West Africa people early learned to mine and utilize their supplies of three important metals-gold, Iron and copper. The production of gold at an unidentified place on the West Africa coast long before the birth of Christ. When Iron was first worked, and also it was first used at a large scale, is not really known. Yet it is certain that knowledge of Iron smiting was gained before the beginning of Christian era. Some historians believe of the knowledge was transmitted from Libya in about 500Bc others believed that it came from upper mile around 300Bc; we know that the rise of empire partially due to their possession of abundant Iron weapons and tools.

 Thus, this essay deals mainly with indigenous technology, a case study of Benin Iron works in the 19th century. The period covered the pre-colonial period, the incursion of Europeans and lastly, the period covered the impact of Iron works on the political and socio-economic character of the people, also the decline of Iron technology and technology as a whole in Nigeria at large.   

Title of Page                i

Certification                ii

Dedication                  iii

Acknowledgement              iv

Table of contents                 v

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Objectives of Study              1

1.2 Scope of Study                 1

1.3 Significance of Study               2

1.4 Methodology and problems of Research      3

1.5 Literature review              4

1.6 Historical perspective of Benin            5

   

CHAPTER TWO

INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA IN 1900    

2.1 Indigenous technology in Nigeria         8

2.2 Development of Indigenous Technology in Nigeria     8   

2.3 Trade and market for existing Technology in Nigeria     12

2.4 Impact of Traditional skill in Nigeria.          13

CHAPTER THREE

IRON TECHNOLOGY IN BENIN IN THE 19TH CENTURY

3.1 Iron works in Benin                17 

3.2 Mode of production             19 

3.3 Product and values of the Industry          20

3.4 Impact of Iron work in Benin          21

3.5 Economic survey of Benin              23

  

CHAPTER FOUR

THE GUILDS AND APPRENTICESHIP IN IRON INDUSTRY

4.1 The feature of guilds             26

4.2 Duration Apprenticeship               27

4.3 Nature and categories of Apprenticeship          27

4.4 Ritual Aspect of Iron works              28

 

CHAPTER FIVE

INFLUENCE OF COLONIALISM AN IRON INDUSTRY.

5.1 Advent of colonial Rule             31

5.2 Colonial influence on the decline of Iron technology    32

5.3 Introduction of European goods and the incidence on from technology.                 34

CONCLUSION                 37

BIBLIOGRAPHY                 40

 Technology as defined by Berry, Is “any Application of discoveries of the scientific methods to the problems of man and environment in peace and war” Adeniyi refers to it as ‘a process whereby an individual or a group of people acquire a skill necessary to operate a hand ware either from another persons or through development.

 To this end, series of meetings, conferences, seminars, tayslops and workshops have been organized and held on the indigenous production and the advancement of iron tools in Nigeria and Africa at large.

  Thus, the objective of this work is to debunk the Eurocentric belief that Africa has no technology worthy of studying before the arrival of European. Also, that Africa are not intelligent enough to process from technology. And also, to locate technology in the realm of the study, Iron industry works in Benin.

 To this end, the research work is to study the general trend since inception of Iron technology in Benin down to it decline. As a result of competition pose by importation of purer and cheaper Iron bans from European in the 19th century.