British West Africa Research Articles

A History of Education in British West Africa. By C. G. Wise. London: Longmans, 1956. Pp. 134. 6s. 6d.

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A Short History of Education in British West Africa. By F. H. Hilliard. London: Nelson, 1957. Pp. 186. 6s.

A Short History of Education in British West Africa. By F. H. Hilliard. London: Nelson, 1957. Pp. 186. 6<i>s</i>.

A Calliphorid Host of Thyridanthrax abruptus (Lw.) in Nigeria (Diptera, Bombyliidae)

The range of Thyridanthrax abruptus (Lw.), a widespread puparial parasite of Glossina morsitans Westw. in East Africa, is now extended to British West Africa where this species has been found parasitising a Calliphorid fly, Rhyncomyìa pìctìfacìes Big. Puparia of R. pictifacies were collected in the stream-bed sand of dry-season breeding sites of Glossina palpalis (R.-D.) and G. morsitans submorsitans Newst. at the following localities in Northern Nigeria: Gamagira, Zaria Province; Mando Road (25 miles NNW. of Kaduna), Zaria Province; Rahama, Bauchi Province. All were collected during January and February 1957. During February, eight adults of Thyridanthrax emerged from a total of 33 puparia of R. pictifacies found at Rahama.

A History of Education in British West Africa

A History of Education in British West Africa

On the stratigraphy and palaeontology of the Cretaceous of Nigeria and the Cameroons, British West Africa

Abstract The stratigraphical subdivision of the Nigerian Cretaceous, based mainly on ammonite faunas, is studied. A zonal scheme for the Cretaceous and basal Tertiary is proposed and the problem of the recognition of the Danian in Africa is discussed. The phylogeny of the Cretaceous ammonoid families occurring in Nigeria is considered in the light of published and unpublished investigations by the author. The vertical distribution of a number of West African Upper Cretaceous lamellibranchs is reviewed. An attempt is made to reconstruct the main palaeogeographical changes in southern Nigeria and the Southern Cameroons.

Mycotic Dermatitis of Cattle in British West Africa

Dermatophilus congolensis infection (dermatophilosis) is an acute, subacute or chronic skin disease affecting a wide range of species of animals and man. It is world widely distributed but more prevalent in the humid, tropics and subtropics. The disease is now being reviewed in detail.In the present review, the geographical distribution, history and nomenclature, animal hosts affected, aetiological agent and clinical signs of the disease are discussed extensively. Emphasis is also given on the predisposing factors such as rainfall, humidity, ectoparasites etc. under epizootiology. Pathogenesis, pathology, immunology treatment, control and prophylaxis are other areas well covered. The economic importance of the disease is also stressed and a new approach (biological approach) to treatment and control of the disease is being described in this review.It was concluded that in view of the importance of the disease for the increase of livestock and leather production in the tropical and subtropical region especially in Africa, an international centre for dermatophilosis research is highly needed.L'infection à Dermatophilus congolensis (dermatophilose) est une maladie de peau aigüe, subaigüe ou chronique qui affecte de nombreuses espèces animales et l'homme. C'est une maladie présente dans le monde entier mais dont la prévalence est supérieure dans les zones humides. La maladie est ici revue en détail.La distribution géographique, l'histoire et la nomenclature, les hôtes animaux, infectés l'agent étiologique et les signes cliniques de la maladie sont largement discutés. L'insistance est donnée sur les facteurs prédisposants comme la pluie, l'humidité, les ectoparasites, etc. Pathogénie, pathologie, traitement immunologique, contrôle et prophylaxie sont d'autres domaines bien couverts. L'importance économique de la maladie est démontrée et une nouvelle approche (approche biologique) du traitement et du contrôle de la maladie est décrite.Vue l'importance de la maladie pour la croissance du bétail et la production de cuir, en région tropicale et subtropicale et spécialement en Afrique, la création d'un centre international de recherche sur la dermatophilose est urgente.

The Gold Coast Development Programme

THE programme is the expression of the age-long will of the people: 1 the will to raise their standard of living-in health and housing; in food and water; in enlightenment and education; and to support this programme by improvements in agriculture and industry and trade. This will was strengthened with the birth of nationalism in the early nineteenth century and was a focal point in the aims of all important movements: the Fallti Confederation in the middle l9th century; the Gold Coast Aborigines Society in the late l9th century; the National Congress of British West Africa in the early 1920's, the Gold Coast Youth Conference in the 1930's; the United Gold Coast Convention and the Convention People's Party in the 1940's. This was the will of generations of peopIe extending over a century, expressed with such crystal clearness that when the opportunity came with the general elections in 1951, the Government was able at once to draw up a bold and ambitious programme for total development. Here was an opportunity which released the banked-up energies of the people to fulfil some of their dreams-not only of self-government, but of a fuller and better way of living. So vitally important was this step that the Prime Minister, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, created a Portfolio of Development and, for the last four years, has himself been responsible for Development until, a few months ago, he assigned this task to his second-in-command, the Minister of State, the Hon. Kojo Botsio. The programme itself is a formidable and impressive list of projects of almost every conceivable kindranging from water boreholes in the countiyside or rural areas to the development of a university college; from housing estates to free, universal primary education; from feeder roads to a new port and harbour. It plans for better rural and urball housing; free primary education, the development of a university college and technical institutes; the improvement of health with the expansion of medical services and a better scheme for the provision of food for the towns and water for the outlying villages. Communications are to be improved by telephones and underground cables; transport by the construction of new major roads and feeder roads, and the possibility of a railway to the Northern Territories is already envisaged. In agricultureJ the plan aims at modernising and diversifying crops; and, in industry, it aims at general expansion. The developments were to foreshadow a new age of progresof a golden

Setarial infections in the Gambia, British West Africa.

Setarial infections in the Gambia, British West Africa.

A Survey of Selected Literature on the Government and Politics of British West Africa

A Survey of Selected Literature on the Government and Politics of British West Africa

On the Respiration of an Aquatic African Beetle, Potamodytes Tuberosus Hinton

Potamodytes tuberosus Hinton is an elmid beetle that inhabits fast-flowing water, and the observations described in this paper were mostly made on specimens collected from a tributary of the River Densu, Gold Coast, British West Africa.

British West Africa: Patterns of Self- Government

British West Africa: Patterns of Self- Government

Origins of the Statutory Export Monopolies of British West Africa

In 1947 and 1949 statutory monopolies were established over the export of all major agricultural products from British West Africa. This device was justified chiefly on the ground that it would serve to stabilize the incomes of the peasant producers. This justification is not supported either by economic analysis or by history. The statutory monopolies seem rather to have emerged from a confluence of events and opinions in the preceding decade: the widespread belief that middlemen are socially unproductive, the search by the members of a trade association for some way to restrict competition and safeguard their profits, the formation of export control boards as a wartime measure and the resultant creation of influential administrative positions, the predilection of the administrators for tidiness, the recent emphasis on compulsory saving as an instrument for development of backward areas and the opinion that socialization of peasant saving would contribute to that development.

Filariasis in gambia and casamance, West Africa

1. (1) A coastal village, a swamp village and an inland village in Gambia, British West Africa, were surveyed for filariasis. The filarial parasites found were Wuchereria bancrofti and Acanthocheilonema perstans. 2. (2) The incidence of microfilariae of W. bancrofti in the blood varied from 19.2 per cent. to 38.3 per cent. of the population, the highest incidence being found in the coastal village. Few cases of microfilaraemia were found in persons under the age of 10 years. In all the villages males were more commonly infected with W. bancrofti than females. 3. (3) The incidence of A. perstans in the blood varied from 10.2 per cent. to 68.6 per cent. of the population, the highest incidence being found in the inland village. There was no correlation between the incidence of A. perstans and the number of banana trees in the villages. Again males were more commonly infected than females. 4. (4) The number of lesions, e.g. elephantiasis of the leg, produced by W. bancrofti infections in Gambia was extremely small. 5. (5) In a village which was subsequently surveyed in the neighbouring French territory of Casamance (about 50 miles distant) the incidence of W. bancrofti was 39.5 per cent. This is similar to the incidence found in one of the Gambian villages (38.3 per cent.).In the Casamance village, there was, however, a greater incidence in the younger age-groups and a high incidence of elephantiasis of the legs.It is suggested that this is due to exposure to more intense infection, which is not reflected in the microfilaria rates of the total population.

Observations during an outbreak of infectious hepatitis in British West Africa

An outbreak of infectious hepatitis was observed among Africans in localities on both sides of the Cross River in the vicinity of Afikpo, Nigeria. Although the disease had a high incidence in all these localities, as judged by the number with frank jaundice, the illness was universally mild among those living on the east side of the river and fatalities were unknown, while among those on the west side there were many persons affected severely and even fatally. Among the latter there was conspicuous evidence of gross malnutrition, both quantitative and qualitative, which was not present among the former; and it is suggested that this might have had some bearing on the severity of the disease.

The effect of adrenocorticotropic hormone on elephantiasis of the lower limb

Summary Five cases of elephantiasis of the lower limb were investigated in Gambia, British West Africa. Three cases were treated with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and two cases were observed as controls. The limbs were reduced in size as far as possible by rest in bed and the application of crepe bandages, as a preliminary to treatment. This produced a decrease in the water displacement of the limbs of up to 53 per cent. It is suggested that many of the successes claimed for unorthodox treatments are the result of rest in bed alone. Two apparently normal limbs were reduced by rest in bed, but it was not possible to say if these were early cases of elephantiasis, or cases of mild oedema due to other causes. ACTH was administered subsequently and no significant effect was produced. Two of the patients treated had a very high eosinophilia, and the total number of eosinophils in the blood was only slightly affected by ACTH.

Concentration in Tropical Trade: Some Aspects and Implications of Oligopoly

In the course of an inquiry into the structure and organisation of the trade of British West Africa considerable quantitative information has become available on the degree of concentration in the import and export trade of Nigeria and the Gold Coast.' Some of this information is presented and analysed in this paper. The information is both comprehensive and detailed, and offers what seems to be an exceptional opportunity for analysing the factors affecting the degree of concentration in trading activities, especially in the external trade of tropical territories. Information on the shares of firms in a particular trade or industry is of interest chiefly where the degree of concentration is high. It provides some indication of the maximum number of suitable alternatives open to its suppliers and customers. The actual number may in some respects2 be reduced by effective coalitions among some firms; and the degree of concentration is suggestive of the probability that coalitions may be formed and effectively maintained. Indices of concentration may also be suggestive both of the degree of dependence and of the sense of dependence of those dealing with the monopolists and oligopolists; and of the power of the largest firms to influence prices ( make the market ) which is a corollary of a high degree of concentration. Thus they are valuable pointers to important aspects of monopoly and oligopoly situations. But by themselves they cannot serve as reliable indices either of the reality of dependence, or of the degree of monopoly power, or of the profitability of monopoly.3'4 These depend on factors which usually cannot be

The Study of ‘Social Change’ in British West Africa

Opening ParagraphA visitor to West Africa today will find most of the conventional trappings of a western civilization. He can travel on trains and in motor-cars and airplanes, and stay at rest-houses equipped with electric light and a flushed toilet. He can visit African homes furnished in the latest western style in which there is refrigeration and cooking is done by electricity. He will see Africans working in shops, offices, and factories, growing crops for foreign consumption, and leasing and renting land. He will visit churches and schools, play outdoor games, attend dances, performances of amateur dramatics, baby shows, and buy a flag for charity—all these activities being organized by Africans. On the other hand, he will also see a majority of Africans living in huts of wattle and daub and of grass, herding cattle, and cultivating their farms and plots with home-made implements, pounding their food in mortars, crossing rivers in dug-out canoes, dancing to the music of wooden drums, and worshipping ancient gods and spirits.

Some Problems in the Development of Air Transport in West Africa

West Africa, particularly British West Africa, has been one of the last areas to be opened up to Air Transport and because of physical and financial difficulties, progress has been slower than in most other parts of the Empire.As West Africa, even today, is not very well known in other parts of the Empire, it will be useful to give a brief description of the territory and the early history of aviation there before dealing with the special problems encountered in the development of air transport. While the particular territories dealt with in this lecture are the four British West African Colonies and Protectorates of the Gambia, Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast and Nigeria, it will be necessary, from time to time, to make passing reference to the adjacent French territories and even to the Anglo–Egyptian Sudan. The four British territories, unlike those in East Africa, are not contiguous but each is surrounded on the land side by the intervening French territories of Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Dahomey, Volta, Niger, Chad and the Cameroons.

4 Constitutional Experiments in British West Africa

4 Constitutional Experiments in British West Africa

Competition and Prices: A Study of Groundnut Buying in Nigeria

There are many difficulties in the way of systematic statistical enquiry into the influence of numbers of firms on prices. Most of the difficulties have their origin in the familiar problem of finding situations in which all other factors are constant except the one under investigation.' A special difficulty is that of defining and delimiting a particular market and of counting the number of firms operating in it ; buyers and sellers located in a geographical area may have (and indeed usually have) access to sellers and buyers outside the area. The numerous obstacles probably explain the apparent paucity of statistical studies of this aspect of price behaviour in spite of its wide relevance for economic theory and policy. In the course of a general study into the economics of trade in British West Africa it emerged that the organisation and circumstances of the groundnut trade in Nigeria presented an exceptional opportunity for a systematic statistical enquiry into the influence of the number of firms on miiarket prices. This article collates information of the numbers of groundnut buyers and of prices paid for groundnuts in different regions and centres, and analyses the findings.2