Historical Research Letter 

About: Historical Research Letter is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Population & Politics. It has an ISSN identifier of 2224-3178. Over the lifetime, 162 publications have been published receiving 255 citations.

Oral Tradition as a Reliable Source of Historical Writing: Arguments for and Against and Implications for Historical Writing in Education

Abstract: Oral tradition is a reliable source of historical writing. This paper therefore examined oral tradition as a reliable source of historical writing: arguments for and against and implications for historical writing in education. To do this, efforts were made to define the concept of oral tradition, arguments for the use of oral tradition as a reliable source of historical writing, arguments against and implications for historical writing in education. It was therefore concluded that oral tradition can be used in historical writing in education. However, the historian must be cautious of some factors, such as the need to be patient to go to the root of the oral tradition in order to ensure that the facts collected and gathered are authentic and genuine. Keywords: Oral Tradition, History, Historical writing, historian of education, implications

Banking Reforms and the Nigerian Economy, 1990 - 2007.

Abstract: The resultant effect of financial liberalization opened up the Nigerian economy to global financial markets, which has generated increasing apprehension in the economy and has exposed the fragility and vulnerability of her financial system. It is therefore imperative for the Central Bank of Nigeria to introduce measures that will reduce the exposure and enhance the stability of the nation’s financial system. A defensive measure that will strengthen the existing banks and put the new ones on a firm base is needed. This led to the introduction of a new capital base of N 25 billion. The study employed secondary data obtained from bank journals, CBN annual reports, NDIC annual reports and magazines. Also thermatic method was adopted in writing this essay. In conclusion, the study notes the need to bolster reforms through the deliberate adoption of policies that would ensure convergence of domestic and international rates of return on financial market investments.

Smock Fashion Culture in Ghana's Dress Identity-Making

Abstract: This paper delves into the historical origin, the types of smocks and the notion of colours that characterize smock production in Northern Ghana. It uncovers the philosophical connotations of its usage and the attendant aesthetical powers of an indigenous cloth that served in one sense as a silent metaphorical unifier between northern and southern part of Ghana and in other sense to signal the return to self-governance as a result of its usage and appearance in a turning point of Ghana’s independence struggle. The article uses historical narrative and visual analytic approaches. Keywords: Smock, identity-making, fashion, dress, indigenous cloth

Evolution of Nigerian Diaspora in Britain: Issues, Perspectives, and a Continuing Debate

Abstract: This paper attempts a critical analysis of some key issues about Africa and the specific case of migration amongst Nigerians. It proceeds from the position that the presence of Africans and Nigerians in the West historically originates from their slavery and slave trade experiences. The dispersal evolves into discussions on the African diaspora. Even then, scholars are still trying to find a common ground to describe it. Contending theories however agree on the usual dispersals from continental Africa as a reference point for conceptualising migration amongst them. The paper begins by overviewing the dispersion of Africans through forced migration. It then examines how the experience and subsequent migration and resettlement occurrences progress into debates on African diaspora. It locates the Nigerian case as a specific picture of the changes. In considering the concept of the African diaspora, the section situates competing arguments on what it should mean, or how to define it. The essence is to establish the moving people within space and time, and establish how their presence in Britain came about.

A Historical Review of Diseases and Disease Prevention in Gold Coast: A Focus on Asante (1900-1957)

Abstract: The history of any community cannot be written without paying attention to the issues that shaped the lives of the people. One of the pertinent issues in history has been disease infestation and how it has been prevented or cured. From the earliest time, man has faced the challenge of meeting his health needs. The constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “the state of physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. [1] This definition underlines health as an integral part of what a people need in order to realize their full potential and derive satisfaction from life. Oral traditions have shown that the people of Kumase and Asante as a whole faced the challenge of providing health care from very early times. In fact, all humans have in one way or the other shown resilience in fighting anything that has the potential of threatening their existence including diseases. [1] D. Longley, Health Care Constitutions , (London: Cavendish Publishing Ltd, 1996) 1