Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T21:29:57.716Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Long-Distance Trade and States in the Niger Delta*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2009

E. J. Alagoa
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

European trade in slaves from at least the seventeenth century, and in palm oil during the nineteenth century, has become established as a crucial factor in the development of states in the Niger Delta. However, there is already a dangerous tendency to see these external factors as the only forces responsible for the creation of states in the area. Oral traditional evidence is marshalled to show that internal long-distance trade with these states as focal points existed before European trade. Internal long-distance trade consisted of (i) a north-to-south axis mainly for the supply to the states of agricultural produce, for which salt and fish were exchanged; and (ii) an east-to-west axis between these states and places as far west as Lagos and the Ijebu country for trade in specialist goods produced in various localities.

It is therefore stressed that the discussion of the admittedly great influence of European trade on the internal development of states in the Niger Delta needs to be qualified by an understanding of the prior existence of these states in some form, and of the internal long-distance trade that might have exercised similar great influence in the distant past.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of African History , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , July 1970 , pp. 319 - 329
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1970

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Jones, G. I., The Trading States of the Niger Delta (London, 1963);Google ScholarHorton, R., ‘From fishing village to city-state: a social history of New Calabar’, in Douglas, M. and Kaberry, P. M. (eds.), Man in Africa (London, 1969).Google Scholar

2 Jones, G. I., The Trading States;Google ScholarHorton, R., ‘From fishing village to city-state…’ Dike, K. O., Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta 1830–1885 (London, 1956).Google Scholar

3 Ryder, A. F. C., ‘Dutch trade on the Nigerian coast during the seventeenth century’, Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, III, no. 2 (1965).Google Scholar

4 Kimble, G. H. T. (trans.), Esmeraldo de Situ Orbis by Duarte Pacheco Pereira (London, 1937), 128.Google Scholar

5 Lloyd, P. C., The Itsekiri (London, 1957), p. 179; Yeiméẹlẹ Sọnọmi, fifty-five years, of Iduwini, on my tape IAS II, recorded at Burutu on 19 Mar. 1967;Google ScholarHook, R. J., ‘The Ogula Clan’ (unpublished Intelligence Report, 1930), 8.Google Scholar

6 Mr Yalagha, J. T., an Iduwini undergraduate at Ibadan University.Google Scholar

7 Ryder, A. F. C., ‘An early Portuguese trading voyage to the Forcados River’, J.H.S.N. I, no. 4 (1959), 301;Google Scholar but see also his Benin and the Europeans (London, 1969), 58.Google Scholar

8 Ryder, A. F. C., ‘Missionary activity in the kingdom of Warri to the early nineteenth century’, J.H.S.N. II, no. 1 (1960), 1–2.Google Scholar

9 Alagoa, E. J., The Small Brave City-State: A History of Nembe-Brass in the Niger Delta (Madison and Ibadan, 1964), 50–1.Google Scholar

10 Owolo, Yousụọ, 41 years, priest, on tapes UW 11/12, at Nembe, on 22 08 1964.Google ScholarAlagoa, E. J., ‘Idu: A creator festival at Okpoma (Brass) in the Niger Delta’, Africa, XXXIV, no. 1 (1964),1–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

11 Michael, Tepowa, 58 years, of Ljama on tape UW 10, 19 03 1964; and Ḅaratụprị, Aaron, 45 years, priest of Oruokolo, tape UW 10, 20 02 1964.Google Scholar

12 Kimble, G. H. T., Esmeraldo de situ orbis, 132.Google Scholar

13 Capt., John Adams, Sketches Taken during Ten Voyages to Africa Between the Years 1786 and 1800 (London, n.d.), 35.Google Scholar

14 The viability of this trade-route was demonstrated at the outbreak of the recent Nigerian crisis. With the cessation of supplies from the Ibo hinterland, the peoples of the Rivers State reopened the creek routes to Warri and Lagos.

15 Agbọkẹye, Azuzu, 72 years, of Olodiama, Benin Division, tape IAS 13, 23 05 1967.Google Scholar

16 The timber riches of the area are exemplified by the establishment of a factory at Inikorogha among the Olodiama by African Plywood and Timber (A.P. & T) Ltd. of Nigeria.

17 For Arogbo traditions: Thompson, Ekpuruke, 65 years, tape IAS I, 19 07 1966;Google Scholar and for Olodiama: A. Azuzu, 72 years. Central Delta Ịjọ traditions of the Apọị were recorded for me by Mr Alamene, J. T. from Koluamawei Edu, 12 08 1968, and from Funfun Okiakpe of Gbaran town.Google Scholar

18 Richard, and John, Lander, Journal of an Expedition to Explore the Course and Termination of the Niger (London, 1832), 239–40.Google Scholar

19 Madam Ḅiorigha Feḅọ, 86 years, of Ọkpọma, Nembe, tape UW 7, 1 Feburary 1964. Not all parts of the red mangrove tree were used. The most desirable parts were the long dart-like seeds and, secondly, the prop roots. These were burnt to ashes. The ashes were then put into baskets, and clean water was strained through these. This water was then evaporated in the Itsekiri pots, leaving salt behind.

20 Adams, , Sketches, 35. Pans made out of aluminium sheets were used to evaporate sea water during the Second World War and recently during the Nigerian war.Google Scholar

21 Alamene, J. T. of Fụrụpa, Ḅassan, tape UW 15/16, 5 04 1964.Google Scholar

22 Oweh, G. O., ‘Salt- and soap-making in Warn Province’, Nigeria, no. 13 (1938), 70–1.Google Scholar

23 Adams, , Sketches, 32. ‘Pawn’ seems to refer to a cake of salt.Google Scholar

24 Baikie, W. B., Narrative of an Exploring Voyage up the Rivers Kworra and Binue…in 1854 (London, 1856), 317.Google Scholar

25 Madam Ọrọbi Tẹịnmọ, 70+ years, Oproza, Gbaramatu, tape IAS 26, 19 01 1968.Google Scholar

26 Chief Captain Pẹrẹsuo, I., 80 years, of Nembe, tape UW I, 11 01 1964.Google Scholar

27 Capt., John Adams, Sketches Taken during Ten Years, 35.Google Scholar

28 David, Ojowuro, 50 years, and others, of Ofiniama, Egbema, tape IAS 27, 21 01 1968.Google Scholar

29 Tiemo, G. O. E., Egbema-Ịjọ Customs and Traditions (Ibadan, Institute of African Studies, 1968), 4.Google Scholar

30 Lloyd, P. C., ‘Osifekunde of Ijebu’ in Curtin, P. D., Africa Remembered (Madison and Ibadan, 1967), 228. Prof. I. A. Akinjogbin of the University of Ife says the town of Imushin near Ijebu Ode is still known locally as Idoko, as is the surrounding country.Google Scholar

31 Ryder, A. F. C., ‘Dutch trade on the Nigerian coast during the seventeenth century’, J.H.S.N. III, no. 2 (1965), 197–8.Google Scholar

32 Kay, Williamson, ‘Some food plant names in the Niger Delta’, International Journal of American Linguistics; One Kolokuma (Central Delta) example actually calls the plant ‘Benin yam’.Google Scholar

32 John, Barbot, Description of North and South Guinea (Paris, 1732), 377;Google ScholarJones, W. O., Manioc in Africa (Stanford, 1959).Google Scholar

34 Robin, Horton, ‘Notes on recent finds of brasswork in the Niger Delta’, Odu, II, no. I (1965), 77–9.Google Scholar