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Colonialism and the Decline of the Traditional Metal Industry of the Igbo, Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 April 2010

O.N. Njoku
O.N. Njoku
Affiliation:
University of Nigeria
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Extract

At the close of the nineteenth century, that is on the eve of colonial rule in Igboland, Igbo metal industry was flourishing. Production had attained a high level in the range and the quality of output. The output included agricultural equipment, traps and guns as well as title insignia and ornaments, mosdy made of copper and brass. The demand for die smiths' products were widespread and seemingly insatiable. To serve the need of dieir widely dispersed customers and patrons, Igbo smiths from Abiriba, Agulu Amokwe, Agulu Umana, Awka, and Nkwere undertook regular tours of parts of soudi-eastern Nigeria and even beyond – up to die Niger-Benue confluence area; past die Edo country to Ondo Yorubaland; and to the Bamenda district of die Cameroons. The superiority of Igbo metalworking led, in some of these places, to the demise of the local industry.

Type
Articles
Information
Itinerario , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , July 1991 , pp. 59 - 78
Copyright
Copyright © Research Institute for History, Leiden University 1991

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References

Notes

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