Known to be the birthplace of Homo sapiens, Africa is believed to be where civilization first started (Grinker and Lubkemann), making it the world’s oldest populated area. It is predicted to double its population to 2.3 billion by the year 2050 (Steve Boyes). Located in West Africa, Nigeria is one of Africa’s most economically enriched countries and has become the largest trading center in the sub – Saharan region. With history that dates back to the first known tribe settled there, the Nok people. With regaining their independence from the British in 1960, Nigeria has become one of Africa’s most leading countries.
Nigeria has an extensive history that dates back to the 5th century when the people of the Nok tribe first settled in non-disrupted grasslands. They lived in the Jos plateau, which is located in central Nigeria. During this period, the Nok raised crops and cattle and created artwork out of terra cotta. Similar to cavemen, they lived a simple life and did not have many rules or systems. The advancement in iron would soon change the Nok people’s way of life. Their advances would soon find its way through Africa and organize a trading system for southern regions. The Nok people, having discovered the use of iron tools, produced figurines. To this day, you can find Nok inspiration in many other African tribes’ artwork (Ajayi).
Although the Nok people are not known to still be an active tribe in Africa, their artwork and other tools remain. Archaeologists have found remains of the tools the Nok tribe created and used (Ajayi). There have been recent discoveries of the Nok’s people’s ancient terra cotta heads. A British archaeologist by the name of Bernard Fagg managed to gather 200 individual heads and concludes that they d...
... middle of paper ...
... Consultancy Africa Intelligence. Consultancy Africa Intelligence. 2013. Web. 15 Jan 2014.
N.a. Nigeria- Worldmark Encyclopedia of the nations. Gale Group. Farmington Hill. 2001. Print. 22 Jan 2014.
Work Considered
Afigbo, Adiele. Nigerian History, Politics and Affairs: The Collected Essays of Adiele Afigbo. Adiele Afigbo. New Jersey. 2005. Print. 21 Jan 2014.
Cooper, Tom.” Civil War in Nigeria ( Biafra) 1967- 1970”. Western and Northern Africa Database. ACIG.org. 13 Nov 2013. Web. 15 Jan 2014.
Ekeh P. Peter. Colonialism and the Two Publics in Africa: A theoretical Statement.1975. PDF file. 15 Jan 2014.
McLean, F George, John P. Hogan. History and cultured Identity. The Council for research on values and philosophy. Washington. 2011. Print. 29 Jan 2014.
Osaghae, E, Eghasa. A History of Identities, violence, and stability in Nigeria.2005. PDF file. 15 Jan 2014.
Western attitudes to African people and culture have always affected how their art was appreciated and this has also coloured the response to the art from Benin. Over time, concepts of ‘Race’, defined as a distinct group with a common lineage, and ‘Primitive’ which pertains to the beginning or origin,, have been inextricably linked with the perception of Africa. The confusion of the two in the minds of people at the end of the 19th century, and some of the 20th, caused a sense of superiority amongst the ‘White Races’ that affected every aspect of their interaction with ‘the Black’. The ‘Civilisation’ of Africa by conquest and force is justified by these views.
Niger, home of the free flowing Niger River, is a Sub-Saharan, western African nation. Sadly, it is an extremely poor country because part of the country is desert and less than 3% open for crop use. The present economic situation is bleak at best. Yet, the vibrant tradition and history of this country lives today in its tribes and its people even through all of its adversities. From severe droughts to military coups to a dysfunctional government to the culture has stayed strong.
Nigerian Ibo culture in the village of Umoufia. Like the Ibo, many other nations are strongly rooted to
During the colonial period in Nigeria (from about 1850 to 1960), the British, like any other colonial power, asserted their dominance through a variety of media. The colonial experience of Nigeria and Britain, and Nigeria's early post-colonial history can be described, roughly chronologically, in three phases or periods: the formation of a ‘captured' colony, the education and inculcation of ‘proper,' British ways (i.e., the ‘taming' of the colony), and the immediate aftermath of colonialism (i.e., the ‘independence' of the colony). This essay attempts to scrutinize these periods in the light of the theories of Karl Marx, Ernest Gellner, and Jack Snyder. My claim is that Nigeria's colonial relationship with Britain, in general, reflects Marx's theory of the dichotomy between the oppressor and the oppressed, Gellner's theory that domination and oppression is disseminated through educational means, and Snyder's theory on the risks and dangers that young, ‘immature' … countries face when they gamble on democracy
New African Vol. 1.492 (2010): 14. History Reference Center -. 2010 - EBSCO Industries, Inc. Web.
"Untouchability in Nigeria | International Humanist and Ethical Union." International Humanist and Ethical Union | The World Union of Humanist Organizations. Web. 08 Apr. 2010. .
Nigeria Nigeria had an eventful history. More than 2,000 years ago, the Nok culture in the present plateau state worked iron and produced experienced terracotta sculpture. The history of the northern cities of Kano and Katsina dates back to approximately 1000 A.D. In the following centuries, Hausa Kingdoms and the Bornu Empire became important terminals of north-south trade between North African Berbers and the forest people, exchanging slaves, ivory, and other products. The Yoruba Kingdom of Oyo was founded in 1400s.
In conclusion Nigeria has never been able to sustain a legitimate democracy. The legacies of British colonialism have created unstable political institutions that have been extremely susceptible to military coups. While ethnic tensions have lead to political party association and corruption, rent-seekers and continual economic decline have decreased support for the government. Although recently Nigeria has seen a shift away from military control as people have recognized its unsuccessfulness, questions still remain about the new democracy. Consider the last time this type of democracy was established, it only lasted four years. Given all these factors and the military history of OlusgunObasanjo, it is no wonder the new democracy is considered fragile.
According to Samuels in Case Studies in Comparative Politics, Nigeria began as a group of states and empires, which were conquered by the British Empire who ruled Nigeria through indirect rule with varying degrees of rule in North and South Nigeria (Samuels, 323-326). Since they were granted independence in 1960, three republics have been created and each has ended by military rule, which led to the creation of the fourth, and current republic in Nigeria. In the current regime Nigeria’s GDP is ranked 108 of 156 and has been decreasing, lower than some of the non oil-producing nations in Africa (“Nigeria”).
... Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics, 8(3), 77-88. Retrieved September 22, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 2349548361).
Nigeria is a developing country in West Africa that was colonized by the British in 1884 at the Berlin conference where Africa was divided by European powers (Graham 2009). The British wanted to expand their empire, which meant taking over other countries that had resources that they wanted, and would allow them to expand their trade market and economy. One of the colonies that British colonized was Colonial Nigeria, which was forced to participate in the slave trade in the past and was controlled by the British through the set up of trading posts and selling manufactured goods. The British split Nigeria into the north and the south regions (Temple 1912). The Southern and Northern Nigeria Protectorates controlled these two regions.
In the end, what holds African countries such as Nigeria together is their shared pride. Modern, western influences can bring positive changes to society, but new cultures cannot completely eradicate the foundational cultures to which a society is founded on.
There is no doubt that European colonialism has left a grave impact on Africa. Many of Africa’s current and recent issues can trace their roots back to the poor decisions made during the European colonial era. Some good has resulted however, like modern medicine, education, and infrastructure. Africa’s history and culture have also been transformed. It will take many years for the scars left by colonization to fade, but some things may never truly disappear. The fate of the continent may be unclear, but its past provides us with information on why the present is the way it is.
Okeke, Phil E. "Reconfiguring Tradition: Women's Rights and Social Status in Contemporary Nigeria." Africa Today 47.1 (2000): 49-63.
Oti, Adepeju; Ayeni, Oyebola. (2013) Yoruba Culture of Nigeria: Creating Space for an Endangered Species Cross - Cultural Communication9.4 : 23-29