In the case of nigeria situation, disturbing history of colonialism, this generated hatred and conflict among different. Ethnicity is more than skin color or physical characteristics, more than language, song, and dance. In 1914 the protectorates of southern and northern nigeria were amalgamated with the colony lagos by lord lugard to form what is now known as nigeria. A political history of nigeria and the crisis of ethnicity in. The history of nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers nigerians living in the area as early as 1100 bc. First, the spread of islam, predominantly in the north but later in southwestern nigeria as well, began a. It is the embodiment of values, institutions, and patterns of behavior, a composite whole. Muhammadu buhari, muhammadu also spelled muhammad, born december 17, 1942, daura, nigeria, nigerian military leader and politician who served as nigerias head of state in 198485 and was democratically elected president in 2015 education and military service. Discover more about your ethnicity with ancestrydna. It is important to note that the general outcome of this is the intensification of numerous ethnoreligious struggles in nigeria.
Nigerias flag consists of three equal vertical bands of green, white, and green. The boundaries of the formerly english colony were drawn to serve commercial interests, largely without regard for the territorial claims of the indigenous peoples 38. In his original pathbreaking study of nigerian politics, nigerian political parties, 474 505, sklar used the term new and rising class to describe the emergent dominant class distinguished by high levels of income, education. The problem of ethnicity in nigeria politics nigeria.
Introduction nigeria and nigerians have been caught in the frenzy of centenary celebration. Apr 16, 2020 muhammadu buhari, nigerian military leader and politician. The experience of the 2015 presidential election in nigeria secondly, ethnicityprovides each group with a common ancestry and history, which is an important aspect of the african peoples. It distinguishes groupings of peoples who for historical reasons have come to be seen as distinctiveby themselves and otherson the basis of locational origins and a series of other cultural markers. Nigeria is the most populous country in africa, with more than 168 million people living in an area about twice the size of california. Rakov, vassar college 92 english 32, fall 1990 the ethnicity of nigeria is so varied that there is no definition of a nigerian beyond that of someone who lives within the borders of the country ukpo, p. Between ethnicity, nationality and development in nigeria. The university of ibadan was the first university to open in nigeria, and its scholars set up the history departments at most of nigeria s other universities, spreading the ibadan historiography. Studies that were conducted over the four decades from 1960 to 2000 showed generally low prevalence rates for diabetes in nigeria 37. In some colonial territories, for instance nigeria, the strategy of decolonization gave impetus to political ethnicity. Thirdly, ethnicity also identifies each group by providing its members with a common language. On the study of ethnicity in nigeria by ukoha ukiwo 1.
The ethnicity of nigeria is so varied that there is no definition of a nigerian beyond that of someone who lives within the borders of the country ukpo, p. A historical survey of ethnic conflict in nigeria citeseerx. He served as nigerias head of state in 198485 after a military coup on december 31, 1983, and was democratically elected president in 2015 after standing unsuccessfully for the post in 2003, 2007, and 2011. Mang chaimang and ms adaeze uju oguike for the complementary roles they played in editing the draft. The label one attaches to this social formation has important theoretical implications. In the case of nigeria situation, disturbing history of. Studies that were conducted over the four decades from 1960 to 2000 showed generally low prevalence rates for diabetes in nigeria37. Introduction the vilification of ethnicity as the scapegoat of all vices associated with the nigerian body polity has made the subject a dominant theme in the study of nigerian political economy. Hundreds of languages are spoken in the country, including yoruba. The history of ethnicity and ethnic conflicts in nigeria is also traced back to the colonial transgressions that forced the ethnic groups of the northern and southern provinces to become an entity called nigeria in 1914. Mar 21, 2020 nigerias major soil zones conform to geographic location. The yoruba constitute approximately 35 percent of nigerias total population, and around 40 million individuals throughout the region of west africa.
The concept ethnicity and tribalism has always been a confused matter. Among todays scholars there is a near consensus that precolonial african identities were relatively fluid, permeable, overlapping, and complex. Its scholars also wrote the textbooks that were used at all levels of the nigerian education system for many years. Nigeria full name federal republic of nigeria government presidential republic population 203,452,505 governmentrecognized religionsfaiths na religious demography 51. A history of identities, violence, and stability in nigeria by eghosa e. The history of ethnicity and ethnic conflicts in nigeria is also traced back to the colonial transgressions that forced the ethnic groups of the. The activities of ethnic groups and the impact of ethnicity in nigeria. A political history of nigeria and the crisis of ethnicity in nationbuilding odeyemi, jacob oluwole department of history and international studies, faculty of humanities, ajayi crowther university, oyo. Pdf a historical survey of ethnic conflict in nigeria. Ethnicity in africa oxford research encyclopedia of african. Islam reached nigeria through the borno empire between 1068 ad and hausa states around 85 ad during the 11th century, while. Download pdf ethnicity and development in nigeria free. Managing ethnic and cultural diversity for national integration in. Educated largely in katsina, buhari took military training in kaduna as well as in great britain, india, and the united states.
It is argued that national integration in the nigerian. Output 28 is the ethnicity, language and culture dimension. Nigeria is located in western africa with a population of over 180 million people as of 2016. In the spirit of indirect rule, the major administrative and political units of nigeria were made to coincide with the spatial locations of the three major ethnic groups. Loose sandy soils consisting of windborne deposits and riverine sands are found in the northern regions, although, in areas where there is a marked dry season, a dense surface layer of laterite develops, making these soils difficult to cultivate. A political history of nigeria and the crisis of ethnicity. Nigeria is said to be a british creation by uniting the various nationalities into a single country today known as the federal republic of nigeria.
Nigeria is africas most populous country and the worlds eighth largest oil producer, but its success has been undermined in recent decades by ethnic and religious conflict, political instability, rampant official corruption and an ailing economy. First, the spread of islam began a millennium ago, predominantly in the north but later on extended to southwestern nigeria. The earliest cities in nigeria were the northern cities of kano and katsina that started around c. Ethnicity is one of the keys to understanding nigerias pluralistic society. There are several basic dimensions which ethnicity includes, on either the collective or individual level. A history of identities, violence, and stability in nigeria. Thus, with the current events unfolding in the country, and a sense of history at heart, the study therefore investigates the implications of ethnoreligion and political violence for nigerias national integration. Lagos, is an associate professor in the department of history and strategic studies, university of lagos, nigeria. Geography nigeria is the most populous country in africa and accounts for over half of west africas population. List of minority ethnic groups in nigeria nigerian infopedia. This book is an indepth study of the ethnic phenomenon in nigeria between 1900 and 1994.
Ethnicity itself is an abstract concept which includes an implicit reference to both collective and individual aspects of the phenomenon. They date back as far as the 5th century bc, when communities living around the southern slopes of the jos plateau make wonderfully expressive terracotta figures in a tradition known now as the nok culture, from the nigerian village where these. Nigeria is a multiethnic and culturally diverse society that has witnessed conflicts arising from this ethnic and cultural diversity. Nigeria, country located on the western coast of africa. Ethnicity in africa oxford research encyclopedia of. Although the years since nigerias return to civilian rule in 1999 have seen an increased interest in its history and politics, nigeria remains one of the most underresearched african countries. Around 1400, the yoruba kingdom of oyo was founded in the southwest and reach its height from the 17th to the 19th century. Political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. The history of nigeria before independence in order to understand the current nigerian politics and society, three dominant characteristics need to be taken into account. However, it is pertinent to note that there is a difference between ethnicity and tribalism even though the difference is water. Hausa and fulani 29%, yoruba 21%, igbo ibo 18%, ijaw. The federal republic of nigeria is governed in accordance with the provisions of a constitution. By comparing your genetic signature to the dna of people from the nigeria region, ancestrydna can give you a clearer picture of your ethnic origins.
The country of nigeria features over five hundred different ethnic groups, many different languages, and declared its independence from the united kingdom on october 1, 1960. Aug 22, 2019 history of nigeria nigeria has a long history that dates back as far as 9000 b. Managing ethnic and cultural diversity for national. Among those people are over 250 ethnic groups and tribes, each with their own culture and traditions. History of nigeria nigeria has a long history that dates back as far as 9000 b. Nigeria has a diverse geography, with climates ranging from arid to humid equatorial.
Pdf this article focused on the historical survey of ethnic conflict in the nigerian society and its scope is vast in a way that it stresses the. Several dominant themes in nigerian history are essential for understanding contemporary nigerian politics and society. This book is an in depth study of the ethnic phenomenon in nigeria between 1900 and 1994. The amalgamation of 1914, which was done, albeit not in the spirit of oneness but for administrative convenience of the colonial masters, marked the starting point in what is today known as ethnic identity coupled with its militia operations in nearly all the nook and crannies of nigeria. The most populous and politically influential include. Pdf a historical survey of ethnic conflict in nigeria researchgate. Nigeria contains more historic cultures and empires than any other other nation in africa. Nigeria and many african countries are regarded as failed states. Nigeria, officially known as the federal republic of nigeria, is a country that is located on the western coast of africa. Theoretical perspective 79 languages, customs and traditions gives the country a rich cultural diversity. No work is deemed scholarly that does not consider the salience or.
Ethnic conflict and sustainable development in nigeria. Ethnic identity refers to ethnicity as an individually experienced phenomenon. Two studies3,4 that were conducted in 1963 and 1971 reported prevalence of less than 1% for diabetes in nigeria. This paper expounds such conceptual issues as ethnicity, cultural diversity, federalism and national integration and then presents the historical background to ethnic and cultural conflicts in nigeria. Some scholars use the two concepts as though they carry the some meaning and strongly inseparable.
Geographical, historical and political profiles of nigeria. Its southern coast is on the gulf of guinea in the atlantic ocean. A federal government demographic survey in 1976 identified 394 language groups. Introduction nigeria as one of the developing countries in the world is one of the countries where ethnic pluralism is well pronounced. However, nigerias most diverse feature is its people. In nigeria therefore, there appears to exist a contentious interaction of politics, ethnicity and religions, which has resulted in an increased sense of belonging and militancy. An analysis grace malachi brown, phd department of history and diplomatic studies faculty of humanities rivers state university of education pmb 5047, rumuolumeni port harcourt, rivers state nigeria.
In october 1963, nigeria altered its relationship with the united kingdom by proclaiming itself a federal republic and promulgating a new constitution. A historical survey of ethnic conflict in nigeria article pdf available in asian social science 84 march 2012 with 2,957 reads how we measure reads. Nigeria has one of the fastestgrowing populations in the world and the largest economy in africa. Introduction nigeria is usually characterised as a deeply divided state in which major political issues are vigorously some would say violently contested along the lines of the complex. It emphasizes the dynamic character of ethnicity and its complex links with the cultural, political, economic and social dimensions of national development. It interrogates the origins of ethnic groups, tracing identity construction, invention and. Ethnicity, ethnic conflict, peace education, social justice, sustainable development 1. Nigeria as a nation is a constituent of several nationalities. The country features 36 states and its federal capital territory, which is known as abuja. The federation comprises 36 states and 1 federal capital territory, where the capital, abuja, is located. Numerous ancient african civilizations settled in the region that is today nigeria, such as the kingdom of nri, the benin empire, and the oyo empire. Pdf an evaluation and understanding of the political development in.
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