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ABSTRACT
Numerous works
exist on pre-colonial markets in Igalaland and elsewhere. However the focus has
often been on its history, structure and organization. This study focuses on
the linkage between pre-colonial markets and economic development, especially
in agriculture, traditional industries and transportation. Markets contributed
immensely to the economic development of pre-colonial Igalaland. Therefore,
there is the need to bring to limelight the significance of markets to the
economy of pre-colonial Igalaland. However, it has been observed over time that
the presence and emergence of traditional markets in Igalaland encouraged the
people to participate in not only the exchange of goods, but also exchange of
ideas through inter-group relations that encouraged innovations. This did not
just increase the fortunes of the people, but delivered a high standard of
living. Thus, promoting economic development in Igalaland. Therefore, this
historical research is undertaken to link markets to economic development in
pre-colonial Igalaland. The study relied on oral sources, relevant books and
journals as well as internet materials. These were carefully studied and
analyzed fomr the historical perspective.
CHAPTER ONE
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The Igalaland covers a territory of about 1,350 square
meters (13,150square kilometers), and extends from about 7030N
to 80N and 60 150E to 80N. The bulk
of the territory lies within the lower Niger. It is
bounded by the River Niger in the west, and the River Benue in the north. Along
the Niger, Igalaland begins at Adamugu north of Onitsha, and continues up to
the confluence from where it protrudes lineally north-east wards along the
Benue terminating at Amagede in the Igala-Agatu boundary. Its eastern boundary
is demarcated by the Idoma polities of Onyagede and Otukpa and northern Nsukka
area of Eteh, Enugu-Ezike, Edem, Uvuru, Adan and Ogurugu along the banks of
Anambra river.1
Pre-colonial Igala economy was mainly
agrarian like every other pre-colonial African society. In every society,
economic activities of the people have been greatly influenced by environment
and climate. Of all human activities in Igalaland, agriculture remained the
most prominent and indeed the mainstay of the economy. The well watered
environment coupled with the rich alluvial soil gave rise to the farming of
variety of crops, ensuring the availability of surplus that gradually helped in
promoting trade and commercial activities in the land by which surpluses were
disposed of. Trade and economic activities existed among African communities
within and across regions and ecological zones from about 5000B.C.2
The surplus produce enabled some groups in Igalaland
to divorce themselves from basic food production to other economic activities
ranging from fishing, weaving, dyeing, canoe building and animal husbandry. Just
as large numbers of people were farmers and craftsmen, so there were traders
and merchants who were engaged in local and inter-communal trade thus promoting
inter trade dependence among the various professions.3In addition,
ecological differences meant that some commodities which would be produced in
one zone may not thrive in another.4Thus, there was the need for
trade and other commercial activities in Nigeria, and Igalaland in particular.
Therefore, this study examines the
significant contributions of market to the economic development of pre-colonial
Igalaland.
1.2
STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
There are many literatures on the political,
socio-cultural, economic and religious activities of many African communities,
including Igalaland. Examples include T. Falola, "Trade and Markets in the
Pre-colonial Economy", A. G. Hopkins, "An Economic History of West
Africa", P. E. Okwoli, "A Short history of Igala" amongst others.
These works have failed to link trade and markets to economic development in
pre-colonial Igalaland. Therefore, this problem identified by the researcher
was the basic factor that necessitated this research.
1.3 AIM AND
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The study is aimed at linking trade and markets to
economic development in pre-colonial Igalaland. It explains how trade and
markets engendered economic development in Igalaland, by evaluating the
significance of market to the economic development of pre-colonial Igalaland.
It also examines the features, dynamics and interplay of trade and markets in
the various sectors of pre-colonial economy of Igalaland.
This research also intends to correct certain
Euro-centric misconceptions that seem to portray pre-colonial Igala economy as
static and primitive and with available record to show how the Igala society
were economically dynamic with contributions of market to its development
through their various economic enterprises. The study is also being carried out
to open further avenues for further researches on the pre-colonial economy of
Igalaland, thereby enriching the literature on Igala economy.
It is the objective of this research to produce an
academic document that will link economic development of pre-colonial Igalaland
with trade and markets. It also contributes not only to the study of
pre-colonial Igala history but also to knowledge.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
This study tries to stress the importance of market to
economic development in the pre-colonial Igalaland and to bring to lime light
the economy of Igalaland which has been relatively neglected. This work could
serve as a reference source for further historical investigation on the history
of Igalaland and compliment other existing literatures of economic history of
pre-colonial Igalaland.
1.5 SCOPE
AND LIMITATIONS
This research work covers the pre-colonial period in
Igalaland which refers to the period from the earliest time to 1900.Igalaland
in this context includes areas such as Dekina, Ankpa, Idah, Ibaji, Lokoja,
Olamaboro, Igalamela/Odolu and Omala.
In the process of carrying out the research work,
there were some problems the researcher encountered which limited the research
study. They include, paucity of literatures, which made it tasking for the
researcher as the topic deals directly with the local history of the people
during the pre-colonial period. Also some parts of thereof study was not
covered resulting from a number of factors; inaccessibility of some areas at
all times, for example the Ibaji area is inaccessible in the raining season,
and also since the research deals with pre-colonial markets, only areas where
this markets were located was researched with the exception of Gbagana market
because of the crisis that was ongoing at the time of the research.
1.6 METHODOLOGY
Primary and secondary sources were employed for the
execution of the research. The primary sources are drawn from oral interviews conducted
with key personalities and groups, reports from people engaged in trading activities
such as market men and women to help complement
the few available written materials while the secondary sources include
relevant books and journal articles, seminar papers, and the internet.
Both thematic and chronological method was employed in
this research work. The thematic is to make the work more organized and easier for people to understand while chronological method
enables the researcher organize overtime the origin and development of the study.
1.7 LITERATURE
REVIEW
In order to get a proper understanding of the history
of markets and economic development in pre-colonial Igalaland, it is necessary
to consult some works related to the topic under study. Literatures have been a
great source of documenting history. The combined effects of the available
information gathered by these literatures have proved altogether indispensable
in the reconstruction of this work and would be relevant to historical studies
and knowledge.
Some of the literatures include O .N. Njoku's 'Economic History of Nigeria in the 19th
and 20th century'. The author articulated clearly that the
different and diverse geographical locations were able to engage in mutual and
at times hostile inter-group relations. The centrality of Nigeria’s economic
history during the pre-colonial period was couched on agriculture, trade,
indigenous arts and crafts, among others. The 20th century colonial
period witnessed the institutionalization of colonial administrative policies,
development of economic infrastructure like waterways, railways, road
transport, air transport, currency, banking, among others. The work is found to
be of great relevance to this study though much focus was not given to
Igalaland but his highly critical reactions to aspects of Nigeria’s economic
experiences have inspired some areas of this study.5
Walter Rodney in his book provided a general and
analytical discussion of ‘How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’. The author
debunked the notion that there was no meaningful development in Africa prior to
the advent of European colonialism. He therefore, rested his argument by
stating that development occurred at various stages in the history of a given
society. Walter discussed extensively how the foundation of African economic,
social, cultural and political systems were built, operated and functioned,
colonial policies such as taxation, forced labor, imposition of warrant chiefs,
introduction of alien currency, railways and marketing boards aided the
thwarting, truncating and contributed greatly in the underdevelopment of
Africa. This work, to a large extent, contributed greatly to this research work
as it serves as an eye-opener to the fact that pre-colonial Igalaland was not
economically dormant, there were economic activities which took place overtime
and this led to the foundation of the present day economic development in
Igalaland.6
In an examination of the economy of West Africa from
the 15th century to the 20th century by A. G. Hopkins in
his book ‘An Economic History of West
Africa’ attempts to dispel myths and popular conceptions dominating West
African economic history. The author studies the relationship between
merchants, farmers and local villages to reveal how they relied on a vast
network incorporating elaborate systems of debts, capital and forms of currency.
Throughout his analysis, Hopkins dispels myths about primitive and backward
economy providing a firm understanding of the indigenous structures of trade
and production, dismissing the idea that colonial rulers started with a static,
subsistence economy and brought about a transformation which was almost as
impressive as that once achieved with the loaves and the fishes. His work
successfully directs attention away from the adventures and triumphs of great
leaders but fails to present the history through the perspective of majority of
Africans. This work presents a positive starting point for this research work.7
In the words of G. O. Ogunremi, ‘No aspect of the
economic history of West Africa can be properly understood without a grasp of
the traditional economy in the pre-colonial era'. Thus agriculture was
generally the mainstay of West African economic activity long before the coming
of the Europeans. In other words, pre-colonial West African communities,
Igalaland inclusive, were mainly engaged in agriculture as the basic economic
activity of the people.8
Toyin Falola in his work 'Trade and Markets in pre-colonial Economy' stated that one
remarkable feature of West African agricultural system was that, it operated
far above the subsistence level, making the economy capable of generating
surpluses. This partly explains why trade and markets formed integral parts of
the West African indigenous economy. Thus, communities including Igalaland were
interdependent on each other's economy be it a town, village, or a clan.
Division of labor and specialization in economic functions encouraged the need
for markets and trade. The farmers, tool makers and other professionals had to
enter into inter group relationship, farmers needed the tools and tool makers
needed food. The Indispensability of trade and markets encouraged the need to
develop the institutions which could facilitate commerce.9
According to P. E. Okwoli in his work
'A short history of Igala', the Igala kingdom had developed a
self-sustaining productive economic system anchored upon agriculture and
indigenous crafts such as blacksmithing, iron smelting, indigenous medical
system coupled with inter-group relations with her neighbours. The locational
and geographical differences led to market variations in the goods produced.
Thus, economic development in pre-colonial period. This is however a milestone
in exposing the history of pre-colonial Igala economy and would be of great
help to the research study.10
The pre-colonial economy of Igalaland was extensively
discussed by M. S. Abdulkadir in his work 'An Economic History of Igalaland,
central Nigeria'. The author examined how economic activities practiced in
Igalaland such as agriculture, trade, indigenous arts and crafts, labour
organization and markets affected the pre-colonial economy of Igalaland. And how
it led to considerable inter-regional, interdependence and specialization which
benefited the pre-colonial economy of Igalaland. This work serves as a
background to this study.11
ENDNOTES
1.
E. O. Akubor, ‘Trade and Commerce along the Niger’ Developing
country studies, Vol. 4, no. 22, 2014, pp. 73-79
2.
T. Falola, 'Trade and Markets in Pre-colonial Economy'. In G.
O. Ogunremi and E. K. Faluyi eds. An Economic History of West Africa since
1750, Lagos; First Academic
Publishers, 1996, p. 61.
3.
T. Falola, 'Trade and markets in the Pre-colonial
Economy', p.62.
4.
P. T. Zeleza, A Modern History of Africa, cited in
Idoko Idris, 'Pre-colonial Markets and Economic Development of Igalaland' in
Journal of African Politics and Society. Vol. 3, No. 2, p48.
5.
O. N. Njoku, 'Economic History of Nigeria in the 19th and
20th centuries'. Enugu: Magnet Business Enterprises, 2001, pp. 2-19.
6.
Walter Rodney, 'How Europe underdeveloped Africa'. Nigeria: Panaf Press, 2009, p. 36.
7.
A. G. Hopkins, 'An Economic History of West Africa'. London:
Long man, 1973, p. 28.
8.
G. O. Ogunremi, 'Economic History of West Africa since
1750'. Lagos: First Academic Publishers, 1996. pp. 14-27.
9.
T. Falola, 'Trade and Markets in Pre-colonial Igalaland'
pp.61-70.
10.
P. E. Okwoli, 'A
Short History of Igala' Illorin: Maitanmi Publishers, 1973, pp. 10-15.
11.
M. S. Abdulkadir, 'An
Economic History of Igalaland: Central Nigeria' 1986-1939. Zaria: A.B.U
Press, 2014, pp. 17-50.