Colonialism In Nigeria

Africa became known as the “dark continent” through the Europeans eyes. Not only from the skin color of its inhabitants but also from the vast lands still undiscovered. Due to the Europeans’ view that Africa had a backward sense, they believed it was their responsibility to help. Conflict arose from the creation of a new society resulting in ethnic feuds and imperialism. European imperialistic powers subjugated Africa to strengthen their own economy. Africa’s rich supply of resources such as a large population had extremely detrimental to its economy. Slavery Sentence. The welfare of Africa’s people weakened rapidly from the poor management of the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Malaria. Africa is the least developed part of the world, given the impact of European imperialism, slavery, and an inability to deal with major diseases.

Primary sources from Europeans, Amerindians, and Africans had revealed the early modern Atlantic world was developed by colonization, and the experience faced by each civilization. As the Europeans began to colonize the Amerindians land it had been done by war to capture riches and land. Colonization of Africa had been established much early by the Europeans using their land for human-slave and merchant trade. The different civilizations had experienced this processing of developing the modern Atlantic world differently. The Europeans sought these new lands as a way to expand its civilization by gaining wealth and power. As for the Amerindians and Africans they had an experience that was developed through devastation and loss of their humanity.

“African Perspectives on Colonialism” is a book written by A. Adu Boahen. This book classifies the African responses to European colonialism in the 19th century. Boahen begins with the status of Africa in the last quarter of the 19th century and follows through the first years of African independence. This book deals with a twenty year time period between 1880 and 1900. Boahen talks about when Africa was seized and occupied by the Imperial Powers of Europe. Eurocentric points of view dominated the study of this era but Boahen gives us the African perspective. There are always two sides of the story and Boehen tells us the side less talked about informing us of what he knows.

The country of Nigeria is located in West Africa, sharing land borders with Chad, Niger, Benin, and Cameroon. The country covers 923,768 square kilometers, making it the 32nd largest nation in the world. This is the most populous country in Africa with more than 160 million people living there. Nigeria has three major ethnic groups the Hausa-Fulani, the Igbo, and the Yoruba. These Three groups constitute about 70 percent of the population (Chigozie, 2016).

The Boko Haram sect in Nigeria has been a huge problem for the country in the past, and the threat is only growing. This group is considered responsible for a handful of government attacks, targets on the United Nations, and often churches who undermine the Islamic religion. Their actions have spawned from the idea that their country is controlled by “fake Muslims”, and aim to create an Islamic nation ruled with Sharia law.

In the 1800s Europe underwent a renewed period of imperialism which was very sophisticated in its nature. Much emphasis was placed on gaining or controlling a colony. The resources and wealth gain from the colony was used to finance war and the army as well as the economy. The stronger a European military gets the more power full that country become in Europe and as such gaining the wealth from a colony could either break or build the power and prestige of a nation. When France for example, moved into West Africa, rival nations such as Britain and Germany seized lands nearby to halt further French expansion. In essence the Europeans taught of the colonies as a source of security. So strong and sophisticated was the sentiment of nationalism that it set of what was known as a ‘Scramble for Africa. West Africa was already known to the European but the interior was untouched. The Belgian king Leopold the second occupies and carry profitable economic activities in the Congo (South Central Africa). Before long Britain, France, Germany and Italy were all lock in a tussle, pressing rivals claim to the region. According to Bickers and Henriot

In this paper I will discuss Nigeria, a country that was created by European imperialism. Nigeria is located on the Atlantic Coast in West Africa and is border by Benin, Chad, and Cameroon. It is the largest country in Africa. Nigeria has three main tribes which are the Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo and other tribes as well. The official language of Nigeria is English although, the Yoruba, Ibo, and Hausa tribes represent the principal native language. Dance and music are a focal point in the Nigerian livelihood. The traditional Nigerian uses dance at births and deaths, on happy and sad occasions, and in worship. Nigerian music consists of many instruments. They are the trumpets, brass, vocals, percussion frame drums, kettle drums, double bass, flutes, and the electric guitar. Drums are considered very important to the Nigerian music and dances. In the Nigerian culture, art serves as a social or religious purpose. Nigeria is a celebratory country. Many holidays and festivities are observed by the Nigerian community to preserve their cultural heritage. Two of the most common are the National Day and The New Yam Festival. Traditional Nigerians have

Throughout history, Africa and the Middle East have been colonized by many different countries around the world. Imperialism and colonialism have had great impacts on the occupied country, economically, socially, and culturally.

Imperialism is acquisition of new territories by a state and the incorporation of these territories into a political system as subordinate colonies. Imperialism is a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through military force. In other words, it refers to the practice by which a country increases its power by gaining control over other areas of the world. Colonialism is the practice of acquiring partial or full control over another country and exploiting it economically. Colonialism results in a set of unequal relationships between the colonizers and the colonized. Colonialism is establishing colonies while imperialism is conquering a country which is more forceful.

Nigeria’s population is 40% Christian, but it was not always this way. After a little persuading by European missionaries and British imperialism, more began to believe in Christianity. Many say Nigeria is the creation of European imperialism. Europeans also brought Christianity to Nigeria with them. As a “British invasion” started up in Africa, Nigeria was revolutionized. European colonies began to scramble for Nigeria and take control. These colonies did succeed in bringing their religion with them. Many tribes struggles to let go of their ethnic religions, but soon began to accept Christianity and it expanded throughout Africa. It all began in the 1800s when Roman Catholic missionaries returned to Nigeria after coming

For the past seven years innocence have been injured, killed, or brutally tortured by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. They have lost their homes and precious possessions due to a cruel, selfish satisfaction of this organization. Boko Haram members believe that these “brutal penalties” is just an ordinary way to express their culture. Although Nigeria came to a conclusion that these terrorists had given up, it only took five months later to realize it was not the end. Nigeria’s strategies had gotten them nowhere and only led them back to where they started.

Nigerian society changed significantly with the introduction of European values. Of those changes one of the greatest was the introduction of individualism, rather than the pride people had in the tribal system. The rise of individualism changes every society, but the Nigerian society was greatly affected and saw more Nigerian trying to leave to live in other countries with greater opportunities. One example of this would be Elvis in the short story Graceland, who wanted to move to America to pursue a career as an Elvis impersonator. This profession is an odd one, especially considering the Nigerian culture, but with the rise in individualism there is more in an emphasis on individual dreams in the society. This dream job helps to illuminate the cultural difference that began to occur once western values and ideas took prominence in the Nigerian culture changing the culture into more a European or American society with individualism being a cornerstone in the society.

France took full control of Mali in 1892. France took the city of Timbuktu in 1894, and the city of Gao in 1898. The French army crushed all African resistance. France wanted to install a system of direct rule. The British, on the other hand, used indirect rule to keep their colonies.

Before we begin, let’s take a look at the country and its environs. Nigeria a former British Colony, located in the western part of Africa, it shares borders with Benin, Cameroun, and Niger. A growing population of 150million, labour force of 51million (70% Agriculture, 10% industry and 20% service), urbanisation is less than 40%, GDP is over $300billion, Per capita income is $2300. Nigeria is blessed with different cultures, languages and ethnic groups (252 in total); this was due to the colonization of the British in the early 19th century (Columbia Encyclopaedia). The British amalgamated its protectorates in 1914 to enable stable control and governance which made them create one Nation of Nigeria formed from all the groups, community and empires around the Niger area under their control. Nigeria had her independence on the 1st of October 1960 and since then various civil wars, political and religious unrest in the country to share power and resources amicably.

Modern African states have several problems ranging from corruption, to armed conflict, to stunted structural development. The effects of colonialism have been offered as a starting point for much of the analysis on African states, but the question of why African states are particularly dysfunctional needs to be examined, given the extent to which they have lagged behind other former European colonies in many aspects. In the first section, I will consider the problems with African states from the level of the state. That is, the nature of the states' inceptions and the underlying flaws may explain some of the issues that have been associated with African states today. Next I examine the development of, or lack of, civil