View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Benue State University Institutional Repository A HISTORY OF LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT AMONG THE JUKUN PEOPLE OF THE LOWER BENUE VALLEY OF NIGERIA, C.1850-2000 BY DAUDA, ATANDO AGBU (BSU/HIS/PhD/12/1675) POST-GRADUATE SCHOOL BENUE STATE UNIVERSITY MAKURDI, NIGERIA FEBRUARY, 2017 COVER PAGE TITLE PAGE A HISTORY OF LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT AMONG THE JUKUN PEOPLE OF THE LOWER BENUE VALLEY OF NIGERIA, C.1850-2000 BY DAUDA, ATANDO AGBU (BSU/HIS/PhD/12/1675) A Thesis Submitted to Postgraduate School, Benue State University Makurdi, Nigeria in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History February, 2017 ii DECLARATION I hereby declare that, this thesis is solely my research effort which has been duly supervised by Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu and Professor Toryina Ayati Varvar. The work has not been presented elsewhere and the sources have been duly acknowledged. Atando Dauda Agbu 22nd February 2017 iii CERTIFICATION We certify that this thesis titled, “A History of Leisure and Entertainment among the Jukun People of The Lower Benue Valley of Nigeria, C.1850-2000” has been duly presented by Dauda, Atando Agbu (BSU/HIS/PhD/12/1675) of the Department of History, Faculty of Arts, Benue State University, Makurdi and has been approved by the Examiners. 1st Supervisor Head of Department Signature:…………………… Signature:…….……………… Prof. Yakubu Aboki Ochefu. Prof. John Ebute Agaba. Date:………………………… Date:………………………… 2nd Supervisor Signature:……...…………… Prof. Toryina Ayati Varvar. Date:…………..……………. Prof. Armstrong Matiu Adejo Dean Postgraduate School iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To God be the glory for the strength, wisdom and divine favour in putting this thesis together. To Him I give all worship and adoration. This thesis would not have been successfully completed without the enormous contributions of a number of persons. Firstly, I am grateful to Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu and Professor Toryina Ayati Varvar whose untiring efforts were indispensable in the successful completion of this work. Their vast knowledge in the discipline of history, critical suggestions, easy accessibility and moral support were instrumental to the successful completion of this thesis. They played a fatherly role in my academic successes and I would always pray to have them as my academic mentors. To them, I am indeed grateful and I pray to the Almighty God to keep them healthy and reward them abundantly. Also, this thesis would not have seen the light of the day, but for the material and moral support given to me by the lecturers in the Department of History, Benue State University, Makurdi. Particularly of mention are Prof. John E. Agaba, Head of the Department, Professor Armstrong M. Adejo the Dean of the Postgraduate School, Professors S. Okita, Okpeh O. Okpeh, Mike O. Odey, S.G Nyityo. Other lecturers like Dr. E. C. Ayangaor, Dr. Chris Orngu, Dr. Sylvester Ugbegili, Dr. T. Dzeka and Dr. T. Dennis of the Department of Theatre Arts, Benue State University, Makurdi. I appreciate their various ways of encouragement and support which led to the completion of this study. The PG Representative Dr. Terver Akpar of the Department of Political Science and Faculty Representative, Dr. Ben Due of the Department of Theatre Arts are also ackonowledged and appreciated. v I must appreciate Prof. Talla S. Ngarka, the Director of Consultancy, Taraba State University, for the fatherly role he played in the course of this study; my colleagues such as Aondowase Hembe, Bala Useini, Danasabe Danladi, Abdulsalami Deji, Haruna Suleimuri, Stephany Akipu, Iliya Gimba, Mbave Joshua, Egashi Ahima, Joe Saidu, Yusuf I. Tsojon, Bujujen Awudu, Surveyor Ma’aku Joshua, Princely Agidi, Tanko Adihikon, Jonathan Reuben, Jeremy Bako, Adi Zando, Gideon Ishaya Gani, Wunuji Atotsokwa, Thaddeus T. Ityonzughul, Emmanuel Mbaveloir and many others that time and space would not permit me to mention here. I appreciate their efforts in encouraging me to complete the research. My special appreciation goes to my family members, Wama John, Mavyondi, Hikon, Nwukaku, my friends and other people who contributed in one way or another towards my academic success, may you all be blessed by the Most High God. vi DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my parents Rev. Dawuda A. Agbu and Madam Deborah Dawuda Agbu. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER PAGE ...................................................................................................................... i TITLE PAGE ........................................................................................................................ ii DECLARATION ................................................................................................................. iii CERTIFICATION ............................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................... v DEDICATION .................................................................................................................... vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................... viii LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. xii LIST OF MAPS ................................................................................................................. xiii Map 1 (Map of Nigeria Showing the States where the Jukun are Located)……..9 .............. xiii Map 2 (Map of Nigeria Showing the Study Area)………………………………10 ............. xiii GLOSSARY OF JUKUN WORDS .................................................................................... xiv ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................ xv ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... xvi CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................... 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background to the Study............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................ 3 1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Research ........................................................................... 4 1.4 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................ 5 1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study ............................................................................ 6 1.6 Research Methodology ............................................................................................. 12 1.7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 14 viii Endnotes ............................................................................................................................. 16 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................ 17 LITERATURE REVIEW, CONCEPTUAL AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .......... 17 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 17 2.2 Leisure and Entertainment ............................................................................................. 18 2.3 The Jukun Society ......................................................................................................... 42 2.4 Conceptual Clarifications .............................................................................................. 49 2.5 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................. 54 2.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 58 CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................. 68 GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE JUKUN .................... 68 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 68 3.2 The Geographical Location of the Jukun ....................................................................... 68 3.3 Origins, Migrations and Settlement of the Jukun ........................................................... 69 3.4 Pre-Colonial Political Organisation of the Jukun ........................................................... 76 3.5 Pre-Colonial Economic Activities of the Jukun .............................................................. 85 3.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 92 Endnotes ............................................................................................................................. 94 CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................. 102 LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT