PREFACE
The change and
continuity in the socio-economic development of Ijebu-Ode from 1900 to 1960 is
a research project that projects the image of the town as a prosperous town in
the ancient Yoruba Kingdom before the coming of the Europeans. Ijebu-Ode was
and is still a prominent town in Ijebu Kingdom. The town of Ijebu-Ode had its
setting before the coming of Europeans in the 18th century. As a
result of the introduction of Education, Religion, foreign crops, technologies
and more, the setting of Ijebu-Ode changed from the period of 1900 to 1960. As
a result of the closeness of Ijebu-Ode to the coast, they were very successful
among other Yoruba people. They served as the intermediary between the
Europeans and the hinterland. As a result of her power, the European decided to
make contact with the Ijebus instead of other Yoruba kingdoms.
This project also
takes a look at the several economic activities the people engaged during the
period under review which made Ijebu-Ode people prominent in the region. Some
of the factors are agriculture, hunting, trading, palm oil and fishing.
Another important
aspect of this project is the coming of the new religion: Christianity. These
new religions came into the town and converted the hearts of the people to
their various religions. The ways and means used would be discussed extensively
in the course of the project.
CONCLUSION
The
change and continuity of the socio-economic development of Ijebu-Ode from the
period of 1900 to 1960 has explained the setting of Ijebu from the pre-colonial
period to the period of colonialism and then briefed about the post-colonial
period of Ijebu-Ode. It sites that Ijebu is one out of the Major Yoruba groups
and that the Europeans first made contact with Ijebu when they came to the Yorubas.
Settings of Ijebu-Ode before the advent of colonial masters are involved their
economic setting which was mainly built around them engaging in occupations
like agriculture, pottery, basketry, trading, blacksmithing and many more. The
socio-political setting of Ijebu-ode was similar to other Yoruba kingdom like
Oyo and the rest where there is a Supreme ruler and he has subordinates. The
supreme ruler in Ijebu-Ode is called AWUJALE.
From the early 19th
century to the late 19th century, this work talks and examines the setting
of Ijebu-Ode during the period of colonialism in this region. Changes were
experienced in the Economic, Socio-Cultural and Socio-Political Settings.
Examples of this changes are; development in the agricultural structure of
Ijebu-ode. The government endeavored in using women for the planting and
production of vegetables and cash crops in the area. The production level
increased and they acquired greater economic value. In terms of indigenous
technology, technology had been long attached to Ijebu so the application of
local method or approaches to achieving products or good of need was much more
profound during this period. Furthermore, during this period, the growth of
market was enlarged. One of the markets established during this period is Oja
Oba and it is a periodic one that functions every five days. During this
period, Christianity and English Language were introduced to the people of
Ijebu. Europeans came to Ijebu and to be able to interact with them, they
introduced their own language and culture. A notable change in the political
setting of Ijebu-Ode is the change from the Sole Native Authority System to
Native Authority Council.
In spite of the machinery of
imperialism, colonization provided by the British consul and missionary
education, they were not all that way successful in eroding away the culture of
the people. In the society, the indigenes may have taken to white men’s
language, dresses, education, hospital, food which are aspects of the western
civilization, this does not make the people to forget about their culture which
in itself is very difficult to put aside and to the indigenes, adoption of
foreign ideas could not make them to forget their locality of life which is
their social heritage.
It is pertinent to say therefore,
that this work has enabled us know a lot about Ijebu-Ode from the pre-colonial
period till date. The society might have witnessed a lot of changes in the
political, economic and socio-cultural values, but there is no reliable account
that the people have really succeeded in rejecting themselves against white
men’s enclosure on their traditional and social values.
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