WAR DIPLOMACY IN PRE-COLONIAL IGBO LAND – THE NNEWI EXAMPLE

Abstract

There are quite a handful of scholars who strongly believe and posit that a greater part of African societies of which Igbo land is a part of, in the pre-colonial era were not involved in diplomatic practices until the takeover of the region by the Europeans. It would be difficult to accept such assertion hook, line and sinker especially in the light of the various inter-group relations that took place among the various African societies in the pre-colonial era. Human existence and the various co-operations that go with it has made the practice of diplomacy essential among groups of human societies including African societies in pre-colonial times. Hence, diplomacy being a strategy or mechanism by which competitive national interest is achieved was adequately employed by pre-colonial African societies- Igbo communities in particular, to achieve their various interests as they relate with each other. War which in this regard is relations by other means, served as a useful diplomatic tool to achieve interest, as African communities at various points in the pre-colonial era employed this diplomatic tool to secure and protect their interest. This work is targeted at highlighting war as a key mode/channel by which diplomatic practices was facilitated during the pre-colonial times in Igbo land generally and particularly in Nnewi. War in pre-colonial times enhanced diplomatic intercourse and provided the avenue for some key diplomatic principles such as Negotiation, Mediation and Alliances to be engaged in, between Nnewi and her neighboring communities as well as among other Igbo communities.