Nigeria: From Colonization To Decolonization
I am Nigerian. Welcome home.
The tale of how Nigeria was colonized is a popular one amongst her citizens, even though we do regret every reality of it. We are stronger now and when the tale is told, we look forward to those parts where the end began. The very place of our independence.
It can be said that the role of history (including cultural history and historical linguistics) has been massive in rendering an account of how Nigeria was colonized. Literary sources such as writings of both international and indigenous Arab scholars like Al-Umari, Uthman Dan Fodio respectively, the works of archaeology as well as oral traditions has given insight to the history of early peoples; immensely comprising the sources of history, including Nigerian history.
Nigeria like most other African countries was colonized about the nineteenth century. In Nigeria, this did not just suddenly happen, but in a lineup of events. The European’s contact with Nigeria happened probably by accident but it’s a different case for her colonization.
The European’s Contact With Nigeria
Although Nigeria was not yet known as ‘Nigeria’ before the period of colonization, what existed were States, Kingdoms, Empires, and a Caliphate. The south (the coast/delta region) consist of Peoples such as The Ijaw, The Itsekiri, The Urhobos etc. Also, Benin Kingdom whose last king who reigned before the British came to occupy southern Nigeria was Oba Ovonramwen (Benin massacre of 1897).
The east was occupied by the Igbos who had chiefs. There was no centralized government but there were chiefs who presided and regulated the affairs of the people. The Oyo Empire was notable in the west with kings whose sons succeeded them on the throne, and the Sokoto Caliphate under the rule of the Shehus prospered in the north.
An epochal time which exist in the later Nigeria before the British conquest and colonization of Africa is the pre-colonial times. This period is characterized by the execution of slave trading, popularly referred to as the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade which began in the late 15th or 16th century across Africa states and lasted for close to three centuries. While it lasted, the trade involved a purchase of African slaves including people from present day Nigeria.
In this era, Africans had a major say and the Europeans paid ‘homage’ supplying them with presents such as “rum, guns, horses, industrial products, and fine muslin cloth, according to harvard. Slaves were then transported mainly to the Americas – the New World – where they were exploitatively used to create the wealth of Europe and America
The Trans-Atlantic slave trade continued until the 19th century, as specified by the Slavery Abolision Act of 1833 after the failed herald of Slave Trade Act of 1807, when it was replaced by the Legitimate Commerce.
Like I mentioned earlier, European contact with Nigeria might have been by accident but her colonization was intentional. The following are the different groups which frequented Nigeria before colonization.
The Explorers
The initial contact of the Europeans with Nigeria was made by the explorers. The direction of the flow of the River Niger (although it was not named that at that time) constitute a mystery for the Europeans. A body spearheaded the activities of the explorers known as the African Association formed in 1788 which launched its purpose by sending three explorers who unfortunately, all died in the mission. They were therefore not successful in their initial efforts.
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Other sets of explorers which came include Mungo Park, Clapperton and his group, the Lander brothers as well as Henrich Barth who went to ‘Katsina, Kano, Bornu’ and even visited the shores of Lake chad. In 1795, Mungo Park, a young scottish doctor, discovered the mystery of River Niger in Segu which he reported “slowly flowing to the Eastward”(Nigeria). The British government still wanted more about the Niger and see the possibilities of opening trade routes across the Saharan.
The Missionaries
The next group of Europeans that came in the nineteenth century is the European missionaries. They enjoyed little success in the coastal region of Nigeria during the 16th, 17th and 18th century. However, the 19th century marked a turning point in the religious crusade. In this period, the missionaries begin to widen their territory and moved from the coastal to the interior to spread Christianity. They were also able to introduce Western education in Nigeria.
The Traders
The final group of Europeans that came to the shores of Nigeria is the European traders. These set of Europeans penetrated the interior of Nigeria and brought about great changes in commerce. ‘Legitimate’ forms of commerce came to replace slave trading. Products indigenous to Nigeria such as palm oil and kernel were exchanged for European goods, for example, guns.
They explored the interior of Nigeria as trade spread from the coast through to the interior north. This made up the last strike that laid Nigeria bare before the Europeans. It prepared the way for British occupation and colonization in Nigeria.
The Colonization Of Nigeria
Should one say the European’s quest to secure raw materials and markets for the new manufacturing industries during the industrial revolution in Europe is the brain behind the madness of colonization? Or the love of becoming unified in standing against the illegitimate slave trade? Well, several other reasons pose as several reasons for the British conquest.
There was the imperial factor which was the desire by the Europeans to own portions of Africa where they could settle their excess population and victims of unemployment caused by the world depression of 1873-1893. However, the establishment
The ‘borrowed’ company rule in Nigeria of the Royal Niger Company (1877) which allowed for British encroachment into the inter lands of Nigeria by the traders is another factor that set colonization process at close quarters.
The activities of the Royal Niger Company – a body of all British companies merged together – set in Delta area gave the British claim to the ownership of the area in the Berlin conference of 1885 where a charter was granted giving it the power over the land which it traded. In 1899, a protectorate of southern and northern state was created with Sir Fedrick Lord Lugard as high commissioner for northern states.
The British Conquest of Nigeria
From about the mid nineteenth century, the British began to alter the nature of their relationship between themselves and Nigerians. They were helped by two major factors; the discovery of quinine as a preventive drug against malaria and the armory the British possess which was superior compared to those of the Nigerians.
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The colonization of Nigeria came in two phases. The first phase was marked by the annexation of Lagos and the conquest of Delta states and Yorubaland. The Igboland and Hausa states were conquered in the second phase.
Black missionaries who believed that only the adoption of western values will help Africa achieve greatness, those who feared British superior weapons as well as those who bear against their traditional rulers saw the British as useful allies and therefore supported their conquest. Contrarily, high resistance was put up by traditional rulers who saw the Europeans as intruding their rulership.
The British came and governed by using provinces, divisions and districts until the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 due to economic reasons. The northern protectorate was so poor and had to be on subsidy from Britain. Britain hoped the amalgamation will relieve them of this financial burden since the south was richer. It was in this period that Nigeria got her name given by British journalist Flora Shaw.
The indirect rule system was one of the non violent measures adopted by the British in ruling her African colony.
The British rule took a toil on the Nigerian economy as the control of trade, commerce, shipping, and banking was in the hands of the Europeans. This was used to their fill and little attention was paid to the well being of African people in the planning of economic policy.
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Important Characteristics of Nigeria Colonization
- The introduction of western education by the missionaries largely supported by the colonial government who paid annual grants to missionaries to promote education. Native speakers were being taught in schools and a writing system was developed for indegenious languages.
- Pipe borne water and electricity were provided while attention was paid into research of tropical diseases.
- The establishment of Chrisitanity in Nigeria was another development.
- Britain was not willing to spend much money on economic development of any colony.
- Development was uneven in Nigeria because government assistance were only provided to those areas which had natural resources and which were suitable for cash crop production.
- In the field of health and sanitation they attempted to establish some hospitals, dispensaries and health centres. Vaccination and inoculation were also introduced. Health boards were also set up.
The Decolonization Process
Aside from the revolts from traditional rulers opposing the governance of Europeans in the 1920s, in 1922 individuals and groups rose up to contend for Nigeria’s self governance. These set of people are referred to as Nationalist. A number of reasons led to the resistance put up by these nationalists. They include
- The peoples’ protest against the colonial system in their desire to alter the existing colonial system so as to benefit from it.
- The activities of the black Diasporans in the New World who were supporters if the dignity of the African person.
- The presence of the articulate class of Nigerian elite who through their acquisition of Western education were in the vanguard of those agitating for change in the status quo.
- There were the emergence of newspapers and other magazines such as “The West Afrucan Pilot”, and Garvey’s “The Negro World” which extolled African dignity and virtues and were critical of British policies in Nigeria. These papers were also used as media for dissemination of nationalist information.
- Developments associated with the second World War also positively affected the development of nationalism, especially by way of sensitizing the people of Nigeria against the excesses of colonialism.
The first group formed was Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) in 1936, with Samuel Akinsanya, H. O. Davies, Ernest Ikoli and Dr. J. E. Vaughan at its head. Some of the members of the organization were Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe upon his return from U. S. A. in 1937. In 1941, the NYM became moribund because of the internal dissensions within it.
However, in 1944, the impact of the second world war and the ideas prevalent during this period in Afican colonies facilitated the establishment of nationalist party such as the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) with Herbert Maculay as the president and Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe as the secretary.
Later in 1948, the Action Group party (AG) formed from a former pan, “Egbe Omo Oduduwa” with its base in Yoruba land. By 1949, Northern People’s Congress (npc) was formed by Mallam Aminu Kano and Mallam Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
The Nationalist Movement
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This refers to the totality of efforts of various organizations established by Nigerians not only to mobilize a particular class or group but the entire population of Nigeria against oppressive British colonial rule. The media through which all the bationalist movements found expression included lobbying, diplomacy petitions, rule, strikes, newspaper publications and sometimes physical confrontation.
The circumstances and reasons for the establishment of these NCNC, AG, and NPC turned out to be strong centrifugal against in Nigerian unity. It created a divisiveness in the country and Nigerian leaders began to struggle for how they will establish proper policies upon their assumption of self-government. Thus, a falling apart of a supposing unified country.
In 1946, the Richard constitution was introduced to Nigeria by the British government. But it was attacked by the nationalist for its content and the way it was introduced without consultation with the people of Nigeria. It highlighted the creation of one legislature for the country and divided the establishment of Regional Councils for the North, East and West of the region.
This arrangement has been criticized to have began tribalism in Nigeria since each region was dominated by particular ethnic group which also had its party.
A new constitution was drawn up as a result of the harsh criticism of Richard’s by Sir John Macpherson in 1951. It was more liberal than its successor and was later revised in 1954 to become Lyttleton Constitution. This constitution formed the basis of all subsequent constitutional amendments that gave Nigeria the Independence of 1960.
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After two important conferences held and geared towards the independence date of Nigeria in 1957 and 1958, another conference held to put finishing touches to the constitution in early 1960. On July 29, 1960, the British parliament passed the Nigeria’s Independence. The activity was fixed for October 1st, 1960.
Disclaimer: Based on facts, although some were omitted. This is a 300 Level student’s view and perspective of the issue, not a historian.
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