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Some Aspects of the Economics of Sixteen Ibo Individuals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 August 2012

J. S. Harris
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Extract

Of the various aspects of ethnology, perhaps that of economics has been most neglected. Within the past few years a number of books and articles have appeared with the intent to remedy this situation, but the study of the economic life of primitive peoples is still in its infancy. Particularly is this true of consumer economics in primitive societies. More and more data, especially of a concrete, quantitative nature, are needed. This study is a small contribution in that direction. It presents the annual monetary incomes and expenditures of sixteen Ibo natives living in the community of Ozuitem in south-eastern Nigeria.

Résumé

COMPTES PERSONNELS DE SEIZE PERSONNES DE LA TRIBU DES IBO

A la suite de recherches personnelles, M. Harris a réussi à obtenir un état des ressources et des dépenses de seize personnes de la tribu des Ibo. Ces chiffres se bornent aux opérations en argent comptant et, par conséquent, ainsi que M. Harris l'indique, ne donnent pas un tableau complet de la vie économique des individus dont il s'agit, étant donné qu'ils laissent de côté toute référence à des échanges, ou troc, ou au fait qu'une part considérable de la nourriture, surtout dans le cas des femmes, est produite et non pas achetée. Quoique ces chiffres se réfèrent à des individus, ils donnent néanmoins quelque indication quant à la pression exercée par la famille et quant aux obligations matriarcales. Pour se rendre compte entièrement des obligations économiques découlant de la famille ou d'autre relation, il serait nécessaire d'avoir recours à une unité plus grande. Quelques-uns des paiements et des cadeaux en argent comptant mentionnés dans ces chiffres s'annullent réciproquement, et peuvent être interprétés comme signes formelles d'amitié et d'hospitalité. M. Harris a ajouté un commentaire explicatif au sujet des principaux détails des depenses tels que le prix de la fiancée, contributions aux sociétés secrètes, paiements pour les offrandes, loyers pour le terrain, et ainsi de suite.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 14 , Issue 6 , April 1944 , pp. 302 - 335
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1944

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References

page 302 note 1 Herskovits, M. J., The Economic Life of Primitive Peoples, New York, 1940Google Scholar , is the most stimulating general volume in this Jield. Another essay may be singled out for special mention, that of Bunzel, R., ‘The Economic Organisation of Primitive Peoples’, in General Anthropology (Boas, F., ed.), ch. New York, 1938Google Scholar .

page 302 note 2 This study was made while the author was a Fellow of the Social Science Research Council for 1938-9. The Nigerian Government gave the study its complete approval and support. The Carnegie Corporation generously made it possible to present this report. To these three agencies the author gratefully expresses his thanks.

page 302 note 3 Herskovits has tabulated two of these, one of a Bambara family in the French Sudan and the other from the Adacu district of the Ivory Coast, from the unpublished material of Professor Henri Labouret. Herskovits, op. cit, pp. 255-9. See also Culwick, A. T. and , G. M., Ubena of the Rivers, London, 1935, pp. 282–3Google Scholar , for summary budgets of four Bena families.

page 303 note 1 These fluctuations in palm produce prices constitute one of the major reasons for the unrest of the Ibo at the present time. With the initial high prices paid for palm produce the Ibo eagerly expanded their economic system, satisfied old needs, and created a host of new desires. With the fall in price the economic system painfully contracted, while the desires not only remained but in many instances increased with the increasing contact of European education, religion, and other influences.

page 305 note 1 The figures in parentheses at the end of each item refer to the notes at the end of this section.

page 307 note 1 Throughout these budgets the term ‘half-brother’ refers to a son of one's father by a wife other than one's own mother.