ABSTRACT
This study, "Socio-cultural and economic impact of the "Anger" woven fabric production on Kwande people of Benue State" is an attempt to assess the level of the socio-cultural and economic implications that the production and utility of the "Anger" woven fabric has on the Kwande people in Benue State of Nigeria. The research is necessitated by the need to identify, examine and document the social, cultural, and economic impact as well as the production materials and equipment and the various trends in the production of the "Anger" woven fabric on the Kwande people of Benue state. Objectives of the study include: to investigate and analyse the existing production equipment and materials of the "Anger" fabric; identify the various trends in the production of the "Anger" fabric; examine the socio-cultural and economic impact of the "Anger" fabric production on Kwande people; identify constraints on production and suggest possible ways of moving the industry forward for greater recognition beyond local boundaries. Appropriate literature of empirical and conceptual nature was reviewed in line with the research topic and objectives. The descriptive research design was adopted using the cross-sectional survey method, a population of 248,642 (entire Kwande population) was used while the sample size was 384 respondents comprising 74 producers, 110 marketers and 174 consumers. The research instruments used were structured questionnaire, interview schedules and observations. Data for the study was analysed using non-statistical methods presented in frequencies and percentages. The findings of the study include: the production of "Anger" fabric has positively impacted on the economic status of the Kwande people and has shown to be a source of sustainable livelihood and income generation; the production and utility of the "Anger" fabric among the Kwande people has impacted immensely on the socio-cultural life of the people; there is a paradigm shift from the use of indigenous (local) raw materials for the production of the "Anger" fabric to the industrial (foreign) raw materials; in spite of the shift from local materials for the production of the "Anger" fabric to the foreign or industrial materials, the Tiv textile industry has maintained its doggedness in preservation of the weaving machinery (the horizontal loom/accessories). Major constraints that militate against the production of the "Anger" fabric were identified among others as: lack of sound capital base and unregulated practice. It has been concluded that, as much as the "Anger" woven fabric production has impacted quite positively on the socio-cultural and economic well being of the Kwande people, some major constraints militate against it. These constraints combine to exalt a lot of strain on the performance of the industry and if not checked can strangulate it in the final analysis. Recommendations for the study included among others: government should provide loan/credit facilities for the practitioners; there should be regulation of the practice of "Anger" fabric production in the Kwande area by establishing associations and unions where rules and regulations are promulgated to safeguard acceptable practice.