TRADE AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE IGBO PEOPLE BEFORE COLONIALISM

Trade and Economic Life of the Igbo People Before Colonialism

Before the arrival of Europeans, the Igbo — who later became the core of the Biafran nation — already had a highly organized and prosperous economy.

Their trade system, production methods, and economic values were deeply rooted in communal cooperation, innovation, and entrepreneurship — qualities that still define the Igbo today.

Agriculture: The Backbone of the Economy

Agriculture was the main source of livelihood for the precolonial Igbo.

Farming was both an economic activity and a sign of responsibility and wealth.

Yam was the king of crops — symbolizing prosperity and manhood.

Other crops included cassava, cocoyam, maize, palm fruit, pepper, and vegetables. Women often cultivated crops for home use, while men focused on yams and cash crops.

The annual New Yam Festival (Iri Ji) was — and still is — a major celebration of the harvest, thanksgiving to God, and the renewal of community bonds.

Trade and Markets

The Igbo had a vibrant market economy long before the British came.

Each community had at least one major market, often held every four days according to the traditional Igbo calendar — Eke, Orie, Afor, and Nkwo.

These markets connected neighboring villages, clans, and even distant ethnic groups through trade.

Prominent precolonial trading towns included:

Onitsha – major river port and meeting point for inland and coastal traders,

Aboh – gateway to the Niger Delta,

Nsukka and Awka – famous for blacksmithing and craftwork,

Aba and Nnewi – bustling centers of local commerce and innovation.

Women were active traders, especially in palm oil, salt, and cloth — proving that the Igbo economy valued both genders’ contributions.

Industries and Craftsmanship

The Igbos were skilled in various crafts and industries, including:

Iron smelting and blacksmithing – especially in Awka, known for making tools, weapons, and farming implements.

Pottery and weaving – common among women for household and trade use.

Wood carving and sculpture – used for art, worship, and decoration.

Salt production – in towns like Okposi and Uburu, where natural salt lakes were harvested.

These industries supported both local consumption and regional trade, showing a diversified and self-reliant economy.

Trade Networks and Long-Distance Commerce

The Igbo were interconnected traders. They exchanged goods with neighboring groups such as:

The Ibibio and Efik (for coastal trade),

The Ijo and Urhobo (for palm oil and fish),

The Benin and Yoruba (for cloth and beads),

And even distant northern traders who brought horses, salt, and kolanuts.

Trade routes extended from the Niger River to the Atlantic coast, and many Igbo communities served as middlemen between the coast and the interior.

Currency and Wealth

Before the introduction of European money, the Igbo used:

Cowries (shells) as a form of currency,

Manillas (bracelet-shaped brass rings) in large transactions,

And barter for exchange of goods and services.

Wealth was measured by the size of one’s barns, livestock, wives, and land — not just by money.

Social Values of Work and Enterprise

The Igbo valued hard work (ịrụ ọrụ), honesty (eziokwu), and self-reliance (aka ji ọla).

Laziness was despised, while industrious people were celebrated.

This moral foundation of entrepreneurship and independence remains central to Igbo life — and later became a pillar of the Biafran economic vision during the 1960s.

Summary

Before colonialism, the Igbo economy was:

Agriculturally rich, Industrially creative, Socially cooperative, and Commercially connected to the rest of West Africa.

It was a self-sustaining system that showed the intelligence and resourcefulness of the Biafran people long before Western influence.

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