Brass plaque, 16th Century, from Benin City, Nigeria. Vassil, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
How much do you know about Nigerian history? If faced with a quiz on the subject, how confident would you be in your ability to perform well?
Growing up, I hated history classes. For me and the majority of my classmates, it was just memorizing dates, names, and events to pass exams. But as I grew older, my perspective changed. I became fascinated by the stories, the context, and the lessons history offers. I have come to realize that history isn’t merely a collection of dates and events, it’s a living, breathing story that helps us understand the world we live in.
Nigeria, like so many other African countries, has a fascinating history intertwined with antiquity, trade, sculptures, and many other cultural practices which were a major preoccupation of the early people. Often referred to as the “Giant of Africa,” the country has ancient origins – tracing back to its earliest inhabitants who were there from 13,000 BC.
From its Portuguese past, the ancient kingdoms of Benin and Ife to the transatlantic slave trade and the struggle for independence, Nigeria’s past is rich and complex. There are countless fascinating events, people, and milestones in Nigerian history that deserve recognition. Ready to dive into history? Let’s uncover some historical facts about Nigeria and learn more about the events that have shaped this vibrant West African country.
The Nok Civilization: One of Africa’s Oldest Civilizations
Terracotta sculpture, Nok Culture. Sailko, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Long before the rise of empires like Benin or Oyo and the arrival of Europeans, what is now Nigeria was home to one of Africa’s earliest advanced civilizations, the Nok Culture. The Nok Civilization flourished during the Iron Age from the 5th century BCE to the 2nd century CE. Famous for the distinctive terracotta sculptures considered masterpieces of African art, Nok was the first known culture in West Africa to produce such art and its people are believed to have been among the earliest sub-Saharan cultures to perfect iron-smelting technology. These sculptures, depicting human figures, animals, and mythological creatures, are notable for their detailed artistry and advanced techniques.
The Nok people’s identity and origins are a puzzle, making it challenging to piece together the full story of their legacy. Aside from what we can learn from their terracotta artwork, most details of Nok culture, society, and social organization remain unknown.
The Benin Empire
Benin City walls, photograph taken in 1897. Guillermo Carvajal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Have you heard of the Benin Empire? This lost medieval African gem, located in present-day Edo State, southern Nigeria, was a powerful West African kingdom that flourished between the 12th and 19th centuries. The kingdom, which was once the capital of a pre-colonial African empire, was renowned for its wealth, art, and architecture. The famous Benin Bronzes, a collection of bronze sculptures, were so highly regarded that they caught the attention of European explorers and collectors.
While the Great Wall of China is widely recognized as one of the world’s most impressive man-made structures, many are unaware that the ancient Benin Kingdom built walls and earthworks that were even more expansive. According to estimates by the New Scientist’s Fred Pearce, Benin City’s walls were at one point “four times longer than the Great Wall of China, and consumed a hundred times more material than the Great Pyramid of Cheops”. The Walls of Benin were a series of defensive fortifications built around the capital of the Benin Kingdom during the 13th to 15th centuries. The wall, designed to protect the kingdom from invaders, was primarily made of earth, stretched for approximately 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles), and enclosing an area of over 6,500 square kilometers. This makes the walls one of the largest human-made structures ever constructed, a testament to the organizational and engineering skills of the Benin people. Barely any trace of these walls exists today.
The great Benin City is lost to history. The Benin Empire’s golden age began to fade in the 15th century, fueled by increased European interference and the slave trade. The city was destroyed by British soldiers in 1897, blown up, and burnt to the ground. Thousands of priceless artifacts, including the famous Benin Bronzes, were looted and taken to Britain, from where they were dispersed to museums around the world. Many of these bronzes are still held in European and American institutions today.
The Northern and Southern Protectorates: A Forced Amalgamation
Lord Frederick Lugard, c. 1880 Public Domain
Are you aware that Nigeria, as it is known today, did not exist as a single entity until January 1, 1914, when Lord Frederick Lugard, the governor of both the Northern Nigeria Protectorate and the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria, signed a document consolidating the two, thereby creating the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria? This decision was primarily made for administrative convenience and economic reasons, as it allowed the British to centralize control over the region’s resources.
The North was predominantly Muslim, while the South was largely Christian and more exposed to Western education and values. This union is often blamed for some of the problems facing the country, as it has continued to affect Nigeria’s political landscape to this day. Like oil and water, the different ethnic, religious, and cultural groups within the nation have struggled to coexist for years.
Nigeria’s Early Contact with the Europeans
Europeans started sailing their ships to the coast of Nigeria in the 15th century. Before the British arrived, the Portuguese were among the first Europeans to establish contact. Then came the Spaniards, Dutch, Germans, the French, and the English.
They brought goods such as mirrors, clothes, spirits, etc. in exchange for gold, pepper, ivory, etc. The 16th century introduced the transatlantic slave trade, one of the darkest periods in African history. After its introduction, Europeans began to trade in humans who were exported from the Nigeria geographical area to Europe and the Americas. Some estimate that throughout the Atlantic Slave trade, more than 3.5 million slaves were shipped from Nigeria to the Americas. Nigeria played a significant role in both the trade and its eventual abolition.
Aba Women of Nigeria, early 20th Century. Unknown. Published in Margery Perham, Native Administration in Nigeria (London, 1937)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Nigerians soon began to resist the colonial administration. The Aba Riot of 1929, often overlooked in history books, was a significant resistance against British colonial rule. This marked a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s fight for independence and gender equality. Also, several unions and political associations were formed during the colonial period, as well as a growing group of intellectuals and professionals. These groups formed the backbone of the nationalist movement, fueling the fight for independence. Finally, in 1960, Nigeria, along with 16 other African nations, gained independence.
The Nigerian-Biafran War
Children at Udo, Swedish Red Cross distribution center. Of all photographers, only one name of the author of the photograph is known: Peter Williams. The names of the rest of the photographers are unknown or not found in the sources, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
While Nigeria’s independence was a cause for celebration, it also revealed deep-rooted ethnic and regional tensions, setting the stage for future conflicts. The most tragic of these conflicts was the Biafran civil war, which resulted in the deaths of more than a million people, primarily due to starvation and disease. This brutal civil war fought between 1967 to 1970, was a defining moment in Nigerian history. It was between the Nigerian government and the secessionist state of Biafra, which was largely composed of Igbo people. After 30 months of fighting, Biafra surrendered and the conflict officially ended. The Biafran War may have ended in defeat, but its legacy continues to shape Nigerian politics, especially when it comes to how different ethnic groups get along and the ongoing quest for greater regional autonomy.
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