THE RESCUE ROLE OF ARAB HISTORIOGRAPHY ON NATIONALIST HISTORIOGRAPHY

Abstract

This paper borders on the role of Arab historiography in promoting Nationalist historiography. Its objective is to debunk imperial postulations on African history and represent Arab historiography as a significant contributor to nationalist historiography. The paper thoroughly examines Arab historiography with respect to the Science of Isnad (Chain of Transmission) and its objectivity, thereby analysing the authenticity of narrations and their classification as either ‘sound’ or ‘weak’.  The works of some Arab historians, the chief of whom were Al-Mas’udi, Ibn Haukal, Al-Bakri, Al-Idrisi, Yaqut, Ibn Batuta and Ibn Khaldun, their sources, faults and prospects are critically analysed. Its findings include the level of accuracy in their works; links between Arab historiography and Oral Tradition; relevance of Arab historiography to the birth and development of modern historiography. The paper appraises Nationalist historiography, its challenges and recommends possible ways for its advancement and sustenance. The paper’s adopted methodology is an analytical reinterpretation of existing documents. It concludes that Arab historiography plays a pivotal role in the genuine reconstruction of the African past.