The research programme of the Institute, has been an experiment in applied anthropology from the start. The first volume of Africa announced that one of the Institute's major aims was ‘the closer association of scientific knowledge and research with practical affairs’ ‘Practical Anthropology’ was the title of an article published by Malinowski in the succeeding volume, when he advocated the study of such subjects as African political systems, native customary law, land tenure, and economic activities, which were likely to prove useful to the administrator. The Institute's first five-year plan of research was centred on the comparative study of changes in African society produced by such factors as European administration and education, the introduction of modern industry, and the influence of Christianity. This five-year programme, and the work which grew out of it, must be recognized as the first organized attempt, as set out in the original plan, ‘to provide, through disinterested study of the facts, a scientific sociological basis for dealing with practical questions of administration and education … and to place in increasing measure at the disposal of administrators, educators, missionaries, and those engaged in industry and commerce, and of the native leaders of African society, the exact knowledge which will assist them in determining the right relations between the institutions of African society and alien systems of government, education, and religion’.

Of the various aspects of ethnology, perhaps that of economics has been most neglected. Within the past few years a number of books and articles have appeared with the intent to remedy this situation, but the study of the economic life of primitive peoples is still in its infancy. Particularly is this true of consumer economics in primitive societies. More and more data, especially of a concrete, quantitative nature, are needed. This study is a small contribution in that direction. It presents the annual monetary incomes and expenditures of sixteen Ibo natives living in the community of Ozuitem in south-eastern Nigeria.

The appearance of this report, with the far-reaching proposals which it contains, is an important landmark in the history of the African peoples in the various British territories. It is, in a way, a sequel to, or rather the culmination of, the many statements which have been issued by the Colonial Office concerning the education of the people in these territories, from the publication of the White Paper on Education in Africa in 1942. But the report is more than that; it is the reply of the Government to the constantly increasing demand of the people themselves. There can be no doubt that for some years the main activities in the various territories will be connected with the education of the people and the spread of literacy—matters with which our Institute has been closely connected for many years, and in which the great majority of our members are keenly interested. It is felt, therefore, that a full account of the proposals and suggestions in the report will be appreciated by readers of Africa.