Nigerian Peoples and Culture (GST 112/103) - Lecture Notes

NIGERIA PEOPLES AND CULTURE (GST 112/103)

Introduction

  • GST103 (Nigerian Peoples and Culture) is a one-semester, 2-credit unit course comprising 14 units.

  • Course content: Nigerian perception of their world, cultural areas and characteristics, evolution of Nigeria, functional education, social justice, national development, norms, values, and moral obligations.

  • No prerequisites required.

  • Course aims: To introduce the history of traditional Nigerian peoples and culture, trace pre-colonial history, and analyze cultures from historical, sociological, and anthropological perspectives.

Course Aims

  • Understand traditional Nigerian peoples and culture (Southern and Northern).

  • Understand Nigeria's evolution as a political unit.

  • Highlight major culture areas.

  • Analyze the impact of Western education on national development.

  • Understand functional education, national economy, and social justice.

Course Objectives

  • Gain knowledge of traditional Nigerian peoples and culture.

  • Discuss culture areas and their characteristics.

  • Analyze the impact of Western education.

  • Explain Nigeria's political evolution.

Assessment

  • Tutor-marked assignments.

  • Written examination assessing application of acquired knowledge.

Course Materials

  1. Course Guide

  2. Study Units

  3. Textbooks

  4. Assignment File

  5. Presentation Schedule

Study Units

  • Module 1:

    • Unit 1: Peoples of Southern Nigeria - Part I

    • Unit 2: Peoples of Southern Nigeria - Part II

    • Unit 3: Peoples of Northern Nigeria - Part I

    • Unit 4: Peoples of Northern Nigeria - Part II

    • Unit 5: Evolution of Nigeria as a Political Unit

  • Module 2:

    • Unit 1: Culture Area of Niger Delta

    • Unit 2: Culture Area of Rain Forest

    • Unit 3: Culture Area of Guinea Savanna

    • Unit 4: Culture Area of Sudan Savanna

  • Module 3:

    • Unit 1: Historical Analysis of Education

    • Unit 2: Historical Analysis of Economy

    • Unit 3: Historical Analysis of Religion

    • Unit 4: Historical Analysis of Moral and Socio-political Rights

    • Unit 5: Historical Analysis of Social Justice

  • First four units cover traditional Southern and Northern Nigerian peoples and culture. Next four analyze culture areas. The ninth unit deals with Nigeria's political evolution. The last five units discuss norms, values, Western education, and historical perspectives of various factors.

Recommended Textbooks

  • Nzemeke, A.D. and E.O. Erhagbe. (2002). Nigerian Peoples and Culture (2nd ed.). Benin City: University of Benin Press.

  • Crowder, M. and G. Abdullahi. (1979). Nigeria: An Introduction to its History. Lagos: Longman Nig. Plc.

  • Fafunwa, A.B. (1974). History of Education in Nigeria.

  • Nnoli, Okwudiba. (1978). Ethnic Politics in Nigeria. Enugu: Fourth Dimension Publishers.

  • Onwuejeogwu, M.A. (2000). African Civilizations: Origin, Growth and Development. Lagos: Uto Publications.

  • Ugowe, C.O.O. (1995). The Nigerian Legacy: A Handbook of a Black African Culture and Civilization. Lagos: Hugo Books.

Tutor-Marked Assignments

  • Fourteen assignments; best four scores count towards 30% of the final grade.

  • Questions in the Assignment File should be answered using course materials and broadening understanding with other references.

Module 1

  • Focuses on Nigerian peoples and their cultures, particularly in pre-colonial times.

  • Key points:

    • History of Southern Nigeria.

    • History of Northern Nigeria.

    • Dynamics of Nigeria’s evolution as a political unit.

Unit 1: Peoples of Southern Nigeria (Part I)

  • Focus: Yoruba, Bini, and Igbo.

  • Objectives: Understand their origins, culture, socio-political organization, similarities, and dissimilarities.

Major Ethnic Groups

  • Six major groups in Southern Nigeria: Yoruba, Bini, Igbo, Itsekiri, Urhobo, and Ijaw. The focus here is on the first three.

The Yoruba

  • Major ethnic group in Southern Nigeria, found in Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Kwara, and Kogi.

  • Practice Islam, Christianity, and traditional religions.

  • Believed to have emerged between 2000-1000 BC.

Origins of the Yoruba

  • Controversial; multiple versions exist.

  • Rev. Samuel Johnson’s Version:

    • Traces origin to the “East” (North-Eastern Africa), citing similarities with Egyptian culture.

    • Migrated from Egypt to Ile-Ife.

    • Oduduwa led the Yoruba to Ile-Ife, and his descendants founded other Yoruba kingdoms.

  • Oke Oramfe’s Version:

    • Ile-Ife is the center of world creation.

    • Legend: The world was covered by water. The Almighty God sent messengers, including Obatala (leader) and sixteen Oye (immortals), with iron pieces, earth, cloth, and a cockerel.

    • Obatala got drunk, and Oduduwa seized authority, leading the party to the world.

    • They landed at Oke Oramfe in Ile-Ife, where Oduduwa formed the earth and became the ruler, extending authority to other Yoruba areas.

Socio-Political Organization of the Yoruba

  • Oyo: Major kingdom that became an empire.

    • Founded by Oranmiyan, son of Oduduwa.

    • Became powerful in the 16th century, extending to Dahomey.

  • The Alaafin Administration:

    • Unique system with checks and balances.

    • Alaafin (head of the empire) resided in the capital, assisted by priests, officials, and eunuchs.

    • Alaafin's power was limited by the Oyomesi, a council of seven members headed by the Bashorun (prime minister).

    • Oyomesi selected the Alaafin's successor and could remove dictatorial Alaafins, who were then expected to commit suicide.

  • The Ogboni Cult’s Administration:

    • Powerful cult composed of prominent members of society and Oyomesi members.

    • Mediated conflicts between the Oyomesi and Alaafin.

  • The Army:

    • Organized army led by the Are-Ona-Kankanfo, who lived outside the capital.

    • Functions: maintaining stability, expansion, and controlling territories.

    • Provincial governments modeled after the central government, administered by princes, minor kings, and baales (provincial governors), all subject to the Alaafin.

    • Alaafin had personal agents (Ilari) in the provinces and used the Bere annual festival to acknowledge allegiance renewal.

The Bini

  • The Bini played major roles in Nigerian history, and were the first visited by Europeans (1472 A.D.).

  • The Benin Kingdom was also the first in West Africa to exchange ambassadors with Portugal (1481-1504).

Origins of Benin Kingdom

  • Egharevba’s Version:

    • Claims Bini people emigrated from Egypt, settling at Ile-Ife before their current location.

  • Igbafe’s Version:

    • Bini have lived in the area “from the very beginning”.

    • Bini mythology: Bini was the youngest child of Osanobua (High God), who chose a snail shell on the advice of a bird.

    • On arrival, the world was covered by water. The youngest child overturned the snail shell, sand poured out, forming land and making him the first ruler of Bini.

  • Ogiso’s Version:

    • The first period is known as the Ogiso era (