2 - Narrating Colonial Nigeria

Summary

This chapter gives a comprehensive overview of Nigeria’s colonial period. First, it defines the three distinct eras of Nigeria’s history (the colonial period is the second era). Next, it details the malicious circumstances behind the acquisition and formation of Nigeria at the hands of British authorities, the motivation of said authorities, and the reactions from Nigeria’s Indigenous groups. After colonization, the chapter describes how colonial forces governed their new territory, utilizing oppressive tactics in conjunction with local power structures via indirect rule to maintain control. Nigeria’s subjugation enabled colonial authorities to implement consequential political, economic, educational, and medical reforms. These changes incorporated Nigeria into a centralized and globalized sociopolitical system at the expense of traditional institutions. This chapter also details the gradual changes and dismantling of Nigeria’s colonial system, beginning in earnest during and immediately following World War II. Specifically, it will detail the ideological shifts that fostered various nationalist movements that demanded independence. These calls for greater autonomy would culminate in the ratification of the 1960 constitution, which gave Nigeria its independence, thus ending its colonial period.