Project Abstract

Abstract
The history of Nigeria as a nation is a complex tapestry that reflects the diverse cultural, political, and social dynamics that have shaped the country over centuries. Nigeria, located in West Africa, has a rich history that predates colonial rule and is marked by the influence of various kingdoms and empires such as the Nri Kingdom, the Benin Empire, and the Sokoto Caliphate. These pre-colonial entities played a significant role in shaping the cultural and political landscape of the region. The arrival of European colonial powers in the 19th century, particularly the British, marked a pivotal moment in Nigeria's history. The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, which set the boundaries of European colonies in Africa, led to the colonization of Nigeria by the British. The country was amalgamated in 1914, bringing together the Northern and Southern Protectorates, and laying the foundation for the modern Nigerian state. Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960, marking a new chapter in its history. The post-independence period was characterized by political instability, military coups, and civil war. The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War, which took place from 1967 to 1970, had a lasting impact on the country, leading to deep divisions that persist to this day. Since the end of military rule in 1999, Nigeria has made strides towards democratic governance, despite facing challenges such as corruption, ethnic and religious tensions, and economic inequality. The country's rich cultural heritage, vibrant music and film industries, and diverse population contribute to its dynamic identity as a nation. In conclusion, the history of Nigeria as a nation is a complex narrative of resilience, struggle, and diversity. From its pre-colonial roots to its post-independence challenges, Nigeria's story is one of a nation grappling with its past while striving towards a better future. Understanding Nigeria's history is essential for comprehending the complexities of its present-day realities and envisioning its potential trajectory as a nation on the global stage.

Project Overview

INTRODUCTION

History Nigeria as a Nation

Little is known of the earliest history of Nigeria. most of the country was sparsely inhabited by persons who had a rudimentary knowledge of raising domesticated food plants and of herding animals. From c.800 B.C. to c.A.D. 200 the Nok culture (named for the town where archaeological findings first were made) flourished on the Jos Plateau; the Nok people made fine terra-cotta sculptures and probably knew how to work tin and iron. The first important centralized state to influence Nigeria was Kanem-Bornu, which probably was founded in the 8th cent. A.D., to the north of Lake Chad (outside modern Nigeria). In the 11th cent., by which time its rulers had been converted to Islam, Kanem-Bornu expanded south of Lake Chad into present-day Nigeria, and in the late 15th cent. its capital was moved there.

Beginning in the 11th cent. seven independent Hausa city-states were founded in N Nigeria—Biram, Daura, Gobir, Kano, Katsina, Rano, and Zaria. Kano and Katsina competed for the lucrative trans-Saharan trade with Kanem-Bornu, and for a time had to pay tribute to it. In the early 16th cent. all of Hausaland was briefly held by the Songhai Empire. However, in the late 16th cent., Kanem-Bornu replaced Songhai as the leading power in N Nigeria, and the Hausa states regained their autonomy. In southwest Nigeria two states—Oyo and Benin—had developed by the 14th cent.; the rulers of both states traced their origins to Ife, renowned for its naturalistic terra-cotta and brass sculpture. Benin was the leading state in the 15th cent. but began to decline in the 17th cent., and by the 18th cent. Oyo controlled Yorubaland and also Dahomey. The Igbo people in the southeast lived in small village communities.

In the late 15th cent. Portuguese navigators became the first Europeans to visit Nigeria. They soon began to purchase slaves and agricultural produce from coastal middlemen; the slaves had been captured further inland by the middlemen. The Portuguese were followed by British, French, and Dutch traders. Among the Igbo and Ibibio a number of city-states were established by individuals who had become wealthy by engaging in the slave trade; these included Bonny, Owome, and Okrika.

The Nineteenth Century

There were major internal changes in Nigeria in the 19th cent. In 1804, Usuman dan Fodio (1754–1817), a Fulani and a pious Muslim, began a holy war to reform the practice of Islam in the north. He soon conquered the Hausa city-states, but Bornu, led by Muhammad al-Kanemi (also a Muslim reformer) until 1835, maintained its independence. In 1817, Usuman dan Fodio’s son, Muhammad Bello (d.1837) established a state centered at Sokoto, which controlled most of N Nigeria until the coming of the British (1900–1906). Under both Usuman dan Fodio and Muhammad Bello, Muslim culture, and also trade, flourished in the Fulani empire. In Bornu, Muhammad al-Kanemi was succeeded by Umar (reigned 1835–80), under whom the empire disintegrated.

In 1807, Great Britain abandoned the slave trade; however, other countries continued it until about 1875. Meanwhile, many African middlemen turned to selling palm products, which were Nigeria’s chief export by the middle of the century. In 1817 a long series of civil wars began in the Oyo Empire; they lasted until 1893 (when Britain intervened), by which time the empire had disintegrated completely.

In order to stop the slave trade there, Britain annexed Lagos in 1861. In 1879, Sir George Goldiegained control of all the British firms trading on the Niger, and in the 1880s he took over two French companies active there and signed treaties with numerous African leaders. Largely because of Goldie’s efforts, Great Britain was able to claim S Nigeria at the Conference of Berlin (seeBerlin, Conference of) held in 1884–85.

In the following years, the British established their rule in SW Nigeria, partly by signing treaties (as in the Lagos hinterland) and partly by using force (as at Benin in 1897). Jaja, a leading African trader based at Opobo in the Niger delta and strongly opposed to European competition, was captured in 1887 and deported. Goldie’s firm, given (1886) a British royal charter, as the Royal Niger Company, to administer the Niger River and N Nigeria, antagonized Europeans and Africans alike by its monopoly of trade on the Niger; in addition, it was not sufficiently powerful to gain effective control over N Nigeria, which was also sought by the French.