Prof Isaac Adeagbo Akinjogbin was one of Nigeria’s foremost historians, whose work helped shape how African history is studied and understood. Born in 1930 in Ipetumodu, Osun State, Nigeria, he became a distinguished academic, respected for his rigorous research into Yoruba and West African history, and his leadership in building historical scholarship in Nigeria.
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Early Life and Education
Prof Akinjogbin was born in 1930 in Ipetumodu in the Ife North Local Government Area of present‑day Osun State, Nigeria, where he received his primary education. He attended Christ Church School and Origbo Central School before going to Ijebu Ode Grammar School for his secondary education, where he developed a keen interest in history.
His quest for higher learning took him to Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone, one of West Africa’s oldest institutions of higher education, where he furthered his academic formation. He then travelled to England and attended the University of Durham, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History in 1957.
Becoming a Historian
After his undergraduate studies, Akinjogbin worked with the Yoruba Historical Research Scheme from 1957 to 1960. This project, directed by Professor Saburi Biobaku, aimed to document and analyse Yoruba history through archival research. His work involved careful examination of records and sources that helped build a solid foundation for his future scholarship.
In 1960 he was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to study at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, where he completed his Ph.D. in African History in 1963. This achievement marked him as one of the early Nigerians professionally trained in African historical studies.
Academic Career at University of Ife
After earning his doctorate, Prof Akinjogbin returned to Nigeria and joined the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, as a Lecturer in History in 1963. His leadership qualities quickly became recognised. In 1965 he became Acting Director of the Institute of African Studies and in 1968 he was appointed Full Professor and Head of the Department of History.
During his academic career, he mentored many young scholars and played a leading role in strengthening historical education and research in Nigeria. His teaching and administrative roles helped the university grow into a centre of excellence for historical studies.
Major Publications and Scholarship
Prof Akinjogbin’s scholarship focused on the political and social history of West Africa, especially Yoruba societies and neighbouring states. His work is known for its use of archival materials and critical engagement with historical evidence.
One of his most recognised works is Dahomey and Its Neighbours, 1708–1818, published by Cambridge University Press, which explores the Kingdom of Dahomey and its relationships with surrounding states. This study is considered foundational in West African regional history because it offered nuanced insights into diplomatic, political and military interactions in the region before colonial rule.
He also edited War and Peace in Yorubaland, 1793–1893, a volume that brings together research on conflict, negotiation, and socio‑political change among Yoruba polities during a century marked by warfare and reorganisation.
Through his publications, Prof Akinjogbin contributed to a better understanding of pre‑colonial African societies as dynamic political entities with complex networks of power, diplomacy and social life.
Impact on Historiography
Akinjogbin’s scholarship emerged at a time when African historians were challenging colonial narratives that downplayed the sophistication of African political and social systems. By prioritising rigorous research methods and the use of local sources alongside archival materials, he helped shift African historiography towards a more balanced and evidence‑based understanding of the continent’s past.
He insisted that Africa’s history could only be properly understood by combining documentary research with oral traditions and indigenous perspectives. This approach influenced a generation of historians in Nigeria and across Africa who pursued similar methodologies in their own research.
Legacy
Prof Akinjogbin’s legacy can be seen in the continued prominence of African history as a field of study within Nigerian universities and beyond. His mentorship shaped many historians who carry forward his commitment to scholarly excellence. His books remain essential reading for students and researchers interested in the history of West Africa.
Beyond academia, his work helped shape general appreciation of Nigeria’s past and contributed to a broader cultural awareness of Yoruba historical experience.
Prof Akinjogbin passed away in 2008, leaving behind a robust intellectual legacy and a rich body of work that continues to inform and inspire.
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Author’s Note
Prof Isaac Adeagbo Akinjogbin stands as a central figure in Nigerian historical scholarship, not because of popularity alone, but because his work established rigorous standards for studying Africa’s past. His emphasis on archival research and indigenous perspectives paved the way for generations of historians who now teach and write about African history with confidence and depth. Readers need to know that Akinjogbin helped shift historical study away from one‑sided narratives towards a more authentic and evidence‑centred understanding of West African societies.
References
- Dahomey and Its Neighbours, 1708–1818, Cambridge University Press, 1967
- War and Peace in Yorubaland, 1793–1893, Edited by I. A. Akinjogbin, Heinemann Educational Books, 1998
