British Taxation in Nigeria: The Ekwunekwune Resistance of 1954

Abstract

It was the British imperialists who could not pronounce it properly that adulterated the name to “Akunakuna”. The real name of the people is Ekwunekwune which means “a land of bird nests” because of the abundance of birds, bird nests and bird eggs that were found in the thick forest when they drove away some Cross Riverian communities from the area. In 1954 the people of Ekwunekwune revolted against the British direct taxation and Education Rate which were introduced in Nigeria on April I, 1928 and the Abakaliki Division in 1953, respectively. This paper examines the remote causes, organization and consequences of that revolt. The paper adopted the analytic and narrative approach of history, using the primary and secondary sources to assess its data. The paper establishes that the Ekwunekwune revolt was actually spurred by the women of the community who tried to save their husbands from over taxation and improper imprisonment. The paper argues in conclusion that the manner of introduction and enforcement of the taxes and the inclusion of women in the tax system, all contributed to the weakening of the British colonial government in Nigeria.