Chapter 5: Africa in Chapter 5: Africa in TransitionTransition

Section 4: NigeriaSection 4: Nigeria

Lesson QuestionsLesson Questions

►How has geography affected Nigeria’s How has geography affected Nigeria’s economy?economy?

►How have regionalism and nationalism How have regionalism and nationalism affected Nigeria?affected Nigeria?

►Why did the military take power in Why did the military take power in Nigeria?Nigeria?

►What economic progress has Nigeria What economic progress has Nigeria achieved?achieved?

Geography and PeopleGeography and People►One of the largest and richest nations One of the largest and richest nations

in Africain Africa►Also, the most populous of all nationsAlso, the most populous of all nations►1 out of every 6 Africans is Nigerian1 out of every 6 Africans is Nigerian►Nigeria is a powerful force in West Nigeria is a powerful force in West

AfricaAfrica

Geography and People Geography and People cont.cont.►Nigeria lies north of the tropics just Nigeria lies north of the tropics just

north of the equatornorth of the equator►The hot, wet climate allows for rain The hot, wet climate allows for rain

forests which in turn yields a forests which in turn yields a productive lumber industryproductive lumber industry

►The northern part has savannas and The northern part has savannas and grasslands which yield a productive grasslands which yield a productive farming and herding societyfarming and herding society

Geography and People cont.Geography and People cont.► Nigeria is named after the Niger riverNigeria is named after the Niger river► The Benue River also runs through the The Benue River also runs through the

country which allow for irrigationcountry which allow for irrigation► The rivers divide the country into three The rivers divide the country into three

regions based upon ethnicityregions based upon ethnicity► Northern – home to Muslim Hausa and FulaniNorthern – home to Muslim Hausa and Fulani► Southwest – YorubaSouthwest – Yoruba► Southeast – IboSoutheast – Ibo► Many southerners follow Christianity and Many southerners follow Christianity and

traditional beliefstraditional beliefs

Geography and People cont.Geography and People cont.

►Smaller ethnic groups are scattered Smaller ethnic groups are scattered throughout Nigeriathroughout Nigeria

►250 ethnic groups belong to Nigeria 250 ethnic groups belong to Nigeria alonealone

►Six major languages are spoken, Six major languages are spoken, predominately Englishpredominately English

►Ethnicity – attachment to one’s own Ethnicity – attachment to one’s own ethnic groupethnic group

Political DevelopmentPolitical Development► Before European imperialism the major Before European imperialism the major

ethnic groups of present day Nigeria ethnic groups of present day Nigeria maintained their own statesmaintained their own states

► 1800s - G.B. made Nigeria into cash crop 1800s - G.B. made Nigeria into cash crop plantations (crops were peanuts, cocoa, plantations (crops were peanuts, cocoa, cotton , and palm oil)cotton , and palm oil)

► After WWI and WWII Nigerian nationalism After WWI and WWII Nigerian nationalism grew and the vying ethnic groups (Yoruba, grew and the vying ethnic groups (Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Ibo) joined together under Hausa, Fulani, Ibo) joined together under Nnamdi Azikiwe’s leadershipNnamdi Azikiwe’s leadership

Political DevelopmentPolitical Development► 1960, they gained independence1960, they gained independence► Civil war soon ensued because the Ibo thought the Civil war soon ensued because the Ibo thought the

Muslim Hausa and Fulani controlled too much Muslim Hausa and Fulani controlled too much political powerpolitical power

► The Ibo also claimed they had more of a right to the The Ibo also claimed they had more of a right to the local oil fields in their regionlocal oil fields in their region

► The Ibo set up the state of Biafra in 1967 which The Ibo set up the state of Biafra in 1967 which resulted in a three year war that took 1 million livesresulted in a three year war that took 1 million lives

► To this day, regional support remains alive such as in To this day, regional support remains alive such as in the Muslim controlled north they influence the local the Muslim controlled north they influence the local government through Muslim lawgovernment through Muslim law

► Military dictators have controlled Nigeria for many Military dictators have controlled Nigeria for many years until 1999years until 1999

► Modern Nigerian leaders still face the problems of Modern Nigerian leaders still face the problems of uniting their people, improving the economy, and uniting their people, improving the economy, and reducing corruptionreducing corruption

Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development► The production and distribution The production and distribution

of oil from Nigeria led to wealth of oil from Nigeria led to wealth that equated into literacy and that equated into literacy and new schoolsnew schools

► However, the oil company also However, the oil company also led to corruption and pollutionled to corruption and pollution

► It widened the gap between the It widened the gap between the rich and poorrich and poor

► The pollution has caused attacks The pollution has caused attacks against oil rigs in some areasagainst oil rigs in some areas

► Despite the oil Nigeria has fallen Despite the oil Nigeria has fallen into debt whenever world oil into debt whenever world oil prices fallprices fall

► Most of its economy is Most of its economy is government owned and reforms government owned and reforms are needed to combat the are needed to combat the countries’ dependence on cash countries’ dependence on cash cropscrops

Population GrowthPopulation Growth

► A young population, a A young population, a large percentage under large percentage under 15 years old 15 years old

► 127 million people127 million people► Urbanization is Urbanization is

increasing and the increasing and the government has now government has now tried to stabilize farm tried to stabilize farm prices, in order to slow prices, in order to slow movementmovement

► Nonetheless, young Nonetheless, young people in Africa prefer people in Africa prefer the cities even with the the cities even with the prevalence of povertyprevalence of poverty

Music and LiteratureMusic and Literature

►Nigeria is known for its “talking drums”Nigeria is known for its “talking drums”► The pitch can be adjusted to imitate the The pitch can be adjusted to imitate the

African languageAfrican language► King Sunny AdeKing Sunny Ade is known as a standout is known as a standout

Nigerian musicianNigerian musician► Chinua AchebeChinua Achebe, wrote, , wrote, Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart, ,

which dealt with how Europeans affect a which dealt with how Europeans affect a Nigerian villageNigerian village

►Wole SoyinkaWole Soyinka, wrote , wrote A Dance of the ForestsA Dance of the Forests, , was the first African to ever win the Nobel was the first African to ever win the Nobel prize for Literatureprize for Literature

Chinua Chinua AchebeAchebe

►Wole SoyinkaWole Soyinka

King Sunny AdeKing Sunny Ade