A Historical Exploration of the Peoples of the Southern Margins of the Nigeria–Bénin Border until European Partition

Abstract

 Until the partitioning of the Nigeria–Bénin border by the British and French colonial masters during the infamous Berlin Conference of 1884/85, the peoples that dwelled in the borderlands had maintained a shared history spanning centuries. Unfortunately, however, the demarcation of the Nigeria–Bénin border, like other parts of Africa, left an indelible imprint on the people since the colonial era. The paper engages in a historical exploration of the peoples of the Southern margins of the Nigeria–Bénin border up to the boundary demarcation. The paper historicises the origin and migration story of the sociocultural, economic, and political activities during the period. The article reveals that, like every society all over the world, the peoples of the Southern margins of the Nigeria–Bénin border had their share of wars and peaceful relations before they lost their sovereignty to the European colonialist. The paper concludes that, despite the vicissitude that accompanies the scramble and the partitioning of the peoples of the Southern margins of the Nigeria–Bénin border into separate colonial territories, they continued to maintain cordial relations. The paper utilises transnational community theory to analyse the subject; it equally employs primary and secondary sources, and also, proffers some recommendations.