By – Yasmine Sinkhada English/4 th block 423/2012

Control by one power over a dependent area or people. or When people take control of a territory outside their own nation or country for their own benefit.

There are more than 350 tribes. Some of the most known/highly affected ones are: the Fula the Yoruba the Igbo Together, they account for approximately 68% of Nigeria's total population.

The Igbo land was a major source of raw materials like palms, nuts, kernels, oil etc. The British were competing against other European countries to colonize Africa. Europeans saw Africa as a "Gold Mine,“ because Africa had diamonds, gold, silver, herbs, and slaves to be bought. A country with control of Africa would greatly increase their power just before WWI.

The ethnic groups in Nigeria had separate and had independent histories. These various ethnic groups never considered themselves part of the same culture. The dominant languages of the south Nigeria were Yoruba and Igbo. These languages were the unifying languages of the southwest and southeast, regardless of ethnicity.

The country called Nigeria did not exist. In its place was a hugely diverse scattering of tribes and communities, some of whom had territory which overlaps the borders of present day Nigeria. These varied groups with different languages, cultures and political practices were all brought together under British rule to form an entirely artificial nation. The people there considered themselves as primarily members of whichever tribe from which they originated.

Their grouping together into a single entity known as Nigeria was a constructed. This general lack of Nigerian nationalism coupled with an ever-changing and often ethnically biased national leadership. Major culture and governmental changes. The introduction of mission schools in southern Nigeria. English has become the language common to most people.

Today those who are not ethnic Yorubas or Igbos rarely speak Yoruba orIgbo. Britain also imposed on Nigeria a Westminster style government system which was entirely different to the way the different tribes had previously governed themselves A capitalist economic system was created. Capitalism inevitably created high levels of competition, and with individuals’ natural loyalty being attached to the tribes, division became further drawn along ethnic lines.

Gained independence in Nigerians temporarily had to accept the Queen of England as their Head of State. For many years after Nigeria’s independence, Nigeria still had their policies influenced by England. To some extent, Nigeria still feels dominated by the presence as embodied in Nigeria’s membership in the British Commonwealth.

“A nation cannot be created by the simple drawing of lines on a map. It must be to some extent a natural product of the unity of its population. It is to be hoped that one day Nigerians will have enough in common with one another to become a real nation.” -References ism.htm ism.htm