Colonialism in Nigeria Jenna Ward

Nigeria in the 1900s

Tribes The major ethnic groups in Nigeria are Hausa Fulani, Yoruba and the Ibo. The Yoruba was in the West, Hausa Fulani in the North, and the Ibo in the South.

Effects of Colonialism Materials taken from the Nigeria made the economy weak. The missionaries urgently tried to end the use of slaves in Nigeria. They also wanted to get rid of other practices of the natives that were considered bad in European culture.

Yorubas The Yoruba held riots against the British; however, the British military stopped these riots quickly. They did not like the British system of putting certain Yoruba people in charge of other Yoruba people. When the leaders tried to make changes, the people did not listen, leading the leaders to be replaced by British leaders. The Yorubas hated this too, because their culture was not being respected

Northern Nigeria When the Christian British settled in the Muslim- based northern part of Nigeria, troubles occurred. The British then tried to force the lands in the North to be under British rule and tried to make them Christians. This caused the Muslims to create radical groups who tried to get rid of the British.

Southern Nigeria The south had many natural resources, therefore, it was important to the British The British would spill oil on the land and put taxes on goods and services. This caused rioting from the women in Nigeria, because they thought the taxes were hurting not only their husbands, but the whole community.

British Reaction The British decided to set up schools in Nigeria to control the people. The missionaries set up the schools, and of course they tried to convert the natives into Christianity Most of the schools were in the South, where it was considered safe. The missionaries converted the Bible into local languages, made English the primary language, and set up a list of proper behaviors for the natives to preform.

Nigerian “Independence” Even after Nigeria was independent, it still depended on the British The British had strung together these different tribes that did not get along and did not know each other very well. So when the country was free, it could not stand alone because it was weak. Therefore, the Nigerians asked Great Britain for help

Different People Since there was so many different types of people in Nigeria, there was trouble having each type represented in politics. The Igbo people were involved from the government, but split from Nigeria to make the country of Biafra. This was one of a couple reasons for the Nigerian civil war, but after a couple years the Biafra became apart of Nigeria once again.

Nigeria Nigeria is now a democracy, in 2000 they elected their first president after about 20 years. Colonialism led to the change of the native culture of Nigeria to the culture of the British.