As part of the celebration of the Ter Kwande’s 77 Birthday in 2009 , an official biography, The Triumph of Principles; James Adzape the 6th Ter Kwande was launched. Below are sketches about the writers;
Iorliam’ Amo shija holds a B.A in History from BSU, Makurdi .His research interests are ICT and Community Journalism. He was the pioneer Editor in Chief of NAKS emancipator, a publication of National Association of Kwande Students (NAKS) and for a long time Editor of True lies Campus Newspaper, Benue State University Makurdi. Shija is also an essayist and a poet. He is currently the Publisher/ Editor in Chief of Kwande Source News.
Tersoo Akula is a graduate of Political Science from the University of Maiduguri; he is interested in developmental and humanitarian issues. He is currently with the T Y Danjuma Foundation, in Abuja.
Kenneth Azahan read Mass Communication from the Benue State University, Makurdi. He is an advocate of developmental Journalism and enjoys commenting on topical issues. He was the Deputy Editor of Catholic Star Newspaper, a publication of the catholic Diocese of Makurdi, he moved to News World, Abuja.
Below is a review of the book:
Reviewer: Professor Nicholas Akise Ada Mstan mba,
Title of the book: The Triumph of Principles: James Adzape, the 6th Ter-Kwande
Authors: Shija, I.; Akula T.; Azahan, K.
Publisher: Aboki Publisher
ISBN: 978-978-8409-19-9
Year Published: First Published 2009
Number of pates:
I. Preliminary Pages 10
II. Main pages 78
Total 88pages
Number of chapters: 10
Longest Chapter: Chapter (11pages)
Shortest chapter : 3 pages
Cover page: The cover page is predominately sky blue with the top and down borders covered by Mariam (Deep) blue. An imposing photograph of His Royal Highness with 4 string of Royal beads covered in black and while typical of Tiv Traditional colours is conspicuously situated at the front of the cover page, covering more than ¾ of the front page. The blue Agbada and the matching blue and white spotted cap on His Royal Highness, Makes him look like the Triumphant Jesus who entered Jerusalem amidst rousing ovation. The graceful, fatherly, captivating smile on the face of His Royal Highness makes him look younger than his age. A comparative look at the photograph on this front cover page and the physical appearance of His Royal Highness cannot be mistaken. Credit should be given to those who chose this photograph amongst the alternatives that were available for the publisher to use.
The back page: Contains a resume of the content of the book as well as Biographic information about the authors. This is usual of published books as readers are not left in doubt as to the qualification and competence of those who have written the book. In this case, Shija, Akula and Azahan are the authors.
On the spine of the book: Are the Title of the book and the names of the authors. These features have Cleary given the identity and uniqueness of the book.
INTRODUCTION:
The Triumph of Principles: James Adzape the 6th Ter-kwande, according to the authors is a ‘book’ written to fill what they call “an academic gap that exists in the history of Kwande Traditional Institution.”
The word ‘book’ and ‘biography’ are used interchangeably by the authors. It is therefore; appropriate to clarify these terms on the basic of academic requirements.
A ‘book’ is a textual material, a medium through which the author provides opportunity for other people to share his feelings, his ideas and his thoughts more readily with him and indeed with others. In an ordinary sense, a book may be viewed as a volume of many sheets bond together containing text and illustrations. It is usually larger than a pamphlet and is portable but unlike a diary which may be in book form, a book is meant for wide circulation. In an editorial sense, the word book refers to some literary works which have preserved and diffused knowledge.
Books are written for different purposes and different target audiences. Whatever purposes for which the book is written and for whatever audience, there are certain basic rules and guidelines that may be observed by the author or authors, so as to render the book potentially useful. We shall look at these later.
A ‘biography’ is a written account of an individual life. It connotes an artful, conscious literary genre that employs a wide range of sources, strategies and insights that deal with the intimate, inconsistent textures of personality and experience. It attempts to render the whole sense of not only life, but how that life was like to have lived. It is documentation devoid of creativity; it is simply true to life.
Obviously, what is before me to review is a biography of His Royal Highness, James Adzape the 6th Ter-Kwande. The content of this biography from the analytical perspective includes:
1. His Birth
2. His Education
3. His personality
4. His experience
5. His hobby
6. what was his life like
7. Where and how he lived at various stages
8. His ambition
9. His conflicts
10. His Milieu
11. His work relationship
12. His Successes
This clearly is a summary of the entire contents of the book. Details of these have been spread over the 10 chapters of the work.
INTRODUCTION CHAPTER
While writing this book, the authors claim that they have attempted also to “re-construct a concise history of Kwnde for the very first time” even though, they are mindful of the fact that they are writing on the life of his Royal Highness, James Adzape, the 6th Ter-kwande(which is actually a biography, there appears to be a shift in the paradigm of the framework within which the authors set out to accomplish.
Because of this shift, the introduction contains essentially a documentation on Kwande, highlighting it landmass, its people and neighbours, political and social organization and migration. The synopsis in the introduction which one would have expected will capture the entire content of the book his failed to do so. In fact, the name of His Royal Highness, the man who is central is this biography, appears only on pages 2 and 6 of the introductory chapter. This is certainly deficient.
The introduction ends with a map of Benue State on page 6, showing a highlighted portion representing Ushongo and Kwande. One would have expected that the name Kwande should come first for two obvious reasons: first, ‘Kwande mar a mar Ushongo’ secondly, Even in alphabetical order, K ;comers before ‘U’
This introduction section, however, provides a very rich source of information for researchers and especially for historians. It is therefore potential reference material, which readers will find extremely useful and handy
THE CONTENT OF THE BOOK
There are ten chapters. There are also two appendices and glossary of some Tiv words in the book.
Chapter one “the Spring of His Life”
‘The spring of His Life’ is the title of chapter one. A 3-page chapter.
Like a spring which gushes warm water that soothes the scourging cold in an icy environment, the birth of Ityowua now HRH, James Adzape on the 17th day of July, 1932, actually set the stage to shoot Ityowua into the upper rung of the ladder of victory and success in his later days in life. No wonder, he has triumphed over turbulent situations and emerged as Ter-kwande. A victory which came as a dint of hard work. He is also presiding over a local Government made potentially volatile by the enemies of progress and the indigenes themselves. A local government that was left devastated by wicked, merciless and inhuman actions by militia. I hope he will eventually triumph based on his principles.
The book has traced his early life in Gboko during which he attended St. John’s Primary Pchool, Gboko and grew under an environment that enriched his early experiences of exposure to Western Education which equipped him to triumph in later life in his work places and relationship with people.
In his middle school days as recorded in this biography, HRH demonstrated intellectual competence. An account of his been succinctly captured in chapter three of his book.
“from every indication, the boy Ityowua showed intellectual promise. His intellectual prowess which seemed innate was brought out by St. John’s School. His father watched over his son carefully. He knew that this little boy had great destiny in academic”
HRH according to this account, eventually got admitted into Katsina-Ala Middle School (now Government Model College, Katsina-Ala) at the tender age of 15 years. His mates were found of calling him James. James of Tivland and got admitted into Balewa college, Zaria after a competitive Common Entrance Examination .
Chapter four gives an account of the school days of HRH as what the authors call “The Balewa Boy”. Jame’s exposure to classmates like Yakubu Gowon, Late, Chief Sunday. Awoniyi was significant in setting his lie onto success. His ambition to go to Nigerian college of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria was aborted but James later read Civil Engineering and joined the services of Tiv Native Authority in 1958. He served in various capacities with excellent record of work in Benue Plateau and Benue State respectively.
A more detailed account of his services to the nation is found in chapter five of this biography.
Chapter six presents an excellent account of his services after retirement. The authors caption this chapter as “only retired but not tired” HRH participated in politics even when he was in services see page 24) as “he laid camp with NCNC”.
He later served as an official of the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO). He served in Rivers State among other places including Benue State where he eventually resigned his appointment as chairman, Benue State Electoral Commission in 1980 because of what the authors call, personal reasons
James then moved and settled at Adikpo in 1980 as a contractor. The authors say this of him.
“it is better to eat a grasshopper in honesty than eat an elephant in dishonesty”
Chapter seven: “The Head that wears the crown” is an account of political organization, not only of Kwande, but the whole Tivland. This chapter is an account of the contest for the throne of Ter-Kwande. With all the intrigues, the conflict and the competition. HRH emerged triumphantly as Ter-Kwande in 1994.
Recreating to create- is the title of chapter eight. All works and no play makes jack a dull boy is the popular saying. Despite his academic and other routine responsibilities, HRH finds time to recreate. He engages in social activities. He is a member of Adikpo Lawn Tennis club; He is also a member of Adikpo Scrabble club. Ter has a guest house which the authors says is counted among the best in Adikpo town
Chapter nine: captioned “At Home Abroad” gives a vivid account of the abode of Ter-Kwande the ancestral land of Tiv called Kwande. The authors describe the magnificent ancient mountains of “swem”. The only surviving ancestral home of Tiv Tribe which ironically provides an excellent locations for cattle ranches, Museums, hiking spots, picnic locations, film village like Walt Disney in America, NIPSS in Kuru, Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River etc. Sadly enough, this gold mine is yet to be tapped even though it has potential to generate employment.
Visitors are invited to see this potential Holiday Resort that has remained undeveloped.
The book contains memorable photographs of the young Adzape in 1960, his HRH in Gboko during his son’s wedding in 2001, Ter-Kwade exchanging pleasantries with Governor Suswam during the construction of Jato-Aka- Adikpo Road, Ter-Kwande at a reception by Baver Dzeremo, Ter-Kwande with son and daughter-in law, Ter-Kwande with counterparts from other Local Government at the Tiv traditional Council in Gboko etc. I invite you to contact pages 42 to 47 for these memorable photographs.
The appendix: contains the Family of Chief James Ityowua Adzape –in summary, the man has Nine Wives and many children. His marriage life, according to this account, lasted between 1960 and 1981. He has a total number of 25 children, 38 grand children and 2 great grand children.
Conclusion
The authors have concluded this documentation by saying that, “We are celebrating a man who has succeeded but this does not mean that he has no flaws” No, no, not a perfect man, they say. But I leave you to purchase a copy of the book and read and get the fun as Tiv people say “Or doon been ga” James Ityowua Adzape igino has lived a fulfilled life worth celebrating.
