Geography and the Political Economy of Pre-colonial Ehugbo

Abstract

Geography is often a major determinant of economic activities. Traditional African economic activities such as hunting, gathering, fishing, animal rearing, crop production and local industries were often determined by the geographical environment. In turn, economic activities could become instrumental in the formation and shaping of political institutions and social relations. By focusing on creating a cash crop economy and integrating African economies into the world capitalist system, European colonialism altered the longstanding economic and political base of African traditional societies. This article discusses the place of geography in the pre-colonial economic development of Ehugbo and shows how various economic activities influenced the formation of organised political and social institutions among the people in pre-colonial times.