The Northern Tribes of Nigeria: an Ethnographical Account of the Northern Provinces of Nigeria, together with a Report on the 1921 Decennial Census

Abstract

THE facts embodied in this book were for the most part collected during the census of 1921, though they have very little to do with the ideas that are commonly attached to the word ‘census,’ for the officers concerned were encouraged to combine with their statistical work as much ethnological investigation as was possible. Mr. Meek thus had an immense amount of territory to cover, and this presumably is the reason for the somewhat scrappy quality of much of the work, as well as the difficult and even illogical arrangement of the chapters. This said, there is little but praise for the book, which brings a large number of new facts before the anthropologist for comparative use, and may for years be trusted to act as a dictionary which should be put in the hands of every officer in Northern Nigeria. The Northern Tribes of Nigeria: an Ethnographical Account of the Northern Provinces of Nigeria, together with a Report on the 1921 Decennial Census. By C. K. Meek. Vol. 1. Pp. xviii + 312 + 61 plates. Vol.2. Pp. viii + 277 + 25 plates. (London: Oxford University Press, 1925.) 36s. net.