ABSTRACT
This research is an attempt to reconstruct the History of Indigenous Industries under Colonial Rule in Daura District 1903-1960. To ascertain the effect of colonial rule on indigenous industries. However, prior to colonial administration the indigenous technological advancement especially blacksmiths, leather works, pottery, textile industry, wood carving among others were flourishing professions among the inhabitants of Daura. Nevertheless, during colonial administration the establishment of colonial policies such as taxation, compulsory cash crop production, conscription of bodied able men to forced labour in mining among others affected these industries such that these indigenous industries have faced retarded growth till date not only in Daura but in Nigeria as a whole.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
This research attempt to examine A History Indigenous Industries under colonial rule in Daura District, 1903 – 1960.Daura is blessed with resources like fertile land, river and other natural resources which provide opportunities for human habitation. Majority of the people in the area were farmers and the staple crops grown include millet, maize, guinea corn, rice, beans etc.They practiced subsistence farming using local inputs. Other economics activities practiced in the area included domestication of animal, fishing, indigenous industries i.e pottery, craft, cloth weaving, cloth dyeing and beating and engagement in small scale enterprise.1
Long before the advent of colonial administration, indigenous technology especially blacksmith, cloth weaving, pottery, hand craft, gasket making, butchering, thread making (Kadi) and textile industries were flourishing profession among the people of Daura. It was evident that metal work had advanced before the advent of colonial rule that revolutionalised trade and export of the economy of Daura particularly in the second half of the 19th century.
However, these indigenous industries began to decline during the colonial period because of the policies of the colonial government in Daura District toward indigenous technology which was also applicable to the whole country. Moreover, Nigeria and Africa as a whole had suffered a devastating economic, political and social decline with the advent of colonialism.2
The research therefore examine the effect of colonial policies on the economic activities of Daura District such as colonial agriculture, taxation policy, British Colonial labour policy, craftsmanship, commerce and other factors that led to the decline of indigenous industries in Daura District in the same period.Furthermore, issues such as the process that led to the evolution of Daura district as a settlement and changes witnessed during the period of colonialism are also examined. Let’s look at the indigenous industries before the coming of colonialist.
A blacksmith his best defined as a man who manufactures certain products in iron (bakinkarfe) used in the production of iron tools and implements: fire charcoal, an anvil, tongs, skin bellow and a variety of hammers. Blacksmithing is one of the most important pre-colonial industries. In fact up to now in Hausaland there is ward called AnguwanMakera. The predominant occupation of the people is blacksmithing.Apart from direct participation; the ruling class also intervenes to encourage agricultural production through the sarakunannoma, [chief of farmers] in alltowns. In industrial activities, the emirate administration intervened to ensure qualitycontrol. Intervention was done through the sarakunansana’a [occupational chief] suchas [chiefs of blacksmiths], sarakunanmakera, sarakunanmabuga, [chief of dyers].3
Leather work was another important occupation on which a large section of pre-colonial society in Hausalanddepended.Leather working dukancior jimainvolved the use of animal hides and skins for the manufacture of various leather productsused for various purposes ranging from making bellows zuga-zugiused by blacksmith saddles, siriddafor horses leather shields, sword sheathes, kubewater vessels salkafoot wears and bags such as book cases gafaka, berbers wallets zabira. It should be noted there has always been interdependenceamong the various manufacturers. For example, the blacksmith needs bellowsin order to carry out his occupation while leather worker badukuneed knivesand other similar implements from blacksmiths4.According to some informants leather working dukanciwas a veryimportant economic activity done by the people of Daura since timeimmemorial. In fact, leather working seems to be as old as blacksmithing inDaura District.5
Wood carving and pottery were also occupations that were practiced by pre-colonial period society. Wood carvers masassakawere very important in pre- colonial economic growth. They provided wooden handles for various implements and weapons. This occupation has been flourishing. This was largely because of the need to use during burial and other social and economic activities such as tanda,tukunyarfulawa etc6.
One of the important pre-colonial industries was the textile industry. There is quite an ancient legacy of cloth production in Hausaland, and weaving as a rural occupation of the Hausawacertainly predates the colonial period. One of the first stages was spinning of cotton. The thread making craft known as kadiwas the most vital input (or raw material) of the weaving industry. It was essentially the process of the production of thread from raw cotton and has always been dominated by women across the population.Kadiwas a very important aspect of the domestic economic ventures of Daura and Hausa women generally.7
Another important pre-colonial industry was indigo dyeing. Dyeing has for many centuries been one of the most popular rural farming occupations of many farmers in Hausaland. While some establishments were spread all over, depending on the size and commercial importance of the towns. Some of the towns with large dyeing establishment included Zango, Katsina, and Daura.8
Closely associated with the dyeing industry was the cloth beating (bugu) which emerged to provide necessary support and services to the cloth dyeing industry. Cloth beating was for quite a long time closely connected with dyeing, as part of the whole dyeing process, and was mostly done by dyers themselves. It should be noted that Daura cloth beating was practiced alongside with dyeing. It was an important economic activity that was practiced long before the coming of colonialists.9however, as I mentioned above, these indigenous industries were frequently flourishing in the pre-colonial period. Furthermore, with the advent of colonialism, these industries began to face setback and eventually decline because of the colonial policies such as taxation, compulsory cash crops productions e.t.c
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS.
Several researchers have been conducted on Daura but no one has made an attempt to document the colonial impact especially in its roles on indigenous industries in Daura District.This work therefore attempt to fill the gap and stimulate further research in the area. It is in this connection that the research explains how Daura District was administered during the period. Moreover, what changes did the colonial rule foist on the area, and the eventual factors that led to the decline of indigenous industries in Daura District will be discussed.
1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this work is to examine the History of indigenous industries in Daura District under colonial rules.
The objectives are inter-alia.
1-To trace the origin of Daura
2-To examine the history of indigenous industries in Daura
3-To analyze the nature of indigenous industries that led to the emergence of economic activities in Daura
4-To elaborate on the economic and socio-political arrangement of Daura District.
5-To examine the positive and negative impact of colonialism on indigenous industries in DauraDistrict.
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY.
This research attempt to reconstruct the History of indigenous industries in Daura District 1903-1960. The significance of the work is underscored by the following.
{a} the work will contribute to the general history of Daura District in the colonial period as well as the broaden the frontiers of knowledge on the area.
{b} the research exposes the achievement and failure of colonial rule in the economy of Daura District.
{c} the work will also go a long way in assisting policy makers at all level of government in designing effective policies relating to economic development especially reviving indigenous industries in Daura District and Nigeria as a whole.
{d} finally, the study lays the basis for further research.
1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The area of the study is Daura District. Daurais located at northern part of Katsina state of Nigeria. Daura lies within latitude 1950 to 22035 to north and longitude 10032 to 9017 to east. It has approximately land area of 1380 square miles.10
Thus, the choice of 1903 as a starting point of this research is informed by the fact that, the colonial intrusion in Daura and Katsina as a whole started during this period which these areas became dominated by foreign rule.11The year 1960 as a terminating period of this research marked the achievement of independence in Nigeria of which Daura district belong to.12 With regard to limitation, the research focuses on colonial impact on indigenous industries in Daura district 1903-1960. Moreover, the research examines the growth and development of economic activities such as colonial agriculture, colonial taxation policy, indigenous industries and commerce at the same period. A further constrain is the lack of adequate oral sources. However, this problem was overcome by the use of documented materials. Resources for conducting research was also a challenge as well as the time frame allowed for conducting the research.
- JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY.
Though, some important written documents are found available in the area of study such as “Affairs of Daura,“ History and changes in Hausa State 1800-1958, written by Michael Smith.13Another work written by S.M Aminu,14 title “The colonial State and Colonial Economy in Northern Nigeria; A case study of Daura Native Authority 1902-1955“ examined the roles of the so-called Native Authority as a collaborator of the colonial state in the establishment of colonial economy in Daura district as the writer explained.Impact of colonial activities of Daura, written by G.M Ahmed. The writers did notexamine colonial impact on indigenous industries in Daura. However, the need to study extensively the colonial impact on indigenous industries in Daura is important and it will also serve as a reference point or a guide for future research.15
1.7 CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION
The major concept deal with this study is Colonialism and Indigenous Industries;According to Robert Young,16 colonialism is a practice of domination, which involves the subjugation of one people by another. However, colonialism is the direct and overall domination of one country by another on the basis of state power being in the hand of foreign power {for example, the direct overall domination of Nigeria by Britain between 1900-1960}.
Frantz Fanon open his analysis of colonialism as the physical, material and typically violent practice of dispossessing people of their native territory. In this study, colonialism is the policy and practice of a strong power extending its territorial influence over a weaker nation or people.17
According to Colin J.18 colonialism is a system of rules which assumes the right of one people to impose their will upon another. On the other hand, colonialism is considered simply as a means of political domination, economic exploitation, cultural subjugation, and racial segregation of the western Europeans over third world nations.
Indigenous technology which is the art of doing things,19 has played a significant role in the daily activities of man in pre-colonial and colonial era. Hence, S.A.Bobo averred that technology is spread by man and that man lives by technology.20 This assertion is more relevant when the technology is indigenous often referred to as internally generated methods of learning and expressing initiatives or traditional technology.21This remains a truism when the technological discoveries, inventions and innovation are made to meet thegrowing insatiable needs and aspirations of a given society. Of particular importance is when the technologyis discovered at its infant stage, developed, modified and consequently modernized to meet the increasing wantsof the people. Through different technological innovations, people of various communities have been able tosatisfy their environmental necessities.
1.8 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
At any historical research, sources are the backbone and most critical element for historical reconstruction. A good piece of historical work requires among other things an exclusive use of available data to the research.
Therefore, a successful research of this magnitude will involve the use of primary, secondary and tertiary sources. The primary sources is a raw form of information include record from National Archive, oral interviews through intensive field work. This development consequently, has opened various avenues for research and inquiry through the utilization of secondary sources. Furthermore, to ensure genuine information, the age limit between the age of 50-70 years and above. Most importantly people who were born and brought up in this area or who migrated to the area, during the period of study.
In addition to that, secondary sources were used, these include text books and journals; document such as {Girgam} from traditional archive in Katsina, Historical Bureau and Culture Daura {Jiya da Yau} are also consulted to give detailed information that contain Daura town.
Nevertheless, thus, projects and unpublished magazine, newspapers, articles among other which contain information related to this topic were also used. These has guided the researcher enormously in the reconstruction of the History of indigenous industries in Daura District, under colonial rule.
1.9 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
The theory related to this topic is underdevelopment. To begin with, let starts Walter Rodney`s perception of underdevelopment suggested that, good Africa could export were dictated by the changing needs of the Europeans from time to time; gold, ivory, and slaves at first and later when the trades in slaves was stopped, then, minerals, palm produce, rubber, groundnut, cotton e.t.cAs a result Walter Rodney observed, African economy “ceased to be dictated exclusively or even primarily towards the satisfaction of the inhabitant” rather their economic efforts were to serve external interest, thereby undermining their capacity for development.22
According to John A. Hobson, Africa was made to serve Europe as the source of cheap labour and raw materials and as a market for European manufactures. The term trade were indicated and controlled in a manner that favoured Europe at Africa`s expense. European capitalism determined the price of African countries received for their exports, the quantities of commodities export, and the price charged to them for imports. There were fixed so as to ensure a large balance in favor of imports which was then expatriated as profit to Europe.23
In contemporary time, Wole Soyinka averred that Africa’s
Underdevelopment is the outcome of ‘the twin evils of slavery
and colonialism inflicted by Western World.’ According to him,
slavery and colonialism are two monumental historical events that
dislocated Africa and aborted the continent’s social, political,
economic and technological development.24
Underdevelopment refers to a situation where a nation has not reached the level of economic and techno-political development expected of it as an independent sovereign nation so as to provide the sophisticated need of her masses, or a stage in which a nation is not capable of exploiting its economic and political potentials in order to increase the well-being of its citizens.25
Underdevelopment theory shows the evils of colonialism in Africa. This school of thought was propounded by scholars like Walter Rodney. The theory clearly shows that, all the colonial infrastructure were laid down in Africa simply for the benefit of colonial invaders to the detriment of Africa. In fact, even the aspect of Africa’s indigenous development faced setback during the period of colonialism. This research utilize this theory where it demonstrated that, colonialism was responsible for the underdevelopment of indigenous industries in Daura District during the period of study.
1.10 LITERATURE REVIEW
So much has been written on colonialism in Daura but not much on its impact on indigenousIndustries. As a result of that, the researcher set to use both oral interviews and available literatures on colonialism to explain the impact colonialism on indigenous industries in Daura District. Therefore, selected documented literature will be reviewed.
The first major work consulted for this research is book is a book by G.M Ahmed26, titled “Colonial History of Daura” the book is essentially a guide and it was compiled to provide a brief and selective introduction to the Daura. The book is very significant to our study. The weakness of the book lies in its lack of details in many aspect of Daura district. He did not talk on the roles of colonialism on indigenous industries. But notwithstanding, the book will act as a great help to the researcher in reconstructing the impact of colonialism on indigenous industries in Daura district.
Another relevant work is thesis by M. Mukhtar27, “British colonial Labour Policies and Changing Roles of Labour in Kano Emirate 1903-1960.”The work is relevant to our study for the purpose of its large store of information on the British Colonial labor policies which curtailed the development of indigenous industries.
M.M. Tukur, in his work “The imposition of British Colonial Domination”. The author maintained that the British bureaucracy hide behind emirs and their officials in the system of indirect rule, to lay their finger in all aspect of the existence of the people of the emirate. He described the taxation during the colonial period as heavier than the pre-colonial taxes, and that many of them were baseless and arbitrary. Some of the taxes had as their primary purpose not the provision of raw-materials to the colonial administration and Native Authorities, but the creation of a colonial economy devoid of an indigenous industrial base and geared towards the production and export of unprocessed raw-materials.28This work helps to give information on howtaxes were implemented and it effect on indigenous industries as the major concern to this work.
Another work by Walter Rodney, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. In the studies, he showed that as a result of colonialism, African economy changed. Production became based on the European’s need. Rodney observed that, there was no different between all the colonial powers under whichever pretext it was presented. To him colonialism is, but one armed bandit. Though, Rodney’s analysis on the effect of colonialism toward the indigenous industries in Africa show how the colonial economic policies of the British proved less hard compared to that of French.29Thus, his work serve as a window to understand the effect of colonialism on indigenous industries.
A.Alade in his work titled30 “The Economic Basic of Imperialism”. The work is generally rich in details and is of relevance to our study because the reason raised by the author also showed how gradually African economy was integrated into Western world and enunciate further how in the process, Africa was rendered economically backward. Thus, in a nutshell, the work did not provide the function of the Native Authority within the larger structure of colonial domination were the enforcement of law and order, the establishment of basic colonial infrastructure, imposition and collection of taxes as well as the mobilization of labour. Therefore, this work examined the agricultural sabotage which eventually resulted to decline of indigenous industries.
A.M Bawa, work titled “The Socio-Economic History of Daura District” argued that the district is comprised of different ethnic groups with the Hausa being the most dominant. He noted that agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of Daura District with other economic activities while local craft and commerce serves as subsidiary.31 However, the weakness of this work lacked the information of how agricultural food productions changed to the production of cash crops which was at the detriment of food crops. Also limited to this, indigenous industries were also affected by the dominance of cash crop production.
Another relevant work by Abubakar32 “The Northern Provinces Under Colonial Rule: 1900-1956” This was a general survey of the practical changes that British conquest and administration imposed on the Northern Nigeria provinces. The author argued that Northern Nigeria witnessed the curtailing of the power of emirs and denouncing indigenous industries by imposing colonial labour policies. However, the author described the Northern province under colonial rule were loyalist and geared towards the decline of indigenous industries. However, the author did not mention that the Emir were compelled to recruit bodied able men to build colonial infrastructures which led to reduction of manpower who were also useful for the indigenous industries, this in a long way affected the indigenous technological advancement.
Another work by Yahaya, article title “Traditional Leadership and institution: The Colonial Transformation of the Emirate System”. It deals with the widespread changes in the emirate which were the result of British interference in the traditional institution of the emirates.Notwithstanding, these political and economic changes, the author maintained that the emirate system under colonial rule were reshuffled. In furtherance of these changes, the British imposed heavy taxation of people depend on the livelihood, consequently, men were forced to move long distance looking for money to pay their taxes, hence, the local and indigenous technologies collapsed.33 Moreover, this work lacks information on how men were conscripted and forced to move long distance looking for ivory, wax in order to pay their taxes. Furthermore, due to lack of men to some extend the indigenous industries gradually began to collapse.
The work written by AbdulkadirAdamu, “British Colonial Policies in Northern Nigeria 1902-1945” A case study of Soba District”. The work explained how indigenous economy and to some extend land tenure, social relations of labour, indeed the whole indigenous production and its social relation were influenced and changed under the impact of colonial policies.
Moreover, Abdulkadir in relation to the present study: the scope of its period 1902-1945 leaves out fifteen years (15) uncovered, the study which involves the period 1902-1960 will therefore cover up the gap left by Abdulkadir’s study.34
S.M. Aminu, in his work title “The Colonial State and Colonial Economy in Northern Nigeria: A case study of Daura Native Authority, 1902-1945” examined the role of the so-called Native Authority as a collaborator of the colonial state in the establishment of colonial economy in Daura Emirate as the writer explained. As a matter of fact the focus of the study by Aminu is on Daura city and its metropolitan district. The general outline of the work its substance lies in its examination of the colonial policies on land use, taxation, agriculture, infrastructure i.e the railway, roads and how the local rulers mediate in their provision.
This work relates to my work in term of its close parallel of emirate system to our study as well as in subject matter.35 Thus, it will provide information on the effect of colonial policies on indigenous industries.
Another work by Tibenderana title “The Irony of Indirect Rule in Sokoto Emirate, Nigeria: 1903-1944” centered on the administrative reorganization and position of the Emirs in the administration of the territory of former Sokoto Caliphate. He explained that, contrary to the perception of some scholars that under colonial rule the emirs increased their powers and retained the initiative to formulate and execute local administration decision. In actual sense their power were weakened, because of the fall of the undermining influence of British administration reorganization. The fall of the Sokoto Caliphate to the British marked the end of the caliphate era. The newly installed Sultan (Muhammad Attahiru) was not designated caliph but emir to signify his dependent status.
The work is rich and relevant to my work because during colonial period in Daura, the British influence led to installation of the emir that was suitable to them.36
There is also the important work by YusufuBalaUsman, 37 ‘The Transformation of Katsina 1400-1883; Ahmadu Bello University Press, Zaria, 1981. Although the periodization does not correspond with our period of study, it is an indispensable literature to our study on pre-colonial agriculture and society of our area of study.
The work is strictly not on Daura District but the whole of Katsina Emirate. It is also not on the colonial period. Nevertheless, it provides evidence on the nature of pre-colonial society in Daura and Hausa land in general, which has been of immense benefit to this research.
1.11 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the preliminary approach to every work is consider its foundation. The above chapter provides a reader insight of the study under which in this case is Daura. The chapter reviewed the relevant literatures, the objectives of the study, the problems that triggered the research and methodology adopted. Also briefly discussed are theoretical framework and the significance of the study.
