Perspectives On Aro History & Civilization: The Splendour of a Great Past (Vol. 2)

The Insider's View of the Aro Empire

Perspectives On Aro History & Civilization: The Splendour of a Great Past (Vol. 2) is a compelling anthology edited by Dr. Azubike Okoro and Mazi Ben Ezumah. Unlike colonial accounts that painted the Aro merely as slave traders and manipulators of the Long Juju, this volume presents the history of the Arochukwu Kingdom from the perspective of its own intellectuals and custodians. It is part of the 'Aro News' book series, designed to document the sophisticated statecraft, diplomacy, and economic networks that made the Aro the dominant power in the hinterland of the Bight of Biafra for centuries.

Economics, Diplomacy, and the Oracle

The essays in this volume cover a wide range of topics, from the mechanics of the Ibn Ukpabi oracle to the complex trade routes that connected the Atlantic coast to the deep interior. The contributors analyze how the Aro used a combination of spiritual authority and military alliances (with groups like the Abam) to maintain a 'Pax Aro' conducive to trade. The book challenges the narrative of pure exploitation, highlighting the Aro role in introducing new crops, technologies, and conflict resolution mechanisms to the communities they settled in.

The 1902 British Expedition

A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the Anglo-Aro War (1901-1902). The authors reconstruct the events leading to the British invasion, framing it as a clash of two imperial ambitions. They provide details on the resistance put up by the Aro forces and the subsequent devastation of the national shrine. The volume also discusses the resilience of the Aro culture in the post-colonial era, exploring how the diaspora Aro communities (the varying Aro-Ndizuogu, Aro-Ajalli, etc.) maintain their connection to the ancestral homeland.

Cultural Renaissance

Beyond history, the book focuses on the 'path to rediscovery.' It includes discussions on the Ikeji festival, the masquerade traditions, and the need to preserve the Aro dialect. The editors, both prominent Aro sons, have compiled a work that is scholarly yet accessible, serving as a handbook for cultural pride. It is an essential read for anyone wishing to understand the 'Phoenicians of the Igbo'—the master traders and diplomats of pre-colonial Nigeria.