The Colonial Conquest of Misau Emirate and the Introduction of Colonial Structures, 1903–1960

Abstract

The Subject matter of this paper deals with the Colonial Transformation of Misau Emirate on social, political and economic structures. It covers the period from 1903-1960 A.D. This was the period in which a colonial society with dependent structures was established to serve the interests of British capitalism. The establishment of this colonial relationship entailed the re-orientation of the system of production in the Emirate and the transformation of its pre-existing institutions along capitalist lines. The Aristocracy, the power that controlled and regulated the Emirate system of production, was subjected and transformed to allow for the re-orientation. The re-orientation of the system of production was carried out through the implementation of colonial land, labour and fiscal policies. Out of process of the establishment of colonial system of production new class relations, with capitalist values, began to develop. The result was the emergence of a new type of polarisation within the society, made up of cash-croppers and labourers on the one hand and a ruling class on the other. The ruling class that was emerging was made up of top bureaucrats that included Emir, Hakimai, Dagatai, their advisers and trading agents. This division was sustained and sharpened by new forms of accumulation and appropriation of wealth. Through these new forms of appropriation and accumulation of proceeds of labour, the colonizers and their agents benefited immensely. The data used for this research were drawn from both primary and secondary sources. Therefore, the period between 1903 and 1960, therefore, was one in which the Emirate social, political and economic structures underwent profound changes under colonial domination in the interest of British capitalism.