GST 123: Nigerian History and Culture

History of Nigerian People

• Nri in Anambra State is the ancestral home of the Igbos and was a center of Igbo culture, religion, and commerce in pre-colonial West Africa, dating back to the 9th century.

Igbo Traditional Institutions

• Igbos have a decentralized system of government, with no supreme King like Oba or Emir.
• Nri is the origin of the Eze traditional title and the Osu caste system.
• The highest traditional institution in Igbo land is the Oha-na Eze, with the unit of control being the Village.
• Title holders include Ofo title for family heads and Ozo title for prestigious, influential, popular, and wealthy persons.

Recognized Kingdoms in Igbo Land

• Onitsha kingdom (Anambra State) was founded in the 16th century by migrants from Benin and Igbo traders from the hinterland.
• The traditional leader of Onitsha kingdom is the Obi of Onitsha.
• Arochukwu kingdom (Abia State) emerged after the Aro-Ibibio wars from 1630-1720.
• The traditional leader of Arochukwu kingdom is the Eze Aro.

Importance of Studying History of Nigerian People

• It is important to know where Nigeria is coming from to know where it is heading.
• Studying history provides a clear picture of Nigeria's economic, political, social, and cultural situation and how to move forward as a nation.
• It explains why Nigeria is described as a rich nation with mostly poor people.
• It exposes the reasons why Nigeria is considered one of the most corrupt nations in the world.

Introduction to Nigeria

• Nigeria is the most populous nation in West Africa and 1st in Africa.
• The population of Nigeria as of 2006 is 140.8 million people.
• The estimated population of Nigeria as of January 2019 is 198,503,406 or 2.60% of the total world population.
• Nigeria covers an area of about 923,768 Sq Kms or 356,669 Sq Miles.
• It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the South, Niger Republic in the North, Chad in the North-East, Benin Republic in the West, and Cameroon in the East.
• The vegetation in Nigeria varies from Mangrove Swamps to Tropical Rain Forest and drought-prone savannah.
• The people of Nigeria belong to the Negroid Race, with over 250 Ethnic groups.
• Nigerian societies are communalistic, organized along Kinship and Lineage systems, and Patrilineal.

Early History of Nigeria

• Much of Nigeria's early history is based on Oral tradition.
• Archaeological studies have shown that people were living in South-West Nigeria and Ugwuelle-Uturu (Okigwe) in South-Eastern Nigeria as early as 9,000 BC.
• The earliest identified Nigerian Culture is the NOK People, who thrived between 500 BC and 200 AD on the Jos Plateau in North-Eastern Nigeria.