Thesis 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.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.1  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.

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.

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.