LITHOSPHERE
Earth’s crust and the interior of the earth: The earth is almost like a sphere. Its radius is about 6,400 kilometres. There is no scope to observe the interior of the earth by piercing the hard external covering. The geologists…
PERIHELION AND APHELION
The orbit of the earth is an ellipse. Its length is 93,80,51,827 kilometres. The sun is located in the centre or in the focus of the ellipse. Perihelion: In the process of revolution around the sun, the earth on 1st…
DIURNAL AND ANNUAL MOTION OF THE EARTH
Everyday the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. This process led many people in the past to think that the sun is moving and the earth is fixed. The sun moves around the earth. But with…
ORIGINS AND TIMEFRAME OF EARLY TRADE
The connections of West Africa with the Mediterranean world is a very old one, which long predates the rise of Islam in the late 6th century CE. Several centuries before the rise of the Roman empire, the Greek historian Herodotus (c.…
COLONIAL RULE IN WEST AFRICA
The European scramble for Africa culminated in the Berlin West African Conference of 1884-85. The conference was called by German Chancellor Bismarck and would set up the parameters for the eventual partition of Africa. European nations were summoned to discuss…
EUROPEAN CONTACT WITH WEST AFRICA
European sailors first reached sub-Saharan Africa in 1442, when Portuguese ships reached the Senegal river. The Portuguese had been sailing the coasts of Morocco and Western Sahara since 1413, when they captured the Moroccan city of Ceuta [still a Spanish…
THE HISTORICAL ANTECEDENT OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT IN WEST AFRICA
The land of West Africa consists of contrasting kinds of physical environment. The forest environment differs from the savanna environment, a mountainous area from a flat lowland area, riverine area from one away from a river, an area with predominantly…
PROBLEMS OF INDEPENDENT WEST AFRICAN STATES
Most West African leaders were very optimistic about their countries’ future at independence. They hoped to transform their newly independent countries so that their citizens would enjoy the fruits of independence, as colonial rule had brought only few benefits to…
CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES IN WEST AFRICA
The expansion of the missionary movement into Africa was part of the growing conception of Christian responsibility for the regeneration of African peoples. The anti-slavery issue and the humanitarian conscience also played a vital role in stimulating European interest in…
THE ALMORAVID DYNASTY
The term ‘Almoravid’ comes from the Arabic word ‘al-Murabit, literally meaning “one who is trying” but figuratively meaning “one who is ready for battle at a fortress”. The Almoravid dynasty was an imperial Berber Muslim dynasty centered in Morocco. It…
THE SOKOTO CALIPHATE
Created by a jihad launched by Usman dan Fodio (also spelt Usman Ibn Fodio, Uthman Dan Fuduye, or Uthman Ibn Fodio) between 1804 and 1810, the caliphate of Sokoto was the largest and most populated state of nineteenth-century Africa. According…
THE SPREAD OF ISLAM IN WEST AFRICA
Africa was the first continent, that Islam spread into out of Arabia in the early seventh century. Almost one-third of the world’s Muslim population resides today in the continent. It was estimated in 2002 that Muslims constitute 45% of the…
BENIN HISTORY AND CULTURE
The people of Benin have lived at their inland settlement for many centuries. They speak Edo language. Some historian trace the founding of Benin to about 12th century. It is therefore correct to say that the Benin people were already…
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SONGHAI, GHANA AND MALI EMPIRES
SIMILARITIES The three empires were located close to the Niger River; they developed from the same Western Sudan region. The peopling of Ghana, Mali and Songhai Empires was similar. The three empires controlled the salt and gold trade. They were…
SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT LED TO THE FALL OF MALI EMPIRE
Social factors: Despite its acclaimed greatness, Mali Empire declined. Internal disputes resulted to wars within the empire. The declaration of war by the Bamana of Djenne weakened the empire. The empire encountered external attacks which led to the capture of…
SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT LED TO THE RISE OF MALI EMPIRE
Social factors: Mali Empire rose to prominence due to several factors, these include: Commissioning of great buildings like mosques in Timbuktu. This made the empire a famous centre of learning and spectacular architecture. The building of one of the centres…
THE LOCATION AND ORIGIN OF MALI EMPIRE
LOCATION Mali Empire developed from the fall of old Ghana Empire in Western Sudan. The empire’s total area included nearly all the land between the Sahara Desert and coastal forests of the Western Sudan. It spanned the modern-day countries of…
SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT LED TO THE FALL OF GHANA EMPIRE
SOCIAL FACTORS In historical movement, empires and kingdoms usually rose to their peaks and then began to experience decline or fall no matter how highly developed the empire or kingdom had been. This was the case of the Old Ghana…
SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT LED TO THE RISE OF GHANA EMPIRE
SOCIAL FACTORS Some factors usually work together to lead to the rise or expansion of empires in history. The following factors were responsible for the rise of the Old Ghana Empire reaching its peak of power and glory around the…
THE BERLIN CONFERENCE AND TREATY
In 1884, Otto Edward Leopold, Prince of Bismark, Duke of Lavenburg, popularly referred to as Otto von Bismarck convened the 1884-1885 Berlin Conference to discuss the African problem. Participants discussed issues relating to condemnation of slave trade, prohibition on the…
THE ROYAL NIGER COMPANY
The legitimate trade in communities attracted a number of British merchants to the Niger River, as well as others who had been formerly engaged in the slave trade but now changed their line of trade. The large companies that opened…
BRITISH CONQUEST THROUGH WARS
The British led series of military campaigns to enlarge its sphere of influence and expand its commercial opportunities. The superior weapons, tactics and political unity of the British are commonly given as reasons for their decisive victory. In 1892, the…
BRITISH CONQUEST THROUGH TREATIES
The abolition of the slave trade and the rise of the legitimate trade, subsequently led to the gradual encroachment on the territories of various African states by European powers. For instance in Nigeria, the British misled local rulers into signing…
BRITISH CONTACTS WITH NIGERIA
British contact with the Nigerian people was made through three categories of people namely; the explorers, Christian missionaries and traders. The explorers included Mungo Park, Lander brothers and Henrich Barth. In the case of Christian missionaries, there was Rev. Schon,…
THE ROLES OF NIGERIAN NATIONALIST ANTHONY ENAHORO
Anthony Enahoro was born in Uromi (Edo- State) on the 22nd of July, 1923. He had his early education in Uromi, Owo and Lagos. Even as a young secondary school student, Enahoro was worried about colonial rule and agitated for…
THE ROLES OF NIGERIAN NATIONALIST AMINU KANO
Mallam Aminu Kano was born in Kano city in 1920. After his elementary school education in Kano, he proceeded to Katsina College. He also attended a course at the Institute of Education of the University of London. Like many children…
THE ROLES OF NIGERIAN NATIONALIST AHMADU BELLO
Ahmadu Bello was born in Rabah (in Sokoto State) on the 12th of June 1909. His father was the Chief of Rabah and a descendant of the great Muslim scholar and jihadist, Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, the founder of the…
THE ROLES OF NIGERIAN NATIONALIST TAFAWA BALEWA
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born in December 1912 in the town of Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi (Bauchi State). He attended Tafawa Balewa Primary School from 1922-1925. He proceeded to Bauchi Middle School 1925-1928. From Bauchi Middle School, he moved to Katsina…
COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE OIL RIVERS PROTECTORATE
The Oil Rivers Protectorate was named by the British traders referring to the abundance of oil palm which was the most profitable and important trading commodity in the region during the early 19th century. The Protectorate was established by the…
COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION OF LAGOS COLONY
Lagos was annexed by the British on 6th August, 1861 and was declared a Colony on the 5th of March, 1862 after the signing of the Lagos Treaty of Cessation. In effect, the powers of Oba Dosumu of Lagos were…
COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION OF SOUTHERN PROTECTORATE
The Southern Protectorate was established in 1900. It was administered by a High Commissioner. The first High Commissioner for Southern Nigeria Protectorate was Ralph Moor. In 1906, the Lagos Colony was joined with the Southern Protectorate. It, therefore, became the…
COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION OF NORTHERN PROTECTORATE
Sir Frederick Lugard was appointed the High Commissioner of the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria in 1900. In the military parade in Lokoja in the same year, Lugard declared the protectorate of Northern Nigeria and subsequently embarked on the conquest of…
THE ROLES OF NIGERIAN NATIONALIST NNAMDI AZIKIWE
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe was born in Zungeru town (now in Niger State) on the 16th of November 1904 to an immigrant Ibo family from the then Eastern Nigeria. He was popularly and simply called Zik. His father was a clerk…
MEANING AND ORIGIN OF LEGITIMATE TRADE
The term, “legitimate trade” refers to the trade in commodities between Africans and the European merchants immediately after the abolition of slave trade. It was a trade where African raw materials, especially cash crops were exchanged for European goods. Such…
THE ROLES OF NIGERIAN NATIONALIST OBAFEMI AWOLOWO
Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo popularly called Awo, was born in Ikenne (now in Ogun State) on the 6th of March, 1909. He had his early education at the Baptist High School and later Wesley College, Ibadan. Awo had to struggle to…
SONGHAI’S RELATIONS WITH HER NEIGHBOURS
Songhai Empire was a very important empire that commanded the respect of her neighbours. When the empire was established, it fought wars of conquest against small kingdoms and made them part of the empire. The Songhai Empire’s army was so…
SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT LED TO THE FALL OF SONGHAI EMPIRE
Social Factors: The sack and subjugation of Timbuktu by external forces exposed the misrule of some emperors; this was coupled with the outbreak of drought and diseases. There was also the division of the empire into a number of separate…
SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT LED TO THE RISE OF SONGHAI EMPIRE
Social Factors: The merchants of Songhai Empire worked in partnership. The state also protected the partnership. The port cities on the Niger made the empire a very strong and powerful trading kingdom. The expansion of the Sankore University in Timbuktu,…
THE LOCATION AND ORIGIN OF SONGHAI EMPIRE
LOCATION Songhai Empire was located in West Africa along the Niger River. When it reached its peak, its location extended more than 1000 miles towards the Atlantic Ocean. It was centred on the middle reaches of the Niger River and…
INDIRECT RULE IN NIGERIA
Indirect rule refers to the method of governing societies through the use of traditional institutions and personnel. The British adopted this strategy in the management of the affairs of Northern Region. There were many reasons for the adoption of this…
THE ROLE OF SIR FREDERICK LUGARD IN THE NIGERIAN HISTORY
Sir Frederick John Dealtry Lugard was born on 22 January, 1858. Between 1901 and 1928 he served as British soldier, explorer and colonial administrator in many parts of Africa and Asia. Sir Frederick Lugard, as he was fondly called, was…
MEANING OF NATIONALISM
Nationalism is the feeling of pride, which people have about their country and identity. It also means a strong desire of a people who share the same or similar economic and political experiences, culture, language, tradition, history and heritage. Nationalism…
HISTORY OF BENIN EMPIRE
Benin Empire developed from a number of small chieftaincies. Benin oral traditions claimed that the first rulers were called Ogiso (Kings of the Sky), and there were thirty-one of them. It was during their time that certain symbols of royal…
THE ROLE OF GEORGE TAUBMAN GOLDIE IN NIGERIAN HISTORY
George Taubman Goldie (1846-1925) was a trained engineer. He played a major role in the founding of Nigeria. He first learnt about Nigeria from Hausa pilgrims passing through the Sudan to or from Saudi Arabia. He must have also met…
RELATIONS BETWEEN IGBO AND THE NIGER DELTA STATES
The non-centralised states of the Igbos of the South-eastern Nigeria interacted actively with close and distant neighbours like the Igala, Bini and Ijo. Some Igbo communities such as Nri and the Arochukwu had more influence and interactions outside their areas.…
HISTORY OF IGALA KINGDOM
There are several versions of the origin of the Igala people according to oral traditions. The first version claimed that the first Attah was a hunter by profession who came from a group named Ado to the west of the…
AMALGAMATION OF NIGERIA
Amalgamation means bringing together two or more groups or territories under one administration. At the wake of the British conquest of the different parts of Nigeria, those territories were initially administered independently. This was because the territories were conquered at…
IGBO UKWU HISTORY AND CULTURE
Igbo Ukwu is located along the lower Niger River basin in Onitsha area. Igbo Ukwu sculptures and bronzes were unearthed by a man digging a well in 1939. More excavations were carried out by Professor Thurstan Shaw in 1960. Most…
HISTORY OF OLD OYO EMPIRE
The Old Oyo Empire is sometimes wrongly described as the state of the coastal forest. It was really a northern savannah state, with its capital near Nupe Kingdom. Oral traditions claimed that Ife was the most senior of the Yoruba…
IMPACT OF TRANS-ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
The impact of trans-Atlantic slave trade on African societies can be viewed from many angles. Some Africa rulers used the weapons they acquired from the sale of slaves to expand their polities by raiding other kingdoms. This led to empire…