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Horse-related title taking and animal cruelty in colonial eastern Nigeria: re-examining the economic rationale behind the introduction of humane killers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2022

Uche Uwaezuoke Okonkwo ,
Joy N. U. Ejikeme  and
Victor Okoro Ukaogo
Uche Uwaezuoke Okonkwo*
Affiliation:
Department of History and International Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Joy N. U. Ejikeme
Affiliation:
Humanities Section, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria
Victor Okoro Ukaogo
Affiliation:
Department of History and International Studies University of Nigeria
*
*Corresponding author. Email: ucheokonkwo2007@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Horse trading was an important aspect of the Igbo economy and horse-related title taking was a unique feature among various Nigerian groups, especially in eastern Nigeria. The demand for the introduction of humane horse killers in eastern Nigeria was heightened by the economic drive of the colonial political economy, and was not necessarily a consideration for the harmful treatment of animals. Horse-related title taking was accompanied by the increasing rate of intergroup relations between northern Nigeria and various Nigerian groups such as Igala and the Igbo. Ordinarily, men and women sought horse-related titles as signs of prestige and honour. The culture and traditional humane living of the people saw Ogbuinya horse-related title taking as a way of achieving certain degree of social status, but it also regrettably promoted animal cruelty. Sources for writing this article were derived from archival documents, books, journals, and other written materials. A descriptive method of analysis has been adopted in writing this article.

Type
Research Article
Information
Rural History , Volume 33 , Issue 2 , October 2022 , pp. 195 - 206
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

Notes

1 Charles Thurstan Shaw, Unearthing Igbo-Ukwu (Ibadan, 1977), pp. 86–7.

2 P. A. Oguagha, ‘The Beginnings of Igbo-Igala Relations up to c. 1650 A.D’, Nigerian Magazine, No. 149 (1984), p. 57.

3 Robin Horton, ‘Ancient Ife: a reassessment’, Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, 9:4 (June 1979), 105.

4 Erica Fudge, ‘A Left-Handed Blow: Writing the History of Animals’, in Nigel Rothfels, ed., Representing Animals: Theories of Contemporary Culture (Bloomington, IN, 2002), p. 1.

5 Robert Garner, ‘Bovine TB, badger culling and applied ethics: utilitarianism, animal welfare and rights’, Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics (2017), 582.

6 Ibid., p. 583.

7 Sandra Swart, ‘“Dark Horses”: The Horse in Africa in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries’, in Peter Edwards, Karl Enenkel and Elspeth Graham, eds, The Horse As Cultural Icon (Brill, 2011), p. 248.

8 Swart, ‘“Dark Horses”’, p. 249.

9 Ibid., p. 252.

10 Ibid., p. 254.

11 Christopher Traini, The Animal Rights Struggle: An Essay in Historical Sociology (Amsterdam, 2016), p. 11.

12 Ibid.

13 Ibid.

14 Ibid., p. 12.

15 National Archives Kaduna (hereafter NAK) VN 65/5, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

16 Onwuka N. Njoku, Economic History of Nigeria 19 th –21 st Centuries, 2nd edn (Nsukka, 2014), p. 49.

17 B. N Okwuosa, ‘Animal Production’, in G. E. K Ofomata, ed., A Survey of the Igbo Nation (Onitsha, 2002).

18 National Archive Enugu (hereafter NAE) ONDIST 20/1/1690, The District Officer Awka to the Senior Resident Onitsha Province ‘Memorandum’, File No. 33/8, ‘Horse Sacrifice and Cruelty to Animals’, 6th November 1920.

19 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, The District Officer Awgu to the Resident Onitsha, File No. 3318, 18th December 1920.

20 Adiele Afigbo, Ropes of Sand: Studies in Igbo History and Culture (Ibadan, 1981), p. 99.

21 Elizabeth Isichei, A History of the Igbo People (London and Basingstoke, UK, 1976), p. 14.

22 Njoku, Economic History of Nigeria 19 th –21 st Centuries, p. 128.

23 A. E. Afigbo, The Igbo and their Neighbours (Ibadan, 1987), p. 62.

24 Ibid., p. 63.

25 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, The District Officer Enugu to the Senior Resident Onitsha, File No. 3518, 7th January 1921.

26 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, The Divisional Office Nsukka to the Resident Onitsha Province, ‘Traffic in Worn-Out Horses through Kabba Province’, File No. 3518, 16th April 1934.

27 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Resident Onitsha Province to the Honourable Secretary Southern Province Enugu, File No. 3518, 14th October 1938.

28 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Resident Onitsha Province to the Honourable Secretary Southern Province Enugu, File No. 3518, 28th April 1934.

29 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, The Superintendent of Police Onitsha-Ogoja Province Onitsha to the Honourable Senior Resident Onitsha, File No. 3518, 2nd August 1938.

30 Ibid., p. 25.

31 Nome Chukwuma, ‘Horse Trade in the Economy of Umuezeoka Ezza LGA of Ebonyi State up to 2008’, BA History and International Studies Project, University of Nigeria (Nsukka, 2008), pp. 25–7.

32 Ibid., p. 33.

33 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, The Secretary’s Office Southern Provinces Enugu, Nigeria to the Resident Onitsha Province, File No. 3518, 14th September 1938.

34 NAE, The Superintendent of Police-Onitsha-Ogoja Province, p. 25.

35 Isichei, A History of the Igbo People, p. 47.

36 Afigbo, Ropes of Sand, p. 85.

37 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, The Superintendent of Police Onitsha-Ogoja Province Onitsha to the Honourable Senior Resident Onitsha, File No. 3518, 21st May 1938.

38 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, The Resident’s Office Onitsha Province to the Honourable Secretary Southern Province Enugu, ‘Horse Sacrifices’, File No. 3518, 13th March 1939.

39 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, District Officer Nsukka Division to the Honourable Senior Resident Onitsha Province, File No. 3518, 4th February 1939.

40 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Secretary’s Office Northern Province to the Secretary Eastern Provinces Enugu, ‘Horse Sacrifices’, File No. 3518, 13th May 1939.

41 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Norman S. Turnbull to the Resident Onitsha Province, File No. 3518, 14th June 1940.

42 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Acting Secretary Southern Province to the Resident Onitsha Province, File No. 3518, 7th December 1938.

43 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, H. J. M. Harding the District Officer Awka Division to the Resident Onitsha Province, ‘Traffic in Horses’, File No. 3518, 1st February 1950.

44 Ibid.

45 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, The Resident Onitsha Province to the Secretary Eastern Provinces Enugu, File No. 3518, 15th June 1939.

46 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Acting Secretary Southern Province to the Resident Onitsha Province, File No. 3518, 13th October 1938.

47 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, T. G. Lawrence Acting Secretary Eastern Provinces to the Honourable Chief Secretary to the Government Lagos, File No. 3518.

48 Oliver N. U. Eze, Cultural Identity in Ikwo Clan: Issues and Challenges (Abakaliki, 2011), p. 239.

49 Ibid., p. 247

50 Ibid., pp. 249–50.

51 Ibid., p. 254.

52 Ibid.

53 Ibid.

54 NAE, G. B. G. Chapman, Assessment Report on Ikwo Clan Abakaliki Division-Ogoja Province Secretary’s Office Southern Province, 1930, p. 63.

55 W. Egerton, ‘The Ezza in 1905’, in Elizabeth Isichei, ed., Igbo Worlds (London and Basingstoke, UK, 1977), pp. 242–3.

56 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, G. H. Farrel for Acting Commissioner the Nigerian Police to the Superintendent Onitsha, ‘Cruelty to Animals’, File No. 3518.

57 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Resident Office Onitsha Province to the Honourable Secretary Southern Province, ‘Horse Sacrifice’, File No. 3518, 14th October 1938.

58 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Local Authority Office to the Resident Onitsha Province Onitsha, File No. 3518, ‘Humane Slaughter of Animals’, 25th August 1952.

59 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Acting Civil Secretary Eastern Region to the Resident Onitsha, Ogoja, Umuahia, Bamenda, Buea, File No. 3518, 14th August 1952.

60 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Acting Resident Onitsha Province to the Civil Secretary Eastern Region, File No. 3518, 8th September 1952.

61 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Acting Resident Office Onitsha Province to the District Officer Nsukka, ‘Humane Killers’, 29th April 1953.

62 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Principal Veterinary Officer to the Resident Onitsha Province, ‘Humane Killers’, 27th April 1953; NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, District Officer Nsukka Division to the Resident Onitsha Province, ‘Traffic in Horses – Use of Humane Killers’, 23rd June 1953.

63 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Resident Onitsha Province to the Civil Society Eastern Nigeria, 25th June 1953.

64 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, District Officer Nsukka to the Resident Onitsha Province, 7th July 1953.

65 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Acting Resident Onitsha Province to the Civil Secretary Eastern Region Enugu, File No. 3518, 22nd June 1954.

66 NAE RIVPROF 8/10/379, Resident Owerri Province to the Secretary Southern Province, ‘Elephants and Rhinoceros – Preservation of’’, 31st May 1922.

67 Ibid.

68 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, Acting Governor Nigeria to the Secretary of State for the Colonies London, ‘Humane Slaughtering of Animals for Food’, O.C Ref. WAF/185/78/01, 11th December 1952.

69 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, Brief Notes of Meeting between the Senior District Officer, Muslim Community and Representatives of the Council held in the Senior District Office Calabar.

70 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, ‘Notes on Slaughter Arrangements in the Regions’, CAD 198.

71 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, Brief Notes of Meeting between the Senior District Officer, Muslim Community and Representatives of the Council held in the Senior District Office Calabar, 18th April 1957.

72 NAE PHDIST 10/1/586, District Officer to the Senior Resident Portharcourt, ‘Human Slaughter’, 28th February 1955.

73 Ibid.

74 NAE PHDIST 210/1/586, District Officer to the Permanent Secretary Eastern Region ‘Human Slaughter’, 28th February 1955.

75 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, Principal Veterinary Officer Abakaliki, ‘Humane Killer – Calabar’, 23rd July 1957.

76 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, ‘Notes on Slaughter Arrangements in the Regions’, CAD 198, para. 15.

77 Ibid., para. 16.

78 Ibid.

79 Ibid.

80 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, District Officer Calabar to Health Superintendent Calabar, Ref. No. U.I.4/331, ‘Humane Slaughtering of Animals for Food’, 21st March 1955.

81 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, Allen D. Campbell Veterinary Regional Headquarters Eastern Region, Abakaliki to the Secretary Urban District Council Calabar, Ref. No. V.E 51/42/455, ‘Humane Killer Training’, 22nd March 1956.

82 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, Senior District Officer Calabar to the Principal Veterinary Officer Abakaliki, 16th April 1957.

83 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, ‘Meeting Held in District Office Calabar’, 18th April 1957, p. 1.

84 Ibid., p. 2.

85 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, Senior District Officer Calabar to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Eastern Region Enugu, ‘Use of Humane Killer in Calabar Urban District: Muslim Objections’, 25th April 1957.

86 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Eastern Region Enugu to the District Officer Calabar, 25th June 1957.

87 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, Letter from J. E. Nyambi Secretary Urban District Council to Mr J. Peregrino Cassaram Calabar, ‘Humane Killer’, 26th January 1958.

88 NAK VN 65/5, Veterinary Regional Headquarters Abakaliki to the Director of Veterinary Services Kaduna, ‘Animal Welfare in the Eastern Region’, 2nd May 1952.

89 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, District Officer Nsukka to the Senior Resident Onitsha, 7th July 1955.

90 NAK VN 65/5, Principal Veterinary Regional Headquarters Abakaliki, 2nd May 1952.

91 NAK VN 65/5, Agricultural Department Enugu, ‘Animal Welfare Eastern Region’, 9th May 1952.

92 NAE ONPROF 11/1/62, Acting Resident Onitsha Province, ‘Annual Report Onitsha Province 1955’.

93 NAK VN 65/5, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals c/o Public Relations Department 11 Custom Street Lagos, 1st December 1952.

94 NAK VN 65/5, A. Ajose-Adeogun to the Director, Federal Information Services Lagos, 21st June 1955.

95 NAK VN 65/5, J. V. Hinoul Director Information Services Northern Region to the Secretary RSPCA, 3 Iddo Road, Lagos, 6th July 1955.

96 NAC CADIST 3/3/171, Letter from S. O. Ayodele to P. R. Hammond Esq., Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 15th January 1962.

97 NAE ONDIST 20/1/1690, Norman S. Turnbull to the Resident Onitsha Province, ‘Horse Sacrifices’, 14th June 1940.