The Pre-Colonial Economy of Akwa Ibom

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Periodical article

Title:	The Pre-Colonial Economy of Akwa Ibom
Author:	Essien, Dominus Okon
Year:	1995
Periodical:	Transafrican Journal of History (ISSN 0251-0391)
Volume:	24
Pages:	186-194
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	Nigeria West Africa
Subjects:	subsistence economy History and Exploration Economics and Trade Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) History, Archaeology Akwa Ibom State (Nigeria) history economic history
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/24328663
Abstract:	This article describes some aspects of the precolonial economy of Akwa Ibom, in southeastern Nigeria, on the basis of the scanty historical evidence available, as well as oral traditions. It pays attention to farming and the introduction of new crops, fishing, hunting, and local industries, such as the preparation and drying of fish, woodcarving, pottery, salt making, blacksmithing, and weaving. It further deals with domestic and external trade and types of exchange. It argues that these activities were determined by the geographical location of Akwa Ibom, the natural endowment of the area, contacts with the outside world, and the communal ownership of land. The influence of economic changes (the introduction of South-East Asian crops, trade in slaves) on Akwa Ibom society are also discussed. Ref., sum.