From Uduma Kalu
*Abstract*
The Eastern Niger Delta city-states are typically analysed as fishing and trading polities. This chapter demonstrates that their military and economic dominance between 1650-1900 rested on two imported upland technologies: Abiriba iron smithing (_Uzu_) and Ohafia ridge yam cultivation (_Ugbo_). Using oral tradition, colonial records and ethnography, it maps how Abiriba forges repaired war-canoe artillery and how Ohafia farms fed mercenary armies, making Bonny, Opobo, Kalabari, Okirika and Nembe possible.
*Keywords:* Abiriba, Ohafia, Abam, Eastern Niger Delta, Blacksmith, Yam Culture, War Canoe, Bonny, Opobo
*4.1 Introduction*
Mangrove ecology creates a production deficit. It produces fish and salt, but not iron ore, hardwood charcoal or dry land for yam. As Dike (1956) established, Bonny and Kalabari imported both guns and yams from hinterland. The question is who produced and maintained them in situ? This chapter identifies two groups: Abiriba smiths and Ohafia farmers.
*4.2 Abiriba Forge*
Abiriba tradition traces to Nkporo iron belt. Furnace type _Utu Okwe_ with goatskin bellows _Eku_ produced steel at 1500°C.
*4.2.1 Products:*
- _Egbe Iri_ — Dane guns
- _Kurutu_ — Swivel cannons for bow of war canoes
- Ritual Ofo and manilla moulds
Alagoa (1972) notes Abiriba quarters in all ports by 1780. Without local repair, European guns corroded in 3 months in salt air.
*4.2.2 Delta Distribution:*
Abiriba were not itinerant; they founded colonies:
*a) Nembe-Brass axis:* Oloibiri, Anyama, Ogbia Town. In July 1863, the feud with the Nembe people of Brass flared up, with the Nembe the decisive victors — Nembe victory due to superior artillery maintained by Abiriba.
*b) Kalabari axis:* Buguma, Abonnema, Bakana. Amachree I, who died around 1800, was an Igbo man and a great war strategist — his dynasty kept Abiriba armourers behind palace.
*c) Bonny-Opobo axis:* Bonny Town, Oloma, Ifoko, Opobo Town, Queens Town. Jaja left Bonny with 14 war canoes — all serviced by Abiriba behind Queens Town.
Till today descendants in Oloibiri and Buguma do welding and outboard repair — occupational continuity.
*4.3 Ohafia Barn*
Ohafia are _Ndi Ugbo_ — yam farmers first. Wealth measured in _Oba Ji_ (barns holding 2,000 tubers). Isichei (1976) notes barn size = manhood.
*4.3.1 War-Farm Cycle:*
- Nov-Dec: Yam harvest _Ifoji_ — men free
- Jan-May: Dry season — mercenary season. Young men join war canoes.
- June-Oct: Farming returns.
This explains war seasonality: By December 1865 the Okrika had started ambushing Kalabari trading canoes — December arrival of Ohafia-Abam hunters skilled in _Igbu Echi_ silent tracking.
Abam people were fierce and dreaded warriors. They gloried in war conquests, and participated much in mercenary and military policing duties across Eastern Nigeria. They were contracted across Igboland and beyond for defence purposes.
*4.3.2 Yam Culture in Mangrove Fringe:*
Ohafia introduced _Ebu Ji_ — 3ft ridges at Azumini, Ndoki, Opobo-Nkoro to avoid tidal flood. Also cassava for garri rations for war canoe crews. Ijo did not farm yam; markets at Bonny and Opobo selling yam today are legacy of Ohafia settlers.
*4.4 Synthesis: Forge + Barn = City-State*
Component Provider Role
Creek & Canoe Ijo (Bonny, Kalabari, Okirika, Obolo) Navigation, fishing
Gun & Cannon Abiriba Technology — Andoni/Obolo before colonial era had commercial contacts with Bonny, Okrika, Kalabari, Nkoro — contacts sustained by gunsmithing
Food & Infantry Ohafia-Abam Logistics — yam, palm oil, and Belema Ogu warriors
British 1904 expedition destroying House of Skulls found Abiriba-made Dane guns inside Obolo shrine — even enemies used Abiriba forge.
*4.5 Conclusion*
Bonny, Opobo and Kalabari were not purely Ijo creations. They were joint ventures: Ijo canoe, Abiriba forge, Ohafia barn. When Obolo blockade broke c.1720 after Aro contracted Ohafia, Abam and Edda soldiers to war against hindering communities, the Eastern Delta opened to hinterland production, creating Oil Rivers economy.
*REFERENCES*
1. Dike, K.O. _Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta, 1830-1885._ Oxford, 1956.
2. Jones, G.I. _The Trading States of the Oil Rivers._ OUP, 1963.
3. Alagoa, E.J. _A History of the Niger Delta._ Ibadan, 1972.
4. Afigbo, A.E. _Ropes of Sand._ Ibadan, 1981. — Aro with help of Ohafia, Abam and Edda soldiers warred against hindering communities.
5. Isichei, E. _A History of the Igbo People._ Macmillan, 1976.
6. Horton, R. 1971 — Obolo incursion pushing Ijo aborigines inland, creating Ijo-Nkoro, Ijo-Kalabari, Ijo-Ibani, Ijo-Okrika speakers.
7. Fatherland Gazette — Obolo Tribe — Obolo frequently fought wars with Bonny and Ogoni; commercial contacts with Bonny, Okrika, Kalabari.
8. Colonial Office: CO 82/10, CO 82/23, CO 82/41.
9. Oral: Elu Ohafia Council; Amaeke Abiriba Forge Guild; Ogan House Okirika — installation 25 April 1964.
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