History of Agila Economy 1700 – 1900 Adotse Onoja Copy Right: Adotse Onoja 07067418478 Published By: Suncob Press 2012 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, otherwise without the prior permission of the author. ISBN: 978-2691-18-6 ABOUT THE BOOK The economy of every society is the center piece of its survival. Therefore, an understanding of a society’s economy goes a long way in exploring and giving understanding of her other spheres of existence. A researched knowledge of the economy of a society provides a tool for a prospective positive growth of that society. The book History of Agila Economy 1700 – 1900 , speaks volume of the economic activities and behaviour of the Agila people. These economic activities were identified particularly in agriculture, trade, crafts and industry. This book also covers the mode of production, geography and peopling of Agila. The period used in this book covers from the settlement period of the Agila people, through their colonization and into the most contemporary period. Onoja Adotse is from Benue State. A graduate of the Department of History, Benue State University. As a student, he held different responsibilities in various students’ organization. He is the author of Becoming a Genius (2011). ISBN 978-2691-18-6 Dedication: Chief Dr. Mike Okibe Onoja Content Section One Introduction, Geography, Peopling of Agila Chapter One Introduction Chapter Two Geography and Peopling of Agila Section Two Agila Economy during the Pre-Colonial Period 1700 – 1800 Chapter Three Mode of Production, Labour System and Land Use System in Pre-Colonial Agila Economy Chapter Four Economic Activities Section Three Agila Economy during the Colonial and Post-Colonial Period 1800-1900 Chapter Five Agila Economy Chapter Six Post-Colonial Agila Economy Bibliography FOREWORD This part of the globe is placed at a low stratum of economic development. It therefore becomes a clamoring issue to determine the prospect of her “economic take off”, a “take off” that will excel, in a systematic form of putting into consideration our diverse socio-cultural arrangement. In this system, the smallest part is capable in a way of determining success for the whole. Our individual societies, villages and communities are the smallest part. They become the units of this system for a quick realizable economic growth for all. They should be studied and used as unit of analysis. As factually observed by historians, there is a relationship between the past and the present which largely determines the future when its knowledge are captured and utilized. This is what the author of this book succinctly portrayed. This book takes into consideration the need for a prospective economic plan using the knowledge and understanding of past economic behaviour of small unit of the society of men. The book makes an assessment of the history of rural Agila economy from the 1700 period to the 1900 period. Agila society has a near death of historical documented materials. This is particular with the economy which had never been reflected in a document form. The few documents on her are socio-political and cultural history. Nonetheless, the author makes extensive use of oral information that was handed down from generations as well as few unpublished and scanty text on the economy of the people. This is also supported with archival information. The author discussed the history of Agila economy within the mentioned period of time which cuts across settlement of Agila society to the contemporary period. The contents of this economy as discussed are on agriculture, trade, crafts and industry. The book also discusses its challenges and prospects particularly of the contemporary period. In addition, the author looked at the origin, migration and settlement, the geography as well as the socio-political organization of the Agila people. Suffix to conclude that economy the foundation of all societal development is the main discuss of this book. Its knowledge particularly its behaviour from the onset of a society, becomes a compass for her development. The Agila society now with a researched material on her economy, now has a tool to work on for her development. This book also is a handy tool for the government, well- meaning organizations, individuals and institutions of higher learning that would want to delve into further research on any pre-colonial economy of a rural African society. The issue of colonization and development has always remained a debatable topic in political economy. That is weather the introduced global market by colonialism explains the reason for developing economic situation in this part of the world or it helped it to grow. Whatever the argument, there is an inter relationship and the author of this book proves to the best of his knowledge that before the advent of colonial market system, the African rural societies had their well-defined and sustaining socio-economic order. Otse Otokpa (Hon) PREFACE This book finds its cause in the need to contribute to the economic development of Agila with the provision of her economic history. I consider this approach of providing a history of the issue as one of the best primary approaches towards the prosperity and development of the society. It finds it root in my B. A project titled the Origin and Development of Agila Economy during the Pre-Colonial Period. This work was supervised by the Head of Department, History, Benue State University, Markurdi, Prof. Mike O. Odeh. This book is now expanded to include the colonial and the post-colonial period of the Agila people. Thus, it is divided into three parts. In the first part I traced the origin, migration and settlement of the Agila people as well as their geography and peopling. In the second part of this book, I discussed the pre- colonial economy of the Agila people. Finally, the third part deals with the colonial and post-colonial economy of the Agila people. This should be considered a start as the economy of other rural and small societies should be researched into and can be used as a unit of analysis. Much work is indeed needed on this level by researchers who appear to neglect it. I accept responsibility for the research and analysis. I am nevertheless greatly indebted to Prof. Mike O. Odeh of History Department, Benue State University, for haven read and constructively criticized my B.A work in its various stages. This has given me the foundation for academic works as well as the perseverance and research methodology in history. To Dr. S. I. Ugbegili who read every line and made the necessary corrections thereby giving this book a look of a researched history work. I am also indebted to Hon. Otse Otokpa who not only proof read the factual context of it. My most profound gratitude goes to all my lecturers of the Department of History, Benue State University, particularly Prof. Armstrong Adejo, Prof. Okpe Okpe jnr., Dr. C.S Orngu and Dr. Dzrker. Finally, to my loving mother, you are my first teacher. Words are not enough to mention my gratitude for sending me to school at the age of one and for teaching me letter writing at the age of six. Everything good about me comes from you. Onoja Adotse CHAPTER ONE Introduction The economy of every society is the center piece of its survival. Therefore, an extensive understanding of a society’s economy goes a long way in explaining and giving understanding of her other spheres of existence. The history of African economy as it has developed from the pre-colonial period has suffered great negligence when compared to the attention enjoyed by her other aspect of history; the political, cultural and social aspect of history. 1 It therefore appears that, there is the need for Africans and economic historians, particularly of Afrocentric mind, to reconstruct the history of African economy from the pre-colonial period. This could be done on the different African societies then the issues there within can be harmonized. Through that, the prospect of making positive progress in African economy can be determined. In essence, the factual knowledge of African economic history would certainly position the contemporary African mind on what, how and where had gone wrong in African development. This book concerns itself with the history of Agila economy from the 18 th century to the 20 th century. It discusses their mode of production, their land use system and their sources of labour. It also discusses their economic activities during this period which are majorly agriculture, trade, craft and industry. The definition of the term history has often proven difficult. It is often discussed that of all the fields of humanity, history has proven to be the most difficult to be given a generally acceptable definition. In other words there is no consensus as to the definition of history. In attempting to give a universally acceptable definition, scholars have often met with challenges of either world view or their position in time. However, scholars through the ages, have continued attempts to defining history in a universally acceptable term despite the mentioned challenges. History is a Greek derivation like most terminologies in academics. It is derived from historie which means inquiry, research and investigation. In this situation, history then becomes a process independent of the individual and has to do with the actual event that occurred that remains objective. Collingwood sees history as the mutual relationship between the past and what the historian thinks about it. 2 Another scholar, P.L Gardinner sees history as those activities that make up the past and how the historian goes about accounting for them. 3 Carr sees history as the continuous process of interaction between a historian and his fact and the unending dialogue between the present and the past. 4 An assessment of the above definitions of history by scholars have one thing in common which can be agreed should form the basis of all attempts at the definition of history. These are the past and the duty of the historian. Therefore, history can be defined as past events and activities of men which end result have been change and how the historians goes about investigating and presenting it. Economy is concerned with how men and women and women, rich and poor, free and servile, elite and commoner go about to make a living, that is organizing and exploiting resources available to them. 5 Economy can be seen as the careful management of resources and also entails the entails the activities engaged to make a living. Pre-colonial period as used in this book refers to the period before European infiltration and influence over the Agila society. This period can be referred to as the period before European contact. In Nigeria, this was a period when she existed in empires and kingdoms, villages and clans until European infiltration and colonization. Colonial period in this book refers to the period of European influence over the Agila people in their society. This period in the Nigeria phenomena was when European influence and domination began. While post-colonial as used in this book refers to the period when the Agila society became an independent society of direct European influence. The economy of a society is the determinant of her formation and existence. The knowledge of the economy is consequently a prospective tool towards the development of such society. However, the study of the economy of the Agila society has become a neglected aspect in the reconstruction of her history by scholars as well as journalist that writes on the society. This book identifies the challenge of undocumented history of the Agila society. Holding to this challenge, this book is aimed at researching into the development of Agila economic history. It makes a research into how the Agila people have developed and used their available resources for the satisfaction of their needs and wants. This book also aims at studying the development of an economic relationship between the Agila society and her neigbouring societies of the Igbo group and her other Idoma counterparts. Finally, it is aimed at revealing the relationship between Agila economy and her social, political, statutory organization as well as ideologies. The book covers the economy of Agila from the 18 th to the 20 th century. This period covers the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial period of Agila economy. This book beginning from the pre-colonial period is due to the importance attached to the knowledge of how the economy of the Agila people has evolved and developed before colonial influence. The colonial and post- colonial aspect of this book will give the knowledge of the people’s economy during this period respectively and finally, the organizing and exploiting of the resources available to them during these periods. Furthermore, it also covers knowledge of the Agila social and political organization as well as the geography and peopling. Consequently, this work is divided into three sections. Section one is the Agila people. This section gives a general introduction of the book in chapter one. The second chapter of this section is on the geographical location and people of Agila. Section two of this book deals with the pre-colonial Agila economy. It contains chapter three and four. Chapter three is on the mode of production, land use system and her labour system particularly during the pre-colonial period. Chapter four is on the major economic activities of the people. These economic activities are majorly in agriculture, craft and industry. This chapter also deals with trade during the pre-colonial period and the origin of the markets. Finally in section three is on the colonial and post-colonial economy of Agila. Chapter five in this section deals with colonial economy. Its sub topics include European infiltration into the Agila society, the colonial economy, and the introduction of cash economy as well as the impact of colonial economy on Agila society. It also deals with monetization and tax in Agila economy with the coming of colonialism. It further includes the concrete introduction of wage labour and the construction of roads and railways. Chapter six deals with post-colonial Agila economy; agriculture which is the major economic activity, trade, markets and trade routes. This last chapter also reveals challenges of contemporary Agila economy and recommendations. As at the writing of this book, there is obviously no literature on the Agila economy. Available literatures on the Agila society rather emphasizes on the socio-political evolution and organization of the people. The reason for this may not be farfetched as there has often been disagreement over socio-political order among the people. Otokpa Egwurube in his book Agila History; Issues and Perspectives presented a relatively comprehensive work on the social and political history of mentioned and he Agila society. He nonetheless mentioned only one economic activity of the people, agriculture, and it was without a detailed discussion. 6 Otokpa Unogwu in his book Agila Moment of Truth also wrote exhaustively on the political structure and dichotomy of the people. Furthermore, he gave a detail account of the origin and migration of the Agila people. But the book never talked on the economy of the people. The significance of this book lies in the discussion of the economic activities of the Agila society from the pre-colonial period. This makes it possible for the people of Agila to have a detailed knowledge of how the Agila society have evolved and developed their economy through the years. This book is also a contribution to the scarce resources on the Agila history and particularly on her economy. Finally, it will be of assistance to interested researchers in the knowledge of how the economy of the Agila society has helped in shaping her socio-political values and organization. Methodology being an essential tool for a factual historical reconstruction is employed in this book. The source materials used for this book are primary sources and secondary sources. The primary sources consist of information gotten from oral interviews and discussions relating to this work. Secondary sources are essentially the base for intellectual writing in contemporary scholarly work. They are information sourced from written materials for this book includes both published and unpublished works. It also includes archival materials as used in this book. Nonetheless, this work makes exhaustive use of primary sources most. This is because of the earlier mentioned challenge of no literature on Agila economy prior to this book. Notwithstanding, all facts are sourced, both oral and written were screened through the sieve of historical objectivity. ENDNOTES 1. The reason for this argument can be traced to the scholarly argument between the Eurocentric and the Afrocentric schools of thought regarding the African past. 2. R.G Collingwood, The Idea of History, London, Oxford University Press, 1997, p.9 3. P.C Gardinner, Philosophy of History, The New Encyclopedia Britainica Vol./8, Chicago, Cambridge University Press, pp. 961-965 4. E.H Carr, What is History, Middlesex, Penguin, 1964, p.30 5. O.N Njokwu, Economic History of Nigeria; 19 th and 20 th Century, Magnet Business Enterprise, Nigeria, 2001, p.2 6. O.B Egwurube, Agila History; Issues and Perspective , Brain Book, Markurdi, 2010, p.17 7. O. Unogwu, Agila Moment of Truth, Idoma Landmark Series, Otukpo, 2000 CHAPTER TWO Geography and Peopling of Agila Origin and Migration Agila Geographical Context Social and political organization Origin and Migration The Agila people like other societies have different traditions of origin that seek to explain how they originated. One of these traditions of origin posits that the Agila people to have originated from the ancient Kwararafa confederacy. The confederacy was an African kingdom that comprised of different ethnic groups existing in a confederation. It was located along the Benue River of present Nigeria. This account holds that the Agila people existed in a scattered arrangement among their Idoma counterparts. Another account holds that the Agila society originated from Igala, in present Kogi State. This account holds that the Agila people are descendants of Ago, an Igala prince. Going by this account, the children of Ago makes makes up ten out of the twelve clans in present Agila. These ten clans are Onwa, Osudu, Ogbilolo, Akpoge, Efoha, Okpakor, Okpatobo, Amneta, Onogwu and Otokilo-Ai Anidu. This second account on the origin of the Agila people in reference to a progenitor has another part of the Agila society to be descendants of Osilagama. His descendants make up the Osiroko and Efofu clans. There is also another account on the origin of the Agila people. This final tradition of origin holds that the Agila people are an extraction of Igbo stock. 2 There are different views to the migration of the Agila people. Some of these migration explanations are in correspondence to the different views on their origin. One of these migration accounts has it that Ago left Benin to escape unending dynastic disputes in that ancient empire. Unfortunately, he ran into another war in Idah. This war forced Ago to move further east of Idah, a period between c. 1625-1655. This move within this period finally brought him and his descendants into present day Agila. 3 Some commentators have tried to explain some ounderlining issues regarding Agila’s origin. Let us begin an assessment from Apa and the Kwararafa confederacy. They posit that the Agila people have a very distinct language particularly with the Igumale people and classified as semi-Bantu. 4 Taking a closer look, it is discovered that, almost in totality the Agila people has it words in similarity with the rest of her Idoma counterparts. The differences can majorly be found in pronunciation. For instance, where an Otupko man would pronounce ‘ch’, and Agila man would pronounce ‘ts’. This present differences in dialects found among the Idoma speaking people can be understood and explained better in the light of their existence in diverse groups and individual external influences. Some of these influences crept on them during their migration process. Furthermore, another tie of Agila to other parts of Idoma is in their relationship with Okpoga. This account has it that Ago had a younger brother called Okpe, the founder of Okpoga in present day Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue state. In other words, both Okpoga and Agila are of common origin. Okpoga ole’Ogwa and Agila ole’Ogwa, meaning the children of Ogwa. 5 Ogwa, their mother is said to be a Jukun princess. There are issues also discussed in the Agila origin that has to do with her tie to Igala. Critical analysts mention that Agila have a variety of wide differences with Igala such as in masquerades, traditional hats and language. 6 But a bold relationship can be seen between Agila and Igila in names such as Attah which is the title of the chief of Igala. Attah of Igala. More pronounced too is the Agila ancestral masquerade called ekwu aja which is a feminine masquerade and believed to be Inikpi, an Igala princess. Other ties can be found in masquerade songs and chants. The origin tie between Agila and Igbo stock is the infiltration into Agila land by Ngbo during migration. But worthy of mention is the fact that the number of issues to conclude this assertion is quiet few. One of there is the duplication of Igbo names and other qualities in Agila. However, the Agila society to a wide range has her unique qualities that differ from their neighbouring Igbo such as food traditions and markets. On the whole, the Agila society can be agreed to be a very unique society. With origins traced to Apa, Igala and Igbo, the Agila people as suggested by Armstrong, whatever their migrations and ancients contact are, have had a long period of independent development and their culture contacts have been in many direction. 7 Agila Geographical Context The Agila society is presently located in the southern intermediate of Idoma land. They are bordered by Igumale to the North, Ngbo, Ezza and Effuim of Ebonyi to the East and South, then Ehah Amufu of Enugu State to the West. This is to say Agila’s longest border line projects deeply into the present Igbo society. Agila lies between Longitude 07, 59 and Latitude 06, 31 south and 06, 45 North. 8 Agila is the most populated of the Southern Idoma district of Benue State. Armstrong puts a rough estimate based on land survey map at 83 square miles. Mentioning Abraham, Agila has population of 6,479 in 1935 thereby giving a density of 78 per square mile. And in 1952, it has 15,016 and a density of about 180 per square mile. Agila society is located within the area commonly referred to as the transitional belt or zone of Nigeria. It shares both the climatic characteristics of the Northern and Southern part of the country. It is predominantly endowed with a rich kind of thick humus layer that is good for agriculture, particularly yam. The Agila society is geographically located in the vegetation belt of Nigeria. It is well watered as in the palm belt. It is fairly open to orchard and patches of high forest. It is located on the flat which becomes inundated in the rains. The harmattan wind blows from the North and is prevalent between the middle November and in the beginning of February. 10 Information from the people suggests that prior to the 18 th century the area was clustered with high dry forest. This gradually gave way for the emergence of short grassland in the late 18 th century and into the 19 th century. This is followed with the emergence of varieties of scanty short trees in the 19 th century and into the 20 th century. Thereby, their thick forests and tall trees can now be found mostly by river banks and boundaries. Social and Political Organization Not until in the most contemporary time of the 21 st century, not much was written about the Agila past. Consequently, not much was academically known about how the Agila society was politically and socially organized. Agila society has a well-developed social and political institution. The structured political and social organization provided the framework within which various units of society performed different functions for the development and organization of the society. The Agila political organization begins from the family. The family which is the smallest unit is called ole . Collections of families that trace their lineage to a particular ancestor make up the large extended family called okonu’ole or ododa’ole . It is this group that makes up the clan, ipfofu. The basic of Agila social and political organization is the ipfofu. The importance of the ipfofu in the Agila social and political milieu is emphasized in its endowment of identification, social and political right. These ipfoofu makes up the twelve clans of Agila earlier mentioned. The Agila system of government is called gerontocracy. This is a system of government by the elders. The elders in Agila gerontocracy are a representation of the twelve clans. They form the major administrative machinery for the entire Agila society. These elders are called the Ai’Istogwa and they preside over the Ojira. The Ojira is a mass meeting of adult males and the supreme congress of community. The conduct of the Ojira is monitored by the elders who usually speak on behalf of their clans. A democratic principle governs the Ojira reflecting from the Itsogwa such that, one faction cannot control or influence the decisions of the Ojira. The elders speak for their clans but this is done to integrate the interest of the youths. Nonetheless, young men of reputable achievements were given the ground to speak. The Itsogwa in Agila gerontocracy system were given the prerogative of making decisions or deliberations that are binding on the entire society. The Itsogwa generally acts as an administrative cabinet. 11 This cabinet has the Otse Agila who is the paramount ruler of the Agila society. The Otsonu Agila is the next in command. Others are the Unogwu Akpoge and Unogwu Ogbilolo which were the army generals in charge of Akpoge and Ogbililo provinces. There is the Echoembi who is in charge of internal affairs, Agada in charge of external affairs and the Otse’eje who is in charge of cultural and social activities. There is also the Okpozu Ogaba which is in charge of policing, while the Otse Oba who is the chief priest has his assistants in the Ogene and Oroja . Finally is the Onoja Okpatobo who is the chief priest in charge of Arekwu, the ancestral masquerades. Agila ancestral masqurades include Enkpe, Ikpila, Ekwu Aja and Unaloko Others are Akatakpa, a slave spirit and Ona Otse Aloje . They both protect societal order and morality. The Akatakpa could be brought with village youths and act as police. This was also the same with Onya Otse Aloje. It could publicly announce wrongs done by individuals of the society which makes it a deterrent for others. Such act could be that of stealing, fornication, even greed, lying and defecation along footpaths. Age groups called Owa was a social organization in Agila society. The Owa made up of both sex of the same age was divided into groups that reigns for three haves seasons. Their reign was a competitive one to see which group will perform