Social and Economic Development of Ibaland Up to 2000

Abstract

This paper examines the social and economic development of Ibaland up to 2000. The focus of this study is on the people of Ibaland, one of the multifarious Awori settlements on the southern part of Yoruba land, who had developed an elaborate system of socio-economic structures prior to the coming of the Europeans in the mid- 19th century. This became imperative in view of erroneous perceptions of some European writers that Africa had no history prior to their contact with African societies. The work also examines the development of one of the Awori settlements in the coastal region of Lagos, whose societies may not in any way be seen as one of the mega-states of pre-colonial Yoruba land, but as one of the mini-states that possesses some of the accoutrements of the mega states. The paper is structured into six parts namely, introduction, background/origin and geographical location of Ibaland, socio-religious activities, architecture, role of women, economy and conclusion.