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Ilorin Economy

No doubt, Ilorin was described in the 19th century as 'super city'. This was owing to her economic potentials occasioned by the volume of trade, and her position as the economic hub and location which served as entrepot between the south and the north.

It is therefore, obvious that llorin people had practically engagcd in all sorts of economic activities which included farming, weaving, both cloth and “konkoso” (a locally made instrument), black smithing. tie and dye, pot and bead making, among other crafts, as well as trade and commerce.

Weaving

By the 19th century, weaving had reached a highly advanced stage n dillerent parts of Nigeria. From the pre-colonial period, tne Tlorin hand-woven textile products were of good quality. Ilorin people engaged in weaving of cloth using various materials.

Both men and women were involved in weaving, but they worked on different types of looms and produced different sizes of cloth. In the past, women learnt weaving as girls, while some kept it up as a special trade and earned their living from it. However, the craft has almost gone into extinction as only few women now work on the vertical loom. Unlike women, men worked on horizontal narrow stip cloths (awe in Yoruba) of about 13cm wide. Men practice weaving in the courtyard or secluded squares in compounds where they could conveniently stretch their warp.

Apart from cloth weaving, people of Ilorin emirate were involved in the weaving of 'Konkoso,' a hand woven instrument for sieving yam powder. It was men's occupation; coconut or palm tree leaves used in weaving of 'konkoso' were obtained from places like Asa, Yaaru, Ile-Apa, Mesudo, etc. Special konkoso, with assorted colours, was usually made for new brides, as part of their bridal properties. Those for sales were carried to Oja-Oba (Emir's Market) for sale to villagers who in turn sold it to their respective buyers. With the introduction of grinding machine, 'Konkoso' is no more uscd by the people in the emirate.

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Pottery

Archeological and historical evidence shows that pottery industry had been active in llorin for centuries. Pottery has always been women's occupation and they formed what was practically a guild; the art passed from mother to daughter. Pot making was in large production at Oko- Dada and Ondoko area of Okelele. Products of the pottery industry

include small and big water-pots, native plates, lamps, stewing pots, among others. The trade is still active in Ilorin.

Blacksmithing

Though black smiting was never a general occupation of the people of llorin, many families n the emirate were/are particularly distinguished in the practice. Such families are usually named after craft; hence, Ile Alagbede. Products of black smithing include weapons of warfare such as swords, spears and arrow heads; domestic utensils like knives and farm implements like hoes and cutlasses. Although a few still engage in the craft, it seems to be gradually going into extinction due to lack of patronage, competition with imported metal objects, and low income realized from the occupation which was considered strenuous and time consuming.

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Trade and Commerce

Trading was seen as a platform for both male and female in the entire Emirate of llorin. This was because articles of trade determined who was involved in trading. Accordingly, both young and aged people engaged in trading activities irrespective of their gender. During the 19th century, Ilorin became a major commercial centre for local, regional and trans-regional trade, serving as a major terminal and hub of commercial activities.

Prominent articles of trade in the emirate included products from her own farming and industrial activities as hand-woven cloth (Aso Ofi), kolanut, beads (ileke such as lyun and Segi), pots, leather goods, etc. as well as articles imported from both the northern and western parts of the Nigerian area. For their traditionai economic activities, includng trading, many compounds were named after family's traditional business.