Definition and Importance of History

It is important to study history because it helps us:

1. To know the origin of man and his achievements and development up to the present time.
2. To understand the relationship that existed between humans, and the environment.
3. To develop an understanding and appreciation of the cultural, political, economic and technological advancements made by African societies before and after colonialism.
4. It also allows us to develop an understanding of the events, conditions and factors that shaped the past and those, which have shaped the present conditions of the world in order to predict the future.
5. Studying history also helps us to understand and appreciate the efforts made and strategies used by African people to regain their independence and resist neocolonialism.
6. It also helps us to develop an understanding of the relationships between African's development problems and foreign intrusion, colonial domination, cultural subjugation and economic exploitation at various stages in history.
7. To develop our patriotism, history students know their heroes and traitors. This make history a sensitive subject in places where political leaders are not sure of their legitimacy.
8. To understand the level of development at different stages of human development.
9. It helps us learn about technological transformations, for example primitive livelihood to advanced livelihood (using of stones and wood tools to iron tools)

refers to the avenues that can be used to get historical information. It requires an inter-disciplinary approach in order to get the actual historical information. Replying on a single source of history evidence will not satisfy your curiosity as one source links you to the other. It is therefore clear that no single source of history can stand on its own.

Therefore, the following are sources of history/historical knowledge:

1. Oral tradition
2. Historical sites
3. Written records/documents
4. Archives
5. Museums
6. Archeology
7. Anthropology
8. Linguistics

ORAL TRADITION This involves the passing information by word of mouth through talking and listening. Oral tradition passing historical information into two ways, through culture practices like art, music, religion, riddles, songs, proverbs, superstition, poems and stories, and narration of past events.

1. It preserves historical information of society.
2. It collects and pass historical information between generations in the society.
3. It helps researchers in data collection.

1. It preserve and reveal historical information which are not recorded.
2. Both illiterate and literate people can obtain historical information.
3. Within oral tradition, there are warning and teachings.
4. Is the easiest and cheapest method of obtaining information.
5. It is more live source, since it involves physical interaction.

1. It need much attention and power of memory.
2. Storyteller can give false information.
3. Narration of historical events are centered to those people of status i.e. Kings, Queens, Chief. White talking little about common society.
4. There is language problems when narrator use vernacular language.
5. It is difficult to distinguish what is real and what is imaginary information.
6. Translation is very difficult because some languages are no longer in existence.