THE NATURE OF INTER-GROUP RELATIONS BETWEEN UBULU-UKU KINGDOM AND BENIN IN PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD

ABSTRACT

This study has examined the nature of inter-group relations between Ubulu-Uku Kingdom and Benin in the pre-colonial period. It discusses the origin and geography of the Ubulu-Uku Kingdom and Benin people, the early life, political and socio-economic institutions of the Ubulu-Uku and Benin Kingdom, the rich culture of the Ubulu-Uku and Benin people, as well as the nature and level of intergroup relations between the UbuluUku Kingdom and Benin. In the precolonial times, Ubulu-Uku and Benin people had a complex nature of inter-group relations ranging from diplomatic, economic and warfare relations. Even from the story of origin of the Ubulu Uku, we can find that Ezemu the founder of the UbuluUku related with a man from Benin called Anigwe. It is widely believed that the parents of Ezemu, the famed founder of Ubulu-Uku, migrated from the Middle East because of the similitude of their hair to the middle easterners.They first settled in Ife, South west Nigeria. And later moved down south, settling in Onicha-Uku and in Kwale, Ndokwa L.G.A. Ezemu and his siblings were tender at that time, and as they grew older their parents advised them to set out and make their individual living, considering that they had come of age to cater for themselves.