Title: The role of Yoruba commercial migration in West African development.

POPLINE Document Number: 050968

Author(s):

Sudarkasa N

Source citation:

In: African migration and national development, edited by Beverly Lindsay. University Park, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University Press, 1985. :40-63.

Abstract:

This paper examines the role of Yoruba commercial migrants in contemporary West African regional trade, from the late 19th century to the present and focuses on a group of migrants who voluntarily left Nigeria to work in Ghana from the late 19th century through the 1960s. Most were forcibly repatriated between November 1969 and January 1970. Taxation and the monied economy forced millions of Yoruba to resettle in different parts of Nigeria; many also tried their luck in Ghana and other countries. Yoruba saw the opportunities that existed in the commercial sector of Ghana to trade Nigerian textiles for Ghanaian Kola and create a new niche for middlemen. Yoruba traders have served as intermediaries between African producers in different countries, as traders who sold overseas goods in small lots, as brokers buying cash crops, and as craftsmen who traded with their machines. In 1960 100,560 Yorubas lived in Ghana, 1.5% of that country's population; nearly 84% of these Yoruba were traders. Yoruba men were 20% of the male traders in Ghana; Yoruba women comprised only 6% of the female traders in Ghana. Yorubas traded imported provisions and sundries, hardware and parts, pots and pans, clothing, shoes and sandals, meat and fish, vegetables, herbs, cloth, bread, and prepared foods; they were, however, excluded from trading wholesale agricultural staples, especially yams and plantains. Most Yoruba traders were small-scale operators whose capital ranged from a few cedis to a few hundred. Yoruba retail traders generally preferred to buy goods from other Yorubas, because of better understanding of bargaining practices and language. Most Yoruba traders had at least 1 assistant, often a young relative. Most had switched trades or commodities at least once; they were very responsive to market conditions. In November 1969, the Ghanian government issued an edict expelling all African aliens; Yoruba traders were being used as a scapegoat for Ghana's economic ills. The Ghanaians mistook numbers and visibility for economic exploitation. The Yorubas created jobs and distributed goods; the economic situation worsened after their expulsion.

Title: The role of Yoruba commercial migration in West African development.

POPLINE Document Number: 050968

Author(s):

Sudarkasa N

Source citation:

In: African migration and national development, edited by Beverly Lindsay. University Park, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University Press, 1985. :40-63.

Abstract:

This paper examines the role of Yoruba commercial migrants in contemporary West African regional trade, from the late 19th century to the present and focuses on a group of migrants who voluntarily left Nigeria to work in Ghana from the late 19th century through the 1960s. Most were forcibly repatriated between November 1969 and January 1970. Taxation and the monied economy forced millions of Yoruba to resettle in different parts of Nigeria; many also tried their luck in Ghana and other countries. Yoruba saw the opportunities that existed in the commercial sector of Ghana to trade Nigerian textiles for Ghanaian Kola and create a new niche for middlemen. Yoruba traders have served as intermediaries between African producers in different countries, as traders who sold overseas goods in small lots, as brokers buying cash crops, and as craftsmen who traded with their machines. In 1960 100,560 Yorubas lived in Ghana, 1.5% of that country's population; nearly 84% of these Yoruba were traders. Yoruba men were 20% of the male traders in Ghana; Yoruba women comprised only 6% of the female traders in Ghana. Yorubas traded imported provisions and sundries, hardware and parts, pots and pans, clothing, shoes and sandals, meat and fish, vegetables, herbs, cloth, bread, and prepared foods; they were, however, excluded from trading wholesale agricultural staples, especially yams and plantains. Most Yoruba traders were small-scale operators whose capital ranged from a few cedis to a few hundred. Yoruba retail traders generally preferred to buy goods from other Yorubas, because of better understanding of bargaining practices and language. Most Yoruba traders had at least 1 assistant, often a young relative. Most had switched trades or commodities at least once; they were very responsive to market conditions. In November 1969, the Ghanian government issued an edict expelling all African aliens; Yoruba traders were being used as a scapegoat for Ghana's economic ills. The Ghanaians mistook numbers and visibility for economic exploitation. The Yorubas created jobs and distributed goods; the economic situation worsened after their expulsion.

And Ghanaians do have fat asses, LOL

Here is something for you to also think about


To all Ghanaian fumbling around in this forum if, you feel inferior and passive you are bound to see someone who is confident as loud. If your national characteristic is a tendency to sneak behind peoples, back and whisper in the shadows, obviously you will tend to see anybody who speaks openly and with confidence as loud. Worms that like the dankness of the soil probably think the sunlight too loud.  Nigerian people are brash for good reason, they have been there, done that and burn the shirt, they are not Johnny-come-lately. 

However, words hide deeper meanings. For instance, rather than admit Nigerians are confident people, those who admiringly dislike them might choose to use words such as brash, loud, cocky and arrogant. Bold and outgoing are also words that describe confident people. Likewise, meek, timid, mousy, passive are word used to describe Ghanaians. Sneaky, skulking, Jealous and bitter are also words that describe the nature of quiet people. The funny thing is, the negative words use to describe people who are confident are far more delightful than the negative words used to describe quiet people.

One thing further, it seems Ghanaians envy the way Nigerians act and would like to copy the Nigerian swagger but do not realise that it is the Nigeria true genuine nature. It is not an act.  Ghanaians on the other hand are not in touch with themselves and consequently exhibit bushman mentality. When you are in touch with yourself the things you do, which others who are bush condemn eventually becomes fashionable when they are able to do it themselves. This is why the Nigerian spraying of money, condemned by bush envious, bitter, jealous people, has now become popular amongst other cultures.

Finally, as I said before, Ghanaians desperately want to be like Nigerians but are too bush in mentality to do it successfully. Bush people are often too meek, misinformed and over do things based on ill-perceived notions. See how you Ghanaians have only just discovered oil and already have started partying and screeching hysterically to the entire world about your illusionary supper power status, wanting to pull out of ECOWAS, to kick foreigners out of your country, bragging that you are the giant of Africa and all this before the oil is even out of the ground.   



Stupid fools do not understand Nigerians are warriors. Our swagger come from culture, which informs how our women most walk and hold up themselves with virtue, and how our men must be brave and bold. They think we swagger because of labels or buildings or capitals and such stuff. Even in a mud hole we are what we are, warriors.




Hell, I might just change my username to SWAGGERING WARRIOR, lol.

Shesi


I do not know where you live, or knowing the Ghana characteristic, you are hiding behind falsehoods. It is self-evident that Ghanaians are partying around the world claiming that they are soon to be the next superpower of Africa. Come on Shesi you know your people and you know that I am telling the truth.

Osupru the Ashanti



If Nigeria is a hellhole, what are you doing on the forum?
Has it occurred to you, in return, Ghana is a shithole that is why Nigerians use it as their toilet? Your words not mine.

Hi, Shesi the Ashanti,

You and your Ashanti followers are always here on Nigerian forum. It makes me wonder if you are part of the moderating team because of the way you always seem to hone in Nigerian topics. Alternatively, maybe you are friendly with people on the moderating team and they beep you and your flock to come bleating on such topics.

Bearing in mind that Ghana is now awash with oil, and your people in Ghana have laid claims to being the next best thing to come out of Africa since slice bread in the next five years, one would have thought that this board no longer bears relevance to such as you and your Ashanti followers.

This sounds like one of those Ghana made up stories based on the illusion they have now arrived since the discovery of oil and wanting to get back at Nigerians. I would bet on it that the person who wrote this is from that country.

When I saw the title of this thread, I laughed in jest and thought, Ghanaians - bearing in mind the posturing of late - only to open the thread and the guy mentioned the girl was Ghanaian.

[size=14pt][size=16pt]I agree with Radiant, Nigerian men are too disciplined, traditional and place too much emphasis on success and self respect. [/size]White men on the other hand offer something new and exciting. They offer liberation from the constraint of culture.  They make you feel liberated, with a Whitman, anything goes. For instance, they support feminism this is why you see so many black women married to Whiteman work like donkey. The Whitman will willingly let his black wife work around the clock while he goes down the pub. Sex with them is fantastic and varied. You get wife-swap opportunities, even swap with different species –isn’t that fantastic?   

In addition to all these goodies, they have supportive nature. They will support and encourage you to adopt modern ways which involves smoking, going to the pub get drunk vomit all over yourself and put your crutch on display, what more could you ask for. Also abandoning family ties especially your black family. They will stand behind you to stand up to your relatives they will chook hand in your father and mothers eyes.

No longer will you be forced to endure those boring obedient Nigerian children who are so obsessed   with homework and  respect for elders instead you will give birth to liberated mix raced children who think the height of modernity is not to eat African food but to eat fish and chips, Kentucky and spaghetti.   [/size]

[size=16pt]So Radiant go ahead and shine in your new found joy and good luck to you.[/size]

I once met an elderly woman in a shop and we got talking. She informed me that she was in a nursing home and that the Nursing Home Manger had to give consent for her to visit the shop. Needless to say the elderly woman let me know that she found this humiliating. I asked her what she was doing in a nursing home seeing that she was a very strong and healthy looking woman who did not look as old (75) as she claimed. She said that she hated the place and that she would never forgive her daughter for putting her in a home. She said that her only child (the daughter) took control of her finances and forcefully placed her into the care home system although she begged her not to.

She said when she lived on her own she had many friends and attended many functions with her friends but in the Nursing home, this was impossible surrounded as she was with paraplegics.

She said she had worked all her life to make sure her daughter had a very good education and upbringing. The old woman decried the fact that her daughter repaid her in this manner, placing her in a home.

She told me that she hated her daughter and no longer spoke to her. This elderly woman said that she was not ashamed to admit that she prayed to god every night to do to her daughter what her daughter did to her.

Loads of British born blacks particularly the ones married to oyibos, who tends to loose all focus on reality are forcefully taking over their parent’s property and finances and pushing them into old people’s home. The parents hate it but are powerless to do anything.

I have heard of so many cases of this particularly amongst people from the Caribbean community whose children are born in Britain. At the rate the African community are choosing to abandon their cultural heritage I can see them following along the same path in a few years.

Sneaky Ghanaians at it again

Haven’t you all notice what the SNEAKY Ghanaian minister is doing, he is aware that his Ghanaian people are obsessing about Nigerians and insulting them and that it is getting to the stage where people are starting to notice that this having a go at Nigerians has gone beyond bantering and is looking unhealthy. Therefore, in typical Ghana sneaky mode the minister wants to turn the perception around and make it look as if it is the Nigerians who do not like Ghanaians and the once with the unhealthy obsessions.

Nigerians need to wake up and realise that most Ghanaians have never liked them and that this manifests itself on many occasions e.g. at school they go around slaughtering Nigerians to Caribbean people. In the work place, when talk of Africa takes place, Ghanaians likes nothing better than to slaughter Nigerians in the presence of oyibo, Caribbean and other none-African colleagues or anyone who cares to listen for that matter.

Nigerians do not seem to understand that the Ghanaian character seeks to avoid confrontation and while this at first seems like a good thing, it does not end with just avoiding confrontation. They go on to judge you behind your back and this is typically hypocritical and sneaky. They appear very friendly and always smiley however, as soon as you turn your back they will slaughter you.

Sneaky Ghanaians at it again

Haven’t you all notice what the SNEAKY Ghanaian minister is doing, he is aware that his Ghanaian people are obsessing about Nigerians and insulting them and that it is getting to the stage where people are starting to notice that this having a go at Nigerians has gone beyond bantering and is looking unhealthy. Therefore, in typical Ghana sneaky mode the minister wants to turn the perception around and make it look as if it is the Nigerians who do not like Ghanaians and the once with the unhealthy obsessions.

Nigerians need to wake up and realise that most Ghanaians have never liked them and that this manifests itself on many occasions e.g. at school they go around slaughtering Nigerians to Caribbean people. In the work place, when talk of Africa takes place, Ghanaians likes nothing better than to slaughter Nigerians in the presence of oyibo, Caribbean and other none-African colleagues or anyone who cares to listen for that matter.

Nigerians do not seem to understand that the Ghanaian character seeks to avoid confrontation and while this at first seems like a good thing, it does not end with just avoiding confrontation. They go on to judge you behind your back and this is typically hypocritical and sneaky. They appear very friendly and always smiley however, as soon as you turn your back they will slaughter you.

Wow! Nigerian men must be the spice of foreign women’s life. I cannot believe we have one thread rolling into 19 pages about “Nigerian men sex and affairs: American women speak”, now we have another thread going into 11 pages about “American Women That Marry Nigerian men”.

One would have thought that any women coming here to post would be interested in reading the numerous pages of advice that already exist about what other women like themselves have to say about Nigerian men/husbands,

In addition, I am hoping Nigerians on the board are aware that many posting here are not interested in your advice but are only here to add to the stereotype of Nigerian men

Most of you are first generation Africans/Nigerians born abroad and are already in denial of yourself/culture. Flipping hell, the west cannot be good for African children if all it does is to make them have such low self-esteem.

At least black/African American were held in slavery and forcedly divest of their culture and yet some call them akata derogatorily.

Faakay and all the others posting in this thread, aren’t we not all hypocrites. Which one of you can honestly say that when you were in Nigeria you did not exhibit those characteristics you are prescribing to our brothers? That is making unrealistic demands of our parents or relatives abroad. Now that the shoe is on the other foot we now see fit to abuse our Nigerian brothers.

We should be blaming our relatives and parents who first entered these shores. They should have been honest from the start about how hard it is to work for a living in England/America rather than giving our people unrealistic expectations and fooling our people’s heads with lies about the grandeur of being abroad.

The mother of a friend of mine often travelled home with lots on money. She does not work; her children give her the money to travel. One time she went with £20k for six weeks holidays. She ran out of money within three weeks. The funny thing was that as soon as she ran out of money, and none was forthcoming after she rang her children in England, she jumped on a plane and hightailed back to her wonderful England.

Then when back in England, the phone calls from Nigeria followed with every Tom, Johnny and Harry begging her for money and who can fault them.


Incidentally, it appears a common perception among people in African, Asia, South America, and Caribbean, if they have relatives in England and America, that the English ones are stingier by comparison to American ones.

In all cultures mother-in-laws are very significant and powerful figures for example, in Britain/America there is a whole industry based on mother in laws jokes which underscores the significance of the mother in law.  In fact in Britain the place of mother in law in family has political undertone.

For example, here are a few of the mother-in-law stories previously submitted via a webpage.

I'm getting really tired of being expected to keep the whole world informed of our every breath.  When we were first married, I kept my MIL in the loop as much as I kept my own parents in the loop.  But, every phone call or e-mail MIL received, she'd use it against me, twisting my words and spreading false rumors about the "awful" things I'd said.  So, I finally told DH that it was enough!!  I said, "From now on, it's YOUR responsibility to inform YOUR family about important events.  And I will inform MY family.  If you don't tell your mother, then she simply won't know anything."  Well, here we are, planning a trip to visit our home state in a few months.  I told my parents 2 months ago, and we're all very excited.  Then, I got a furious phone call from MIL, demanding to know why *I* hadn't told her we were coming.  I pointed out that DH was supposed to call her, and I wasn't aware that he hadn't.  She told me that I was a "selfish b!tch" for expecting him to operate a telephone all by himself, and that it was my "duty" as a wife to do these things.  Well, thanks, MIL, you've just made my decision about whether to see you during my vacation or not REALLY easy.  I think I'll be too busy whenever you want to "do lunch".


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
My in-laws came to visit on the day I brought my son home from the hospital.  I'd had a c-section and wasn't ready to move around a great deal, but they all wanted pizza for dinner.  So they made it.  From scratch.  When I looked out in the kitchen, there was flour everywhere.  And, though I had a dishwasher, they were piling all the dishes in the sink, just so I (according to MIL), "could wash them up when I was up and feeling better."
------------------------------------------------------------------------


At our wedding, my mother-in-law asked me (the bride), and her other daughter-in-law and son-in-law to step out of the pictures so the photographer (who we were paying for) could take some pictures of "her family".  So, there I was, the bride, standing on the side, watching her set up pictures of "her family".  Her son-in-law told me to get used to it, as she does this at all occasions (I still can't get used to it!).


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After over 18 years, 3 children, and the usual problems in a marriage, my husband and I have survived.  Now, my mother-in-law told me straight out that he should kick me out on the street.  She is very blunt about this to my children as well.  My youngest comes back to me and asks why "gramma wants daddy to kick you out."  My husband is spineless when it comes to her.  There are also 5 sisters that support my mother-in-law in her decisions.  I have told her to stay out of our lives, but I was never rude, just firm.  I have even brought the children up to see her, but they are getting to the point they don't want anything to do with her either.  I will not make them visit her.  To top it off, I am disabled and cannot do anything to please her.  She thinks I am "faking it", and does not understand why I do not work.




Mother-in-jokes

1. AN anagram of mother-in-law is woman Hitler.

2. WHAT’S the difference between a mother-in-law and a vulture?  The vulture waits until you’re dead before it eats your heart out.

3. HOW many mothers-in-law does it take to ruin a marriage?
Just one, mine!

4. HOW many mothers-in-law does it take to change a light bulb?
One. She just holds it up there and waits for the world to revolve around her.

5. LAWYER to his client: your mother-in-law passed away in her sleep. Shall we order burial, embalming or cremation
Son-in-law: take no chances? Order all three



My point is, all cultures have issues with mother-in-laws. The important thing is that they are part of the culture and ought to be respected. Do not forget the wonderful husbands you all profess to have are the product and hard work of these very same women you choose to despise. I am aware some can be difficult; however, what is required in dealing with mother-in-laws is wisdom not disrespect

Please Nigerians you are paying Ashanti boy(Bennyboy11) and his lot ( Seshi, Asha, Martass etc) far too much attention. No wonder they are on NL 24/7. They are here getting their egos massaged - you know, Ghana is great Nigeria is crap.  Remember, a dog that has been given a bone will always come back for more, unless you stop feeding it and send it away with its tail between its legs.

Please Nigerians you are paying Ashanti boy(Bennyboy) and his lot ( Seshi, Asha, Martass etc) far too much attention. No wonder they are on NL 24/7. They are here getting their egos massaged - you know, Ghana is great Nigeria is crap.  Remember, a dog that has been given a bone will always come back for more, unless you stop feeding it and send it away with its tail between its legs.

Dear god, just how many angles exist to approach this cringe worthy topic?

From the argument on this board, I can only deduce that all Nigerians are thieves, your grandparents, aunts uncles nieces nephews, cousins, father and mothers even the ones pointing finger at those Nigerians who have been arrested for all I know you may only be condemning their actions to cover your own crimes. Whenever you go to school, or place of work you will be viewed as thieves no matter how nicely people are in front of your face.

Keep condemning yourselves every time some media frenzy story is printed in the paper about Nigerians without any hard evidence because when the white media finish with you, you will all end up worst than the African/black Americans who have been there for 400 years. Hiding under the banner of African American or biracialism won’t help you and changing your names won’t save you.  The very mouth you use to curse your ancestral land and condemn your fellow Nigerians will come back to haunt you, your children’s and your children’s children. 

You just appear to be gulping all the negative stereotypes and labelling met out at you by the America media, have you ever questioned that they might have their own hidden agendas;  I am not saying you are to uphold madness but stop condemning yourselves  ever time a piece of reporting appears. Some of these people you are condemning might just be running a legitimate business and are being framed.

And for all those other sniggering Africans disguising as Nigerians on this board and elsewhere going around condemning Nigerians your time will come, you just wait and see, you should not feel you are exempt because when they finish destroying Nigerians they will start on you too, history has taught us that.

Mandigo

Don’t be too jolly, remember those who laugh last laugh best

Obama visiting Ghana means nothing. He did not visit his fathers land did he?  In fact the only people that should be hurting are Kenyans.  However, if Kenyans are clever they should understand that it’s not the ones who get the visit gets the help. Obama is a clever man. He keeps the worlds attention on Ghana, talk hard to Kenyans but at the end of his reign, Kenyans will be the country that receives the most help.

Obama is of East African origin; his heart will be with East Africans as you should know.

Shadon

Mitchell Obama did not make claims her ancestors were from Ghana, the article read that Michelle ancestors were taken as slave from the continent, not particular Ghana.

Ghanaians are using this for tourism purposes as one of their ministers mentioned he hope that Obama’s visit bring in tourist to the country, it is a tactic used by that countries tourism conscious industry. I mean there is nothing wrong with that. However in reality Ghana ranks low on the African continent in relation to where people were taken as slaves. The Dutch mined for gold in Ghana and were careful not to depopulate the area and for there to be stability. Ghana was known as the gold coast not the Slave Coast.

On another note, if truth be told, most black Americans favour Ghana over other Africans who are less subservient because Ghanaians can more easily be patronised. Black Americans like their white counterpart are like this with Africans they can patronise. Notice how they also do not like the Somalis. Somali’s and to a lesser extent Ethiopians feels they are better than Black Americans. Likewise black Americans take Nigerians cultural behaviours to mean Nigerians look down on Black Americans.

Nigerians are open and will tell you what they think. The Ghanaians won’t do that. In short, Nigerians are opinionated to your face while Ghanaians are opinionated to your back.

Essentially the majority of African American informed by their presence in the white world cannot accept Africans on African terms. White people like blacks that are subservient to them to be role model for other black people, another legacy of slavery, so I suppose they would like Ghana to be a role model for the rest of Africa.