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| Federal Republic of Nigeria Jamhuriyar Tarayyar Najeriya Ọ̀hàńjíkọ̀ Ọ̀hànézè Naìjíríyà Orílẹ̀-èdè Olómìniira Àpapọ̀ Nàìjíríà | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
| |
 | |
| Capital | Abuja |
| Largest city | Lagos |
| Official languages | English |
| Recognised national languages | Hausa Igbo Yoruba |
| Demonym(s) | Nigerian |
| Dominant mode of production | Capitalism |
| Government | Federal presidential republic |
• President | Bola Tinubu |
| Area | |
• Total | 923,769 km² |
| Population | |
• 2023 estimate | 230,842,743 |
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa situated south of the Sahel with a southern coast on the Atlantic Ocean. Nigeria borders Cameroon to the east, Chad to the northeast, Niger to the north and Benin to the west. Since its independence from the British in 1960, it has been dominated by neocolonialism.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
Early history[edit | edit source]
Human societies have been present throughout the region now known as Nigeria for several thousand years. The earliest known human remains in the region, found in the Iwo Eleru rock shelter in what is now southwestern Nigeria, have been dated to around 9000 BCE in the Late Stone Age. Pottery was developed by about 3000 BCE in most areas of the region. Agriculture developed between 4000 and 1000 BCE, depending on the area. Evidence of iron-working and iron tools dates from approximately the seventh century BCE.[2] The Nok culture flourished from the 5th century BCE to the 2nd century CE.[3]
The foundation of centralized states such as Kanem, Borno, Benin, Ife, Oyo, and the Hausa city states occurred from approximately 1000 to 1500 CE. Islam was introduced into savanna and Sahel states of northern Nigeria circa 1100 to 1400 CE. The region was engaged in the trans-Saharan trade of various goods across the Sahara desert, this trade reaching a notable "golden age" from 1300-1600. Though this trade continued through the nineteenth century, it became diminished after the rise of coastal trade with Europeans in the 1400s.[2]
Civil War[edit | edit source]
After independence in 1960,[2] the north supported the Nigeria People's Congress, the south supported the Action Group, and the west supported the Council for Nigeria and the Cameroons. A group of Igbo colonels led a coup in 1966 before being overthrown by Hausa officers. The southeastern region of Biafra declared independence in 1966, leading to a civil war that killed a million people. Nigeria quickly reconquered Biafra with French support.[4]
Economy[edit | edit source]
Nigeria's economy relies on oil, which is owned by foreign companies. It sells over two million barrels of oil every day, but is forced to import much of its oil from the imperial core. 80% of the Nigerian population lives on less than $2 per day.[1]
Demographics[edit | edit source]
Northern Nigeria is dominated by the Hausa, whereas the Yoruba live in the south and the Igbo in the west.[4]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Boko Haram and the explosion of neocolonial rule in Nigeria" (2014-07-01). The Burning Spear. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Toyin Falola and Matthew M. Heaton (2008). A History of Nigeria. Cambridge University Press.
- ↑ Mark Cartwright (2019-03-27). "Nok Culture" World History Encyclopedia.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Vijay Prashad (2008). The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World: 'Notes' (p. 327). [PDF] The New Press. ISBN 9781595583420 [LG]