Nigeria

Africa

Nigeria’s History

• Nigeria is as big as California, Arizona, and New Mexico combined

• It is the second most populous country in Africa.

• Multiethnic –many ethnic groups ie within its borders

Colonial Legacy

• By 1914 Great Britain has taken over the government of Nigeria and the borders included:– Hausaland, part of Yorubaland, and Igboland

• Nigeria became independent in 1960– Individual ethnic groups worked together to

build one nation

• 1991 the capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja.

Colonial Legacy

• Shortly after independence fighting broke out among some of the groups

• A military group took control of the government• The people struggled to create a democratic

government free of military rule.• May 29, 1999, military leaders gave up their

power to a new democracy controlled by the people.

Three Different Ways of Life

• The Hausa and Fulani: Traders of the North– Both built city-states in Northern Nigeria– Fulani conquered Hausaland in the early

1800s– Hausa and Fulani have intermarried since that

time and now make up approx. 32% of the Nigerian People

Three Different Ways of Life

– Together they are called the Hausa-Fulani– Most Hausa and Fulani are Muslims– Made most of their living by trading in goods

from as far away as Spain, Italy, and Egypt.– They built cities at the crossroads of trade

routes – Each city

• Had its own ruler• Enclosed by walls• Had a central market

Three Different Ways of Life

• Kano– Oldest city in W. Africa is a Hausa city.– Has been a center for trade for 1000+ years– Kurmi Market in Kano is one of the largest

trading centers in Africa– They deal in everything from fabrics and dyes

to electric appliances

Three Different Ways of Life

• Yoruba: Farmers Near the Coast– Second largest ethnic groups– 29% of all Nigerian People– Many still live in the city-state they built 500+

years ago– Lagos

• 1800s Lagos was a center for the Eruopean slave trade

• Many Yoruba were sold into slavery and sent to the Americas

Three Different Ways of Life

• Today Lagos is a more peaceful center for trade• Streets are lined with hundreds of shops that sell

many kinds of goods• Most Yoruba are farmers• Live in large compounds• Each compound has several houses grouped

around a big yard• A Yoruba community is made up of many such

compounds

Three Different Ways of Life

• The Igbo– Traditionally lived as rural farmers in the

southeast– Have not built any large cities– They live in farming villages– The people work closely together– Igbo rule themselves with a democratic

council of elders.

Three Different Ways of Life

– The southeast was the first area of Nigeria to be affected by the arrival of Europeans

– During colonial times• Igbo were often educated by Christian missionaries• Many in the south converted or changed their religion to

Christianity• During British rule some Igbo attended European or

American universities and became teachers, doctors, and lawyers

• Today many Igbo have left rural villages and work in Nigeria’s towns and cities

Three Different Ways of Life

• Counting heads– In Nigeria whenever a census is taken it

causes a debate because the largest ethnic group will have the most power

– 1991 census• Country was cut off from the outside world, no one

could enter or leave for three days• No one in Nigeria was allowed to move from one

place to another• Census takers went from house to house

Three Different Ways of Life

– The census showed that over 88 million people live in Nigeria

– The Hausa and the Fulani are the country’s largest group

– This gives them more political power than other groups.