Comprehensive Study Guide to Nigerian History, Politics, and Culture

Traditions of Origin and Early Settlement History

• The Hausa People and the Bayajiddah Legend     - Foundational Myth: Bayajiddah is credited as the founder of Hausaland.     - Migration and Marriage: According to tradition, when Bayajiddah was chased out of Borno, he migrated into Hausaland. He left his wife at Daura.     - Biram-ta-Gabas: Bayajiddah married the daughter of the Mai while in Borno; she was left at Biram-ta-Gabas to give birth.     - State Classification:         - Hausa Bakwai: The seven legitimate Hausa states. Yauri and Zamfara are explicitly noted as being outside this group (Zamfara is not among the seven legitimate states).         - Hausa Banza: This term is used to describe the illegitimate Hausa states.     - Political and Religious Integration: In the earliest times, Hausa leaders combined both political and religious authorities.

• The Kanem-Borno Empire and the Kanuri     - Demographics: The Kanuri people occupied a region divided among four modern countries: Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.     - Regal Titles: The title used for the king of the Kanem-Borno Empire was Mai.     - Chronology and Capitals:         - The first Kanem-Borno Empire began to decline starting from the $14^{th}$ century.         - The capital of the first Kanuri Empire was located at Njimi.         - In the year $1570$, the capital was moved from Njimi to Ngazargamu.     - Cultural Context: The SO culture developed around Kanem Borno. The historical evolution of the Hausa and Kanuri is often explained through the Saifawa legend and broader myths.

• The Yoruba and Ile-Ife     - Migration and Settlement: After their migration, the Yoruba people finally settled in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.     - Oduduwa: Known as the leader who led the Yoruba people to Ile-Ife.     - Creation Myth: In the tradition of the sixteen immortals arriving at Ile-Ife, it is believed the earth was covered with water at the time of their arrival.

• The Igbo People     - Political Structure: Unlike the centralized empires, the Igbo had a decentralized political system in pre-colonial Nigeria.     - Tradition of Origin: According to the Nri tradition of origin, Eri is considered the ancestor of the Igbo people.     - Demographics: The Eastern part of Nigeria is majorly inhabited by the Igbo.

• Other Ethnic Foundations     - Itsekiri Kingdom: Founded by Iginuwa. The Itsekiri people lived around the Benin, Forcados, and Escravos rivers.     - Nupe Kingdom: The mythical founder of the Nupe Kingdom was Tsoede Edegi. The title of the king of Nupe is Etsu.     - Fulani: The Fulani originated from the region of the Futa Jallon Mountain. They currently represent approximately $3\,\%$ of the Nigerian population.     - Ijaw: This is identified as the largest ethnic group in the Western Niger Delta.     - Isoko and Urhobo: Among these groups, the Supreme God is referred to as Oghene.

Pre-Colonial Political Systems and Administration

• The Oyo Empire     - Ruler: The ruler of the Oyo Empire held the title of Alaafin.     - Checks and Balances: The powers of the Alaafin were regulated by the Oyomesi (a council of state).     - Military Leadership: The head of the army in Yoruba society (specifically Oyo) was titled the Are-Ona-Kankanfo.     - Founder of Oyo: Oranmiyan, a son of Oduduwa, is believed to be the founder of Oyo.

• The Benin Empire     - Dynasties: Before the period of the Obaship, the dynasty in the Benin Empire was the Ogiso dynasty.     - The Ogisos: In Benin history, this title was interpreted to mean "Kings of the Sky."     - Symbols of Authority: The Ada and Eben served as the primary symbols of authority in the Benin Kingdom.

• Hosea/Northern Political Structure     - Alkali: Served as the judge or legal adviser within an Emirate.     - Galadima: Held the position of the deputy emir in the Hausa pre-colonial political system.     - Comparative Roles: The Madawaki in the North is considered the equivalent of the Are Ona Kakanfo in the Oyo Empire.

Colonialism, Amalgamation, and Nationalism

• Early European Contact     - The Portuguese were the first Europeans to visit present-day Nigeria.

• British Conquest and Resistance     - The Benin Massacre (1897): The British invaded Benin in $1897$. Following the massacre, Oba Ovonramwen was deported to Calabar.     - Resistance: While many groups resisted colonial conquest, Sir Herbert Macaulay is noted as an exception (as a nationalist leader rather than a combatant resister).

• The Process of Amalgamation     - 1906 Amalgamation: This involved the merger of the Colony of Lagos and the Niger Coast Protectorate. The primary aim was economic benefit.     - 1914 Amalgamation: Completed the process of joining Northern and Southern Nigeria. Sir Frederick Lugard is known as the father of this January $1914$ amalgamation.

• Nationalism and Political Parties     - First Political Party: Formed in Nigeria by Sir Herbert Macaulay.     - NCNC: Created by Herbert Macaulay in $1944$.     - Action Group (AG): Founded in $1948$ by Obafemi Awolowo.     - Northern Peoples Congress (NPC): This party dominated Northern politics during the First Republic.     - Role of the Press: The West African Pilot was a prominent newspaper used as a tool for nationalism.

Post-Independence Governance and Military Rule

• Constitutional and Political Milestones     - Federalism: Introduced to Nigeria via the 1954 Constitution.     - Republican Status: Nigeria became a republic in $1963$.     - Mid-Western Region: Created in $1963$.     - The Fourth Republic: Nigeria is currently in its $4^{th}$ Republic. The last Military Head of State before this republic was Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

• Military Successions and the Civil War     - Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi: Ruled Nigeria for a brief period in $1966$ ($1966-1966$).     - Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970):         - The Federal Government side was led by Gen. Yakubu Gowon.         - The war ended in $1970$.         - It is categorized as a conflict distinct from typical indigenous/settler conflicts.

• Economic and Domestic Programs     - Agriculture: Before independence, agriculture accounted for over $50\,\%$ of Nigeria's GDP.     - Operation Feed the Nation (OFN): Introduced under the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.     - Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP): Introduced under Babangida with the main aim of reducing dependence on the oil sector and imports.

Socio-Cultural and Ethical Concepts

• Culture and Society     - Culture Area: A geographical area inhabited by people who exhibit cultural similarities.     - Trade: Defined as the buying and selling of goods and services. Multilateral trade is an agreement among three or more countries.     - Diversity: Nigeria is classified as heterogeneous in terms of ethnic composition.     - Taboo: A term for what a given culture absolutely forbids.

• Moral Development and Ethics     - Kohlberg's Stages: Stage three of Kohlberg's stages of moral development is Interpersonal accord and conformity.     - Collapse of Moral Values: The quest for quick and cheap acquisition of wealth regardless of consequence is attributed to the collapse of moral values.

• Cultism and Education     - Definition: A small group whose beliefs are typically unknown to the public is called a secret cult.     - Origins: The emergence of cultism in Nigerian educational institutions is traced back to the year $1952$.     - Association: Prof. Wole Soyinka is the Nigerian professor associated with the origin of campus cultism.

• Human Rights     - Definition: International norms that help protect people from severe abuses.     - UDHR: The UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in $1948$.     - Nigerian Constitution: Fundamental human rights of Nigerians are contained in Chapter 4 of the $1999$ Constitution.

Theoretical Frameworks and History

• Hamitic Hypothesis: This theory suggests that everything significant in Africa came from Hamites. It was developed by C.G. Seligman.
• Fulani Invasion: The Fulani invasion of Hausaland is represented by the Jihad of 1804.
• Geographic Boundaries: To the south, Nigeria shares a boundary with the Atlantic Ocean.
• Refugee Protection: Historically, the Niger Delta and coastal creeks provided protection for refugee people.
• Indigenous People: Defined as people whose abode are ancestral to them.
• Education: In pre-colonial Nigeria, education was primarily informal and non-literate.