Kakanda: A People, a History, an Identity

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Periodical article

Title:	Kakanda: A People, a History, an Identity
Author:	Obayemi, Ade M.
Year:	1978
Periodical:	Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria
Volume:	9
Issue:	3
Period:	December
Pages:	1-21
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Nigeria
Subjects:	Kakanda history ethnic groups Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) History and Exploration
Abstract:	Written conspicuously over an imprecise area on nineteenth century maps of that portion of land forming the west bank of the River Niger above and below its confluence with the Benue and often including adjacent portions of the left bank of the Niger is the name Kakanda. This with its variant spellings - Kakunda, Kacunda, Akandja, Akandsa, etc. - has featured in the maps indicating linguistic, political, or cultural entities along the Niger-Benue river and portions of the hinterland since 1832, fluctuating in its extent from author to author. The Kakanda problem in the cultural-linguistic and historical mapping of this part of the world has continued to linger. With it are the questions of the history and identity of the people to outsiders as well as for history writers. This paper is only a beginning in the attempt to deal with some of the historical, economic and population geography of the Niger-Benue confluence area. Sections: Origin and political history to 1830; Political and economic transformations after 1830; Post-script. - Notes.