GST 123: Nigerian History and Culture PDF

www.covenantuniversity.edu.ng Raising a new Generation of Leaders GST 123: NIGERIAN PEOPLE AND CULTURE SUB TOPIC: HISTORY OF NIGERIAN PEOPLE LECTURER: DR. OLAWALE OLONADE  Why study the history of Nigerian People? It is imp...

www.covenantuniversity.edu.ng Raising a new Generation of Leaders GST 123: NIGERIAN PEOPLE AND CULTURE SUB TOPIC: HISTORY OF NIGERIAN PEOPLE LECTURER: DR. OLAWALE OLONADE  Why study the history of Nigerian People? It is important to know where we are coming from so as to know where we are heading to. 2 Why study the history of Nigerian People contd. It gives us a clear picture of our economic, political, social and cultural situation and how we can move forward as a Nation. 3 Why study the history of Nigerian People contd. It exposes to us why Nigeria has been described as a rich nation inhabited by mostly poor people. 4 Why study the history of Nigerian People contd. Also, why Transparency International has described Nigeria as one of the most corrupt Nations in the World. 5 Introduction Nigeria is the 7th most populous Nation in the World and 1 in st Africa. The National Population Census (2006) puts the population of Nigeria as 140.8 million people. 6 Introduction contd. The estimated population of Nigeria for January 2019 is 198,503,406 or 2.60% of total world population (United Nations, World Population Review). 7 Introduction contd. Nigeria has a coverage area of about 923,768 Sq Kms or 356,669 Sq Miles. 8  Introduction contd. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the South; by Niger Republic in the North; by Chad in the North-East; by Republic of Benin in the West and Republic of Cameroon in the East. 9 Introduction Contd. Its vegetation varies from the Mangrove Swamps of the Niger Delta and Tropical Rain Forest of the Coastal Belt to the drought- prone savannah of the Northern border. 10 Introduction Contd. The people of Nigeria belong to the Negroid Race. It has over 250 Ethnic groups such as Hausa, Kanuri, Fulani, Nupe, Yoruba, Edo, Igbo, Ibibio, Efik, Tiv, Idoma, Igala, Itshekiri, Ijaw, etc. 11 Introduction Contd. Nigerian societies have been communalistic in nature and mainly organized along Kinship and Lineage systems. 12 Introduction Contd. Nigerian societies are Patrilineal – that is family line is determined by the Male (Principle of Primogeniture). 13  Early History Much of its early history is based on Oral tradition. Recent understanding of its early history has been gotten from Archaeologist through Ethnographic studies. 14 Early History contd. Archaeological studies have shown that people were already living in South-West Nigeria (specifically Iwo-Eleru) and Ugwuelle-Uturu (Okigwe) in South-Eastern Nigeria as early as 9,000 BC. 15 Early History contd. 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. 16 Pre-Colonial Era The people of Nigeria had a long and varied history before 1500 when European colonial conquest began with the Spaniards and Portuguese followed by the British. Nigeria was then divided into tribal groups. 17 Pre-Colonial Era contd. The early tribal groups included the North-Eastern Kingdom of Borno, the seven Hausa city States of Daura, Kano, Zazzau (Zaria), Gobir, Katsina, Rano and Biram. 18 Pre-Colonial Era contd. The Yoruba city states of Ife, Oyo and Ijebu in South-Western Nigeria. The Benin and Itshekiri Kingdoms of Southern Nigeria and the Onitsha and Arochukwu Kingdoms of Eastern Nigeria. 19 Pre-Colonial Era Contd. The whole of Hausa land and Borno came under the control of the Fulani in 1804, following the Jihad of Shehu Usman Dan Fodio. 20 Pre-Colonial Era Contd. He was an Islamic teacher of Fulani origin born in 1754 at Marata in Gobir. This is how the Sokoto and Gwandu Caliphates and their Emirs emerged under the control of the Fulani. 21 Pre-Colonial Era Contd. The Yoruba religious centre was the city of Ile-Ife. The Legendary king Oduduwa is widely recognized to be the founder of the Yoruba tribes. 22 Pre-Colonial Era Contd. Oduduwa was succeeded by his son – Oranmiyan – who founded the ruling dynasty of Oyo. 23 Pre-Colonial Era Contd. At the centre of Oyo’s Political and Military organization was the Alafin of Oyo. 24 Pre-Colonial Era Contd. The Benin kingdom is said to have been founded between the 12 th & 14 th century. Traditionally, Benin Kings or Obas were known as Ogiso. 25 Pre-Colonial Era Contd. Their origin can be traced to the Yoruba sacred city of Ile-Ife. His first son occupies the position of Ediaken of Uselu until the death of the Oba. 26 Pre-Colonial Era Contd. Nri in Anambra State is regarded as the ancestral home of the Igbos. Along with Aguleri, it was the center of Igbo culture, religion and commerce in pre-colonial West Africa and existed as far back as the 9th century. 27 Pre-Colonial Era Contd. The Igbos generally have no supreme King like Oba or Emir due to their decentralised system of government. However, Nri is regarded as the most ancient origin of the Eze traditional title and the Osu caste system. 28 Pre-Colonial Era Contd. Hence the highest traditional Institution in Igbo land is the Oha-na Eze whose unit of control is the Village. There are title holders such as Ofo title for family heads and the Ozo title for prestigious, influential, popular and wealthy persons. 29 Pre-Colonial Era Contd. However, there are few recognized kingdoms in Igbo land. Onitsha kingdom (Anambra State) founded in the 16th century by migrants from Benin and Igbo traders from the hinterland. The traditional leader is the Obi of Onitsha. 30 Pre-Colonial Era Contd. The Arochukwu kingdom (Abia State) emerged after the Aro-Ibibio wars from 1630-1720. Arochukwu is the 3 largest town in rd Abia State after Aba and Umuahia. The Traditional leader is the Eze Aro. 31