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This study describes the analyses of derivational affixes in Ọgba Language. It particularly examines the derivational operations (role) of affixes in the Language. It shows how certain grammatical ideas or notions like reduplication, prefixation and suffixation, interfixation, prefix and miscellaneous coinages and derivative tone are marked by affixes in Ọgba. Some of the derivative affixes (morphemes) in the language used to arrive at this are as follow: ẹ, a, I, o, ọ, u, m, n marking different coinages. Other linguistics processes affected by morphological operations in the language include the derivation of the noun and verb with interfix; coping the consonant of the verb root to construct partial reduplication and tone as derivative morphemes. We believe that this research work would be significant in the development of the Ọgba language, and most pertinently, increase the zeal for the preservation of the language in Rivers State and Nigeria in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, the practice of traditional medicine in Africa has undergone many stages. Until recently, this was a form of community assistance. The shaman and herbalists were duly part and parcel of the communal system where everyone was his brother's keeper. No service provider ordinarily made money from another. To an extent, the knowledge of plants roots and herbs and their medicinal potencies were for the use of community members. In the course of time, specialists emerged in the practice and some individuals started specializing and making practice a means of livelihood. This paper focuses on the pressure, space and identity crises which confronted the practice of traditional medicine in Ogba, Gokana Ikwerre and Degema traditions. It observed that following the upgrading of traditional medicine from a community service to a professional calling, practitioners now commercialise their service thus, are faced with the challenge of space and identity. This article adopted the complementary alternative medicine theory of sickness and healing by Eskinazi (2000) as the lens of this study. It employed the historical phenomenological approach in the discussion. The work observes that the competition for space and identity has exacted enormous pressure on the practice. It concludes that the guild of traditional medicine practitioners in Ogba, Gokana Degema and Ikwerre in conjunction with their counterpart in other parts of Africa should convoke a conference to discuss the issues and challenges in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colonial forest reservation in the Benin Division of southern Nigeria was remarkably extensive, with reserves taking up almost 65 per cent of the Division by 1937. This article explores both the various strategies employed by the colonial government in order to bring about large scale reservation and the role of reservation in changing land politics. In doing so, it provides nuanced insights into the interaction between the colonial government and local rulers under indirect rule. It shows that both Oba Eweka II (1914-33) and Oba Akenzua II (1933-79) supported reservation for strategic reasons, but also highlights the government's many underhand tactics in dealing with the Obas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]