GST201: Nigerian Peoples and Culture

Flashcards covering the pre-colonial history, socio-political institutions, regional culture areas, colonialism, and national development themes from GST201: Nigerian Peoples and Culture.

Alaafin

The head of the Oyo Empire and resident in the capital, titled 'Lord of many lands' and 'companion of the gods', whose administrative authority was checked by the Oyomesi council.

Oyomesi

The supreme council of seven kingmakers in the Oyo Empire headed by the Bashorun (prime minister), responsible for selecting the Alaafin's successor and deposing tyrannical rulers.

Are-Ona-Kankanfo

The supreme commander of the Oyo army who was required to reside outside the capital and was responsible for imperial expansion and suppressing dissident territories.

Ogiso

A title translating to 'kings of the sky', designating the earliest dynasty of rulers in pre-colonial Bini history, beginning with Igbodo and ending with Owodo.

Eweka I

The first Oba of Benin and son of Prince Oranmiyan and the daughter of the Enogie of Ego-Erinmwinda, who established the reigning Bini dynasty.

Uzama

One of the three principal orders of titled nobility (Adesotu) in the pre-colonial Bini Kingdom, ranking alongside the Eghaevbo n' Ogbe (palace chiefs) and Eghaevbo n' Ore (town chiefs).

Ofo

The sacred staff of authority held by lineage heads such as the Okpara in traditional Igbo society, symbolizing justice and administrative legitimacy.

Amala Oha

The general assembly of all adult male members in traditional Igbo village democracy that convened in the open village square to enact laws and make binding decisions.

Iginuwa

The son and heir apparent of Oba Olua of Benin who migrated around 1473 and settled with local Ijaw communities to establish the Itsekiri Kingdom.

Olu

The monarch of the Itsekiri Kingdom who united temporal and spiritual authority and presided over the Ojoye council composed of seven titleholders.

Ovie

The traditional ruler who presided over the village council and titleholders in decentralized pre-colonial Urhobo communities.

House System

The commercial and socio-political administrative system that characterized traditional Ijaw city-states such as Bonny, Kalabari, Okrika, Opobo, and Brass-Nembe.

Bayajidda Legend

The central oral tradition of Hausaland describing a hero from Baghdad who killed a serpent in Daura, married the queen, and fathered Bawo, ancestor of the original seven Hausa Bokwoi states.

Sarkin Kasar

The title meaning 'ruler of the land' borne by the supreme political, spiritual, and judicial head of a traditional Hausa state.

Saifawa Dynasty

One of the longest-ruling imperial dynasties in pre-colonial West Africa, founded in Kanem-Bornu between the 9th and 10th centuries A.D. by the Arab hero Saif b. Dhiyazan.

Nokena

The imperial council of twelve state dignitaries in pre-colonial Kanem-Bornu tasked with advising the Mai (king) on administrative matters.

Maini Kanendi

The chief judge and principal legal adviser to the Mai within the pre-colonial judicial administration of Kanem-Bornu.

Etsu Nupe

The supreme monarch of the Nupe Kingdom whose word was law and who maintained divine status, centered at the capital city of Gbara.

Attah

The dynastic ruler at the head of the Igala Kingdom located at Idah, assisted in territorial governance by the Igalla-mela council of kingmakers.

Aku Uka

The theocratic monarch of the Jukun (Kwararafa) state, venerated as the representative of the gods on earth whose authority was checked by agricultural outcomes and religious taboos.

Achuwo

The head of the Aku Uka's council of nobles in the pre-colonial Jukun state who functioned as the Prime Minister.

Mbavessen

The council elder and leader of a constituent unit within a family group (Tsombor) in the segmentary hierarchy of traditional Tiv society.

May 1906 Amalgamation

The British union of the Lagos Colony and Protectorate with the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria, conducted to subsidize Lagos administrative and railway deficits with Southern revenue surpluses.

January 1914 Amalgamation

The British unification of the Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria engineered by Sir Frederick Lugard to utilize Southern fiscal surpluses to offset Northern administrative burdens.

Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM)

The political organization founded in 1936 by Samuel Akinsanya, H.O. Davies, Ernest Ikoli, and Dr. J.C. Vaughan, celebrated as the first true nationalist movement in Nigeria.

Lyttleton Constitution of 1954

The constitutional milestone that established a federal structure of government across Nigeria and marked the culmination of the independence struggle.

Olokun

The prominent water deity or goddess of the sea, also known as Umalokun or 'mami water', widely revered among the coastal peoples of the Niger Delta and Rain Forest regions.

Okpara

The oldest male member of a lineage in traditional Igbo village democracy who kept custody of the ancestral Ofo and served as intermediary between the living and ancestors.

Kasashen Bauchi

A historical regional designation applied to the Middle Belt territory within the Guinea Savanna of Nigeria.

Masu Sarauta

The aristocratic office-holding class in traditional Hausa society, subdivided into Masu Sarauta Na Asali (hereditary titleholders) and Masu Sarauta Na Cafka (vassalage appointees).

Talakawa

The commoner social class in Hausaland comprised of farmers, artisans, and petty traders who generated the bulk of economic output.

Fulani Gidan

The settled, town-dwelling segment of the Fulani ethnic group residing around Hausa administrative centers, distinct from nomadic pastoralists.

Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP)

The economic restructuring framework introduced by the Babangida administration in 1986 to diversify Nigeria's productive base, restrict imports, and curb oil dependency.

Vision 2010

A long-term strategic national planning initiative inaugurated on November 27, 1996, by General Sani Abacha to establish a culture of forward planning in the Nigerian economy.

Maitatsine Riots

The 1980 violent religious uprising in Kano instigated by an extremist Islamic sect that attacked civilians and security forces in an attempt to impose its doctrines.

Jus Sanguinis

The constitutional principle of citizenship by descent or blood, conferring Nigerian citizenship on anyone with an indigenous Nigerian parent or grandparent.

Jus Soli

The principle of citizenship by soil or place of birth, whereby any individual born within the physical territory of a nation automatically attains citizenship rights.