Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development

Ogbaru is located in Igboland southeast Nigeria, precisely, present Anambra State. Her location within the riverine area confers on her a special privilege in human relations. Situated near the River Niger, the area is largely endowed with natural resources from both the River and rich soil that favours agricultural production. The availability of enormous resources attracted people from far and near. In fact, colonial overlords where not excluded from the scramble for the resources of the area. Their relations also stretched beyond the Igbo interior to Western Igbo areas across the River Niger into present Delta State. The people had had their relations with their neighbours until colonial interjections impacted on the contours and dynamics of their relations. Nonetheless, the people continued with the political cum economic relations with their neighbours. This study interrogates the nature of inter-communal political relations of Atani people of Ogbaru, Igboland. It argues that the nature of relations in the area despite interruptions and colonial incursions, the people still retain the kinship and some indigenous aspects that characterised relations in most Igbo such as pockets of internal migrations, shifts and political reorganisations. The study applies the orthodox historical narrative and analytical method of writing. The qualitative research methodology is used and the work is presented chronologically.

Open Full Text (PDF)