The geographical site called Nigeria comprises of about 250 ethic nationalities with specific cultures, traditions, languages and even religion, pre-intrusion of the Portuguese in 1472AD.
Some of these 250 nations have long and rich history dating back to the pre-existence of Christ.
Archeologists claim that some of the earliest terracotta sculptures found around the area were made by Nok people who dwelt there. And these sculptures suggest that an ancient Egyptian style of social structure, and perhaps religion, existed in the area.
The Igbos are people of the Nri kingdom which dates back to the 10th century AD.
The Hausas have an almost aged history and a very interesting one at that. According to tradition, there were seven "true" states. In the myth of origin, Bayajidda, the son of the king of Baghdad, arrived in Daura via Bornu. He killed the snake that occupied the well, denying the townspeople access to the water. As a reward, Bayajidda married the queen. Their son Bawo was the progenitor of six sons, thereby founding six states—Daura, Katsina, Zazzau (Zaria), Gobir, Kano, and Rano. Bayajidda's son by his first wife, Magira (a Kanuri woman), founded Biram, the seventh state.
The Yoruba mythology states that Ile-Ife is the source of the human race and that it pre-dates any other civilization. The Yorubas are descendants of Oduduwa and through the years have become a powerful nation with different kingdoms.The kingdoms of Ife and Oyo were prominent in the 12th and 14th century respectively.
The Binis of the Benin Kingdom; the Ibibios; the Efiks; the Ebiras; the Itsekhiris; Tivs, Igalas etc. are few of the numerous independent and powerful nations that make up Nigeria.
The incursion of Africa by the Europeans brought about slavery, looting, desecration, dehumanization and destruction of the people, their temples and properties. Servitude and carting away of Africa’s finest continued formally for hundreds of years until slave trade was abolished in the 19th century. Though it continued thereafter but it was done illegally.
To think that slave trade was once referred to as a legal trade is sickening.
By 1852 Britain had established its presence in the area later to be known as Nigeria. In 1885, British influence on West Africa received international recognition and in the following year it formed the Royal Niger Company under the leadership of George Taubman Goldie to acquire territories as Real Estate Properties. In 1900 the company's territory came under the control of the British government, which moved to consolidate its hold over the entire Niger area. On January 1, 1901 Nigeria became a part of the British Empire.
Many wars against the subjugation and oppression were fought by the kingdoms and empires that make up what later became Nigeria against the British Empire in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Notable of those wars were the British Conquest of Benin in 1897 and the Anglo-Aro war from 1901—1902. The restraint or complete destruction of these states opened up the Niger area to British rule.
Need one be told that slavery was still fully in existence at that time? How would you leave your territory, travel thousands of miles land and sea to take another man’s land, religion, beliefs, wealth and take his sons and daughters captive. You in return give him your own religion which teaches thou shall not covet your neighbors’ things.
SMH! That is the height of hypocrisy!
Some geographers and travelers had referred to the area which was a real estate property of the British government as Central Sudan. But in 1897, an alien, Flora Shaw, who worked as a journalist and married to Fredrick Lugard, the Governor of the protectorate, preferred to shorten the name “Royal Niger Company Territories” to Nigeria, a compound word formed from Niger (the river) and Area.
In Africa, a child is named by his parents and never by an alien. There is more to a name than just a tag to our people. That is why before or when a child is born, a name is well thought out. A name that will be an identity and most likely depict the future of the child is given.
The Europeans not only took the wealth of Africans but also attempted to take away their history and identity.
Administratively, Nigeria was divided into the northern and southern provinces and Lagos colony. That was the beginning of the problem.
A people so diverse and independent are forcefully merged together with a river (or two) dictating the terms of administrative division?
What a shame!
A people so diverse and independent are forcefully merged together with a river (or two) dictating the terms of administrative division?
What a shame!
The history of the Ibibios has to be studied to understand how powerful a people they are. So is that of the Yoruba people: a proud and mighty nation with unique religion (Ifa!) which the entire world has come to terms with regarding science, mathematics and information technology.
How do you then merge these two mighty nations together without their consent? How do you marry two highly independent and successful people without seeking their opinion? Pre-independence, the Europeans imposed several constitutions on Nigerians without the Nigerian people deciding their own fate.
Doesn’t common sense teach that before you get married, you date/court the person you intend to marry in a bid to prove compatibility or the lack thereof before you proceed to (or not to) marry him/her?
What makes it even worse is that this marriage is not between two (2) people but between Two Hundred and Fifty (250) people.
OMG! How do you manage such a large, diverse and forced union?
To be continued!
