market, linking Gonja (Ghana) and Northern Nigeria. The influx of the Hausa into Agege continues to date, due to the position of Lagos as the economic hub of Nigeria. The paper also seeks to assess the role of Islam not only in ensuring mutual commercial relations amongst the Yoruba indigenous community and the stranger Hausa group but equally shapes the existing cordial inter-group relations between the two ethnic groups.
European Scientific Journal, Jan 31, 2014
This paper seeks to highlight the establishment and growth of Gobirawa migrant community in Niger... more This paper seeks to highlight the establishment and growth of Gobirawa migrant community in Niger State, Nigeria. Beginning with a pioneer group of a few men in 1973, the migrants are now found in many rural areas in the state; some in wholly Gobirawa settlements, others living in Gwari-based communities. It is also the aim of the paper to discuss the occupational activities-both farming and non-farming-of the migrants. While it is reaffirms that farming remains their major occupation, some migrants do engage themselves in non-farming activities such as hunting and trading, most especially after farm harvest season. The paper concludes that migration of labour and humans as well as inter-group relations and cultural integration have been part of the history of Nigerian societies.
African Journal of History and Culture, Nov 30, 2013
This paper examines the phenomenon of inter-group relations amongst the Yoruba and Hausa communit... more This paper examines the phenomenon of inter-group relations amongst the Yoruba and Hausa communities in Agege, Lagos, Nigeria. Historically, Nigerian ethnic groups had achieved a high level of integration prior to the colonial conquest. Long distance trade, migratory movements and socioeconomic inter-group relations had helped made ethnic and cultural integration an integral part in the evolution of modern Nigeria. In this paper, an attempt was made to scrutinize some popular, but defective, assertions relating to inter-group relations, ethnicity and national integration in such multicultural societies as Nigeria. The paper seeks to validate the claim that the concepts of 'indigene'/'nonindigene' and 'son of the soil'/'settler' were, until recently, insignificant in the intergroup relations amongst Nigeria's diverse ethnic communities. This was in contrast to the prominence now given to the 'politics of belonging' in the Nigerian national discourse, in which the gap between the 'native/son of the soil' and 'stranger/settler' is becoming wider by the day. The situation has degenerated into conflicts or threats by such natives to send away strangers who, like in the case of Agege, are second or even third generation descendants of pioneer Hausa migrants. The study equally confirms the assertion that the indigene/non-indigene dichotomy has posed greater challenges to the cohesion of Nigerian state and its citizens. Finally, the paper is part of the outcome of intensive fieldwork and interviews carried out by the author between 2006 and 2008 in the course of writing a Doctoral Thesis on 'The Hausa Community in Lagos, 1861-2007'.
IIUC Studies, 2016
This paper intends to historicise the Yoruba-Hausa intergroup relations that dates back to pre-co... more This paper intends to historicise the Yoruba-Hausa intergroup relations that dates back to pre-colonial long distance trade, when Agege was established as a transit camp (Hausa-Zango) by Hausa Kola traders en route to Gonja (Ghana), an important kola producing region. The Community, however, grew up rapidly with the construction of railway line from Lagos to Kano by the beginning of the twentieth century. Thus, the Agege railway station doubled as kolanut market, linking Gonja (Ghana) and Northern Nigeria. The influx of the Hausa into Agege continues to date, due to the position of Lagos as the economic hub of Nigeria. The paper also seeks to assess the role of Islam not only in ensuring mutual commercial relations amongst the Yoruba indigenous community and the stranger Hausa group but equally shapes the existing cordial inter-group relations between the two ethnic groups.
European Scientific Journal, Jan 31, 2014
This paper seeks to highlight the establishment and growth of Gobirawa migrant community in Niger... more This paper seeks to highlight the establishment and growth of Gobirawa migrant community in Niger State, Nigeria. Beginning with a pioneer group of a few men in 1973, the migrants are now found in many rural areas in the state; some in wholly Gobirawa settlements, others living in Gwari-based communities. It is also the aim of the paper to discuss the occupational activities-both farming and non-farming-of the migrants. While it is reaffirms that farming remains their major occupation, some migrants do engage themselves in non-farming activities such as hunting and trading, most especially after farm harvest season. The paper concludes that migration of labour and humans as well as inter-group relations and cultural integration have been part of the history of Nigerian societies.