The Dangers of History: Another Culture of Violence in Benue and Plateau States, Central Nigeria
How do competing historical narratives authorize or sanction violence? The central argument of this article is that the mobilization of historical narratives, whether popular, amateur or academic history, constitutes another form of violence that is far from the concerns of students of conflict i...
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| Language: | English |
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Universidade Nova de Lisboa
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Práticas da História |
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| Online Access: | https://praticasdahistoria.pt/article/view/32231 |
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| author | Samaila Suleiman |
| author_facet | Samaila Suleiman |
| author_sort | Samaila Suleiman |
| collection | DOAJ |
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How do competing historical narratives authorize or sanction violence? The central argument of this article is that the mobilization of historical narratives, whether popular, amateur or academic history, constitutes another form of violence that is far from the concerns of students of conflict in Central Nigeria. Based on oral interviews and a critical study of reports of government commissions, ethnic memoranda and propaganda leaflets, collected during fieldwork in Benue and Plateau states, Central Nigeria, the article examines the ways in which the extra-textual and meaning-assigning agency of history is weaponized as an instrument of negotiation and political violence. The article examines the various discourses around the Sokoto Jihad and the history wars among competing ethnic groups in Benue and Plateau states. The study is located within critical work that is attuned to the salience of symbolism in understanding the capacity of vengeful historical discourses to inflame violence.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b0c1fa8e484946c0af3e14e3a5235ca7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2183-590X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Universidade Nova de Lisboa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Práticas da História |
| spelling | doaj-art-b0c1fa8e484946c0af3e14e3a5235ca72024-11-26T08:43:29ZengUniversidade Nova de LisboaPráticas da História2183-590X2024-11-0118 The Dangers of History: Another Culture of Violence in Benue and Plateau States, Central NigeriaSamaila Suleiman0Department of History, Bayero University, Kano How do competing historical narratives authorize or sanction violence? The central argument of this article is that the mobilization of historical narratives, whether popular, amateur or academic history, constitutes another form of violence that is far from the concerns of students of conflict in Central Nigeria. Based on oral interviews and a critical study of reports of government commissions, ethnic memoranda and propaganda leaflets, collected during fieldwork in Benue and Plateau states, Central Nigeria, the article examines the ways in which the extra-textual and meaning-assigning agency of history is weaponized as an instrument of negotiation and political violence. The article examines the various discourses around the Sokoto Jihad and the history wars among competing ethnic groups in Benue and Plateau states. The study is located within critical work that is attuned to the salience of symbolism in understanding the capacity of vengeful historical discourses to inflame violence. https://praticasdahistoria.pt/article/view/32231HistoryhistoriographyidentityviolenceNigeria |
| spellingShingle | Samaila Suleiman The Dangers of History: Another Culture of Violence in Benue and Plateau States, Central Nigeria Práticas da História History historiography identity violence Nigeria |
| title | The Dangers of History: Another Culture of Violence in Benue and Plateau States, Central Nigeria |
| title_full | The Dangers of History: Another Culture of Violence in Benue and Plateau States, Central Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | The Dangers of History: Another Culture of Violence in Benue and Plateau States, Central Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Dangers of History: Another Culture of Violence in Benue and Plateau States, Central Nigeria |
| title_short | The Dangers of History: Another Culture of Violence in Benue and Plateau States, Central Nigeria |
| title_sort | dangers of history another culture of violence in benue and plateau states central nigeria |
| topic | History historiography identity violence Nigeria |
| url | https://praticasdahistoria.pt/article/view/32231 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samailasuleiman thedangersofhistoryanothercultureofviolenceinbenueandplateaustatescentralnigeria AT samailasuleiman dangersofhistoryanothercultureofviolenceinbenueandplateaustatescentralnigeria |