A HISTORICAL APPRAISAL OF ANNANG-IGBO RELATIONS IN THE PRE-COLONIAL ERA

Inter-group relations in precolonial Africa have often been misrepresented by Eurocentric scholars who erroneously claimed that African societies existed in isolation prior to European contact. This study reconstructs the historical interactions between the Annang and Igbo peoples to challenge such misconceptions and highlight the dynamic relationships that existed before colonial intrusion. Employing historical analysis, the research reveals that Annang-Igbo relations encompassed commerce and trade, cultural exchanges, migration, diplomacy, conflict resolution, and trado-religious activities. Findings demonstrate that both ethnic groups were deeply interconnected and coexisted in relative peace and harmony despite occasional minor skirmishes. The study further argues that contemporary ethnic tensions in Nigeria are partly rooted in colonial disruptions of these longstanding inter-group networks. By documenting the agelong nature of inter-group relations, the study underscores the continuity and resilience of social and cultural linkages in precolonial African societies, offering a corrective to outdated Eurocentric narratives.