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Historical Background
History of Nigeria

Nigeria has a long history.  The plateau area around Jos was a meeting place for cultural influences from the Upper Niger Valley. Here, two powerful empires arouse:  Hausa Bolewoi and Kanem-Bomu. In the 15th Century the slave trade began.  In the 18th Century, Nigeria was flooded with British missionaries and the British government. This is the period in which Things Fall Apart takes place in.  By 1900,  Britain had  total control over Nigeria. After Africans begin to gain power and influence in the government in 1951, the constitution gave the balance of power to Nigerians. In 1954, Nigeria became a federation, and in 1957 the Eastern and Western regions gained internal self-government.  Nigeria proceeded to independence on 1 October 1960.  Since then, the government of Nigeria has experienced a lot of turmoil.  In November 1993, Nigeria’s 7th coup established General Sani Abacha as the dictator of Nigeria.  He set up power, banned political parties, and took away civilian rights.

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