ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF COLONIALISM ON DATA GOVERNANCE INIGBO COMMUNITIES: LESSONS FOR INDIGENOUS DATA SOVEREIGNTY

Abstract

This study performed a historical-analytical investigation into the lineage of datagovernance in Igboland, Nigeria, utilising Postcolonial Theory and the Indigenous DataSovereignty (IDS) framework. The research found that pre-colonial Igbo society employeda robust, decentralised system of communal data governance, vested in traditionalinstitutions like the Ndichie (Council of Elders) and Umuada (Women's Associations).British colonial rule fundamentally fractured this structure by imposing centralised,extractive data practices (e.g., censuses and tax registers) that prioritised externaladministrative control and economic exploitation. The findings discovered that thiscolonial rupture created a lasting legacy that now manifests in modern digital colonialism.Crucially, the study identified that pre-colonial Igbo principles of collective control andethical stewardship offered an endogenous blueprint for contemporary IDS, aligningdirectly with the CARE Principles (Carroll et al., 2020). The paper argues that taking backcontrol of data is a key part of decolonisation, giving Indigenous communities a foundationto revive traditional governance systems as modern, responsible data managers.