This work is aimed at ensuring that socio-economic development of Odo-Owa in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State during the colonial period is articulated and written down for historical purpose, thus ensuring that the basic information about the socio-economic activities of the people is documented.
It also aims at examining the colonial rule system, the various changes and activities during the colonial period. It hopes to advance the history of Odo-Owa from essential political history to socio-economic history, the research also aims to show the major areas of concern which are the social and economic developments that took place the town during the colonial period.
It must be noted the sources employed form this work have been made use of just to ensure that the authencity and originality of what will be written down about the socio-economic development of Odo-Owa during the colonial period is right.
The objective of this work is to look into the socio-economic activities in the town before the colonial period, and the changes brought as a result of the colonial presence.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………… i
CERTIFICATION…………………………………………….. ii
DEDICATION…………………………………………………. iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT…………………………………….. iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………..vii
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES……….………………….….. 1
1.2 SCOPE OF THE STUDY……….…………………..…… 2
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY……………………... .4
1.4 RESEARCH METHOD AND PROBLEM…….……….. .6
1.5 LITERATURE REVIEW………………………….…….....7
NOTES AND REFERENCES…………………….……. 12
CHAPTER TWO
PRE-COLONIAL ECONOMIC BASE
2.1 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION ……………………… 14
2.2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ……………………… 18
2.3 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY……………………….. 28
2.4 INDIGENOUS INDUSTRIES………………………..….32
2.5 INDIGENOUS TRADING SYSTEM……………….…. 34
NOTES AND REFERENCES…………………………..37
CHAPTER THREE
INDIGENOUS SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS
3.1 GUILDS………………………………………………….. 40
3.2 ELDERS AND YOUTH……………………………….…41
3.3 WORSHIP……………………………………………….. 42
3.4 FESTIVALS……………………………………………… 44
NOTES AND REFEREENCES……………………….. 46
CHAPTER FOUR
EFFECTS OF THE COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION ON THE SCOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ODO-OWA
4.1 ECONOMIC EFFECTS………………………………… 48
4.2 SOCIAL EFFECTS……………………………………... 49
4.3 CULTURAL EFFECTS…………………………………. 51
4.4 GENERAL EFFECTS…………………………………... 53
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION……………………….55
NOTES AND REFERENCES……………………………58
BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………..60
INTRODUCTION
Since a good historical writing should be objective in its conclusion and authentic in it’s choice of materials, some few books that have a link with Odo-Owa’s been carefully carried out to adduce truths economic development in Odo-Owa during the colonial period.
According to Egharevba, in his work, he gave a very clear description of Odo-Owa’s origin, which he traced to Ilesha one of the ancient towns I Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State and one of the largest in population. The town is located in crescent valley about 4km East of Omu-Aran along Ilorin-Kabba express road with neigbouring towns such as Osi, to the East, Etan and Erinmope to the south, Oko and Idofian to the North and Ilofa to the West.
According to Egharevba “Oga Atakumasa” left Ilesha where he was Oba of Benin with a view to placing his complaints before Oba Egbenbude around 1578 because he was one of the most dreaded Kings in Yoruba and I those days.
Another word that discussed Odo-Owa did not adequately discuss the socio-economic development of the town during the colonial period but lightly mentioned the esparto between Odo-Owa and Ilofa.
The separation of Ilofa from Odo-Owa came up in 1935. The reason for the separation was that the Olu Of alias Oba Ilofa told the Emir of Ilorin that his people were migrating else where as a result of bad treatment meted on them by the village tead Oba Olota. According to Oba Ilofa’s statement it reads,” All my towns men are running away and did no return”. They went away because they don not want to be with him. The reason why I came to you (Emir) is that is should separate them from him, and if I refuse they will go away.
Another book titled Odo-Owa in the 19th and 20th century by Kehinde Jacob only examined the traditional lifestyle of the people of Odo-Owa looking into their origin and background. He also deviated to the crowning of the Olu ofa.
The Olu-ofa was not formerly a crowned king as capping was forbidden from where he came from. But when his people saw his other companions capping they approached the Olota of Orota, now Odo-Owa to grant permission to Olu-Ofa to be capped. Then the Olota and his traditional councilors, after full consideration granted the request.
The Olota and his councilors then appointed a special date to hare the ceremony performed on the appointed day capping the ceremony was performed amidst a lot of people. When cap was about to be placed upon Olu-Ofa’s head the Olota of Orota now Odo-Owa said, “Take upon this cap and wear it at anytime as permitted and approved by me and my councilors, but from henceforth you will be known and titled as “Inarinmode”.
While these renewed literature were only concerned with the origin and traditional life of Odo-Owa from the cultural and political aspect. It is believed that this work on the socio-economic in Odo-Owa L.G.A. will be a good compliment to what we already hear about the history of Odo-Owa.
