AN ECONOMIC HISTORY OF ORUK ANAM IN THE PRE-COLONIAL ERA

ABSTRACT
In attempt to keep alive elements of the Oruk Anam economic activities prior to colonial rule, it becomes important to reconstruct the Economic History of the people whose past have contributed in no small measure towards emancipation and development. It is based on these facts concerned to drive into the past only otherwise it would be impossible to understand how the present came into being and what the trends are for the near future. Furthermore, this research work lay emphasis on the fact that Oruk Anam people prior to colonial rule had a unique and vibrant economic activities which include, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Hunting, Pottery, Fishing, Crafts, Oil palm production and Crop production. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to examine economic activities of Oruk Anam people during the pre-colonial era. This work used primary sources which are oral interviews and secondary sources which are books, journals and other related material to arrive on a conclusion that Oruk Anam operated a dynamic and unique economic activities before the colonial rule.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page – – – – – – – – – i
Declaration – – – – – – – – – ii
Certification – – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgments – – – – – – – – v
Abstract – – – – – – – – – vi
Table of Contents – – – – – – – – vii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study – – – – – – – 1
Statement of the Problem – – – – – – – 3
Aim and Objectives of the study – – – – – – 3
Significance of the Study – – – – – – – 4
Scope and Limitations of the Study – – – – – – 4
Methodology – – – – – – – – – 5
Literature Review – – – – – – – – 5
Chapterisation – – – – – – – – 8
Endnotes – – – – – – – – – 9

CHAPTER TWO: ORUK ANAM PEOPLE
Geographical Location – – – – – – – 10
Traditions of Origin – – – – – – – – 11
Migration and Settlement – – – – – – – 13
Political Organization – – – – – – – 16
Endnotes – – – – – – – – – 18
CHAPTER THREE: SOCIO-CULTURAL AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Socio-Cultural Organization – – – – – – – 19
Socio-Cultural Institutions – – – – – – – 19
Endnotes – – – – – – – – – 29

CHAPTER FOUR: ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
Agriculture – – – – – – – – – 32
Crafts and Manufacturing Activities – – – – – – 42
Endnotes – – – – – – – – – 46
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Summary – – – – – – – – – 48
Conclusion – – – – – – – – – 50
Bibliography – – – – – – – – – 51
Appendices – – – – – – – – – 54

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
However, the history of Oruk Anam people like most ethnic groupings and communities in Nigeria is faced with the problem of documentation unlike western societies. Pre colonial societies kept their history through oral tradition and so in historical reconstruction, the historian will highly depend on oral history. History was passed generationally among Oruk Anam people in form of folktales, folklores, dialectic stories, songs, adages among others. Oruk Anam people not only enjoys a rich history but this history also shows that Oruk Anam people had several Economic, Political and social structure which facilitates for a great extent, its development. Oruk Anam people are part of the Annang ethnic group and this share a migratory history with the Ibibio. That traced their origin to the Bantu speaking tribe who due to war and other associated reasons migrated to the lower Niger region.
The main economic activities of Oruk Anam people were Agriculture, Fishing, Hunting, Local Industries, Oil production among others, these occupation were determined by the geographical organization of the people or natural resources. These economic activities has some significant effect on the people, in area of Agriculture such as cultivation of different crops, Oruk Anam people engaged in farming and cultivate a range of crops including yam, cocoyam, palm fruit, cassava. These were mainly for subsistence as such family unit mainly cultivate that which would be enough to feed the household. Again the increase of variety of food crops which result to the increase of food production. Hence the people were able to feed themselves which subsequently led to increase in population among the people. Animal Husbandry for stock breeding and the varieties of domestic animals like Dog, Goat and Poultry were raised for economic use. Hunting also had some effect in the society of Oruk Anam people, they help in keeping the entire community safe by hunting and killing of wild beasts.
In terms of political organization, Oruk Anam people operated a non-centralized system of government. They were organized into lineage, village or clan council. Every family lineage and village was represented at each council and so laws were made and administered by the representative of the people. Traditional institutions in pre-colonial Oruk Anam society perform not just the roles of conflict management but also served as agent of socio-economic development and custodian of indigenous culture. More so, it could be established that Oruk Anam people had a vibrant and dynamic economic activities prior to the colonial rule. It is therefore on this premise that this research work shall attempt to examine the pre-colonial economic history of Oruk Anam people.

1.2 Statement of Problem
The dependency on the money allocated to the state by federal government had bad effect on the day to day activities of the state. However, Akwa Ibom has not grown well in this economic situation in which several economic resources are available in the state that could have been used or modified to make the state economically viable. Therefore, I draw the attention back on the economic activities that sustained the people in pre colonial era, and what constitute the economic activities of Oruk Anam people in pre colonial era and how it was practiced within this period in history.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the study
The aim of the study is to examine what constitute the economic activities of Oruk Anam people in pre colonial era. The objectives are as follows;
To critically trace the Origin, migration and settlement of Oruk Anam people.
To critically examine the socio-cultural activities that was practiced among the people
To trace how these economic activities were practiced within this period.
To throw more light on the pre colonial life of Oruk Anam people and show that Oruk Anam people operated a dynamic indigenous economic system before the colonial rule

1.4 Significance of the study
The value of history cannot be over-emphasized, it helps us to understand the origin of past events and development i.e. enable us to deal more effectively with issues, it equally helps in promoting a sense of peoplehood, these happens when the history of the people contains meritorious attainment and glorious pact. However, this work aim to examine the Economic history of Oruk Anam people in pre colonial Era. It will aid the knowledge of the native of Oruk Anam local government area to have a wider understanding of the Economic history of Oruk Anam people in pre colonial times. Moreso, this work will be of a great importance to researchers, scholars who shall attempt to find more about pre colonial Economic history of Oruk Anam people. Furthermore, it will help Entrepreneur to discover more information that can help them develop their business.

1.5 Scope and limitations of the study
The scope of this research work focus mainly on the economic history of Oruk Anam people in pre colonial Era. This has to do with the economic activities of Oruk Anam people before the advert of colonial rule. However, this work encountered some obstacles which served as its limitations. Its was not easy getting all materials needed for the study, vital documents like journals, literature and other relevant materials were not easy to get.
The research work was conducted alongside other time demanding academic work. It was done in conjunction with classroom assignment, term papers, lectures and examination. Above all these, different historical approaches were used to assemble the information gotten into a sensible and reliable historical writing.

1.6 Methodology
Research Methodology is the collection of data and it systematic analysis to achieve a definite and objective research work. However, data was collected from primary sources which are oral interviews. The oral interviews were critically analyzed to avoid distortion that may come from bias or other related issues.
Furthermore, secondary sources include all written works by different scholars on the Economic history of Oruk Anam people which this research, reference to books, journals, magazines and other related materials on the subject matter. Chicago style sheet documentation format was used.