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The Political and Economic Transformation of Shelleng

Abubakar Iliya

Abstract

This paper examines the political and economic transformation of Shelleng, a Local Government Area in Adamawa State, northeastern Nigeria, across three distinct epochs: pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial. Before colonial rule, Shelleng comprised diverse indigenous communities (such as the Lala and Kanakuru) engaged in subsistence agriculture, crafts, and local trade within the broader socio-political dynamics of the Adamawa region. British conquest around 1903 integrated Shelleng into the colonial administrative structure of Northern Nigeria, introducing indirect rule through traditional authorities, taxation, monetization of the economy, and integration into export- oriented cash crop systems. These changes disrupted indigenous institutions while fostering new infrastructure, missionary influences, and dependency on colonial markets. Post-independence in 1960, Shelleng experienced further shifts amid Nigeria’s federal politics, modernization efforts, and challenges including ethnic diversity, uneven development, and the transition from agrarian to more diversified (though still predominantly rural) economic activities. The study highlights continuities and ruptures in governance, resource control, and livelihoods, illustrating how colonial legacies continue to shape contemporary local realities in northern Nigeria. Key Words: Political, Economic, Transformation, Colonial, Shelleng The Political Transformation of Shelleng

Keywords

PoliticalEconomicTransformationColonialShelleng The Political Transformation of Shelleng

References

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