Colonialism & Nigeria by Angie J

COLONIALISMCOLONIALISMCOLONIALISMCOLONIALISM

in NIGERIA.in NIGERIA.in NIGERIA.in NIGERIA.

FIRST OF ALL.

WHAT is colonialism?

co·lo·nial·ism: \kə-ˈlō-nē-ə-ˌli-zəm, -nyə-ˌli-\

(noun) 1853

: control by one power over a dependent area or people

✴ when people take control of territory outside their own nation or country for their own benefit

✴idea originated during the “Age of Exploration” (1500’s - 1800’s)

✴European explorers contacted/discovered “new” lands

✴the “New World” was established

✴colonies were built for economic, political, and religious reasons

EXAMPLES?

EXAMPLES?

~ The United States of America began as a series of British colonies, originally called the “Thirteen Colonies”.

EXAMPLES?

~ Mexico, Brazil, and other South American countries were originally colonies of either Portugal or Spain.


EXAMPLES?


~ From the mid-1800’s to about 1950, India was a colonial area under the rule of the British East India Trading Company.


EXAMPLES?


~ Hong Kong was formerly a British colony(from 1841 to 1997).



EXAMPLES?


~ Hong Kong was formerly a British colony(from 1841 to 1997).


~ The island of Tokelau is a current colonyof New Zealand.


SO...

Why the heck did Europeans

want to build

colonies?

THE MOTIVES• gold, glory, and GOD


• more land = more power



• must convert HEATHENS into CHRISTIANS!




• Triangular Trade Route: slave trade picks up millions in Africa




• Triangular Trade Route: slave trade picks up millions in Africa

• later on.. needed raw materials to fuel the Industrial Revolution

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

A short satire about colonization

(imperialism).

NIGERIANIGERIA

Hold onto that thought for a moment.

For now, let’s look at.....

Hold onto that thought for a moment.

For now, let’s look at.....

1. Where in the world is this place?

QuickTime™ and apeg

ˇˇ∆#

GeographyGeography

GeographyGeographylocated on West African coast


shares borders with Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north.


shares borders with Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north.

Abuja = capital

GeographyGeographyon the coast of the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean)


land area of 923,768 km² (California x2)



two main rivers: the Niger and the Benue



two main rivers: the Niger and the Benuevaried landscapes: includes mountains in southeast, beaches, rain forests, swamps, savannah plains, and some of the Sahara desert in the north

GeographyGeographynatural resources: petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc

GeographyGeographynatural resources: petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc

periodic/seasonal droughts and floods

PEOPLEPEOPLEcurrent population: 149,229,090


life expectancy: 47 years



average number of children: 5 per woman




Africa’s most populated country





ethnicities: more than 250 ethnicities (Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv

religions: Muslim (50%), Christian (40%), Native (10%)





ethnicities: more than 250 ethnicities (Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv



NIGERIAtoday



was composed mainly of small tribes and clans of people supporting themselves with farming, cattle, or hunting

A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF

AFRICA...

was composed mainly of small tribes and clans of people supporting themselves with farming, cattle, or hunting

hundreds of different ethnicities and indigenous belief systems


AFRICA...


AFRICA...was composed mainly of small tribes and clans of people supporting themselves with farming, cattle, or hunting


African societies on coast had greater contact with the outside world





1700’s: slave trade = HUGE industry





1700’s: slave trade = HUGE industry

late 1800’s: scramble for Africa, European nations struggle to imperialize/colonize sections of Africa

“The scramble for Africa”

To understand what happened to Nigeria, you must first look at the “Scramble for Africa”, when European nations sliced up sections of Africa to take as their own, and make colonies.

And this is what happened...

Colonialism in AFRICA




• in the late 1800’s, European nations such as Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands participated in the Berlin Conference

• at this meeting, the nations divided up Africa like a birthday cake

• there was no representation for African tribes or societies

• Europeans did not consider ethnic or religious differences among Africans when they made borders


• instead, Europeans took advantage of differences between Africans, and pit different ethnic groups against each other

• Europeans set up their own government systems to rule African peoples; often forced them to convert to Christianity; slavery

• some “modernization” occurred: roads, communication lines, railroads, literacy and education, better medical care

So... what’s the deal with

So... what’s the deal with COLONIALISM

So... what’s the deal with COLONIALISM

and NIGERIA?

COLONIALISM in NIGERIACOLONIALISM in NIGERIACOLONIALISM in NIGERIACOLONIALISM in NIGERIA

COLONIALISM in NIGERIACOLONIALISM in NIGERIACOLONIALISM in NIGERIACOLONIALISM in NIGERIA1100 - 1400: major African civilizations and tribes thrived along Niger River

1400-1500: first contact with white Europeans; began colonizing Nigeria from coast towards inland

1900: Great Britain established a charter to rule Northern Nigeria

British used a “divide & conquer” method; pitting ethnic groups against each other

British introduced Christianity into Southern Nigeria; especially to people like the Ibo (central theme in Things Fall Apart.

Native beliefs disrespected; bonds of clan and kin broken

1100 - 1400: major African civilizations and tribes thrived along Niger River

1400-1500: first contact with white Europeans; began colonizing Nigeria from coast towards inland

1900: Great Britain established a charter to rule Northern Nigeria

British used a “divide & conquer” method; pitting ethnic groups against each other

British introduced Christianity into Southern Nigeria; especially to people like the Ibo (central theme in Things Fall Apart.

Native beliefs disrespected; bonds of clan and kin broken


concept of “civilizing” the native people; Christian evangelists

Church Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society establish schools in Southern Nigeria

translated bible into local languages

introduced English as main language at school and society

made a “proper” code of conduct/behavior for Nigerian villages

concept of “civilizing” the native people; Christian evangelists

Church Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society establish schools in Southern Nigeria

translated bible into local languages

introduced English as main language at school and society

made a “proper” code of conduct/behavior for Nigerian villages


“If children were to develop along civilized lines, their daily life must be supervised, controlled and directed along ‘proper lines'. That is, if a ‘raw' African is to be made a civilized, Christian black European, he must be isolated from the evil influences of his pagan past and present.”

- Babs Fafunwa

“A ‘good' citizen in Nigeria … meant one who was African by blood, Christian by religion and British or French in culture and intellect.” - Babs Fafunwa

“If children were to develop along civilized lines, their daily life must be supervised, controlled and directed along ‘proper lines'. That is, if a ‘raw' African is to be made a civilized, Christian black European, he must be isolated from the evil influences of his pagan past and present.”

- Babs Fafunwa

“A ‘good' citizen in Nigeria … meant one who was African by blood, Christian by religion and British or French in culture and intellect.” - Babs Fafunwa

The reaction...



An example of people that suffered from European colonization.

QUOTES• “And at last the locusts did descend. They

settled on every tree and on every blade of grass; they settled on the roofs and covered the bare ground. Mighty tree branches broke away under them, and the whole country became the brown-earth color of the vast, hungry swarm.”

QUOTESThe coming of the locusts represents the coming of the white men to Nigeria. For example, only a few “scouts” of locusts came at first, and then a huge, impenetrable swarm followed. This represents the few early white missionaries that came before the rest. Like the locusts, the white men covered the land and took over the Nigerians’ lives. The tree branches that broke underneath the locusts represent the traditions and lifestyles that were broken as a result of the white men coming to the land.

QUOTES• “The white man is very clever... Now he

has won our brothers, and our clan cannot act as one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and now we have fallen apart.”

QUOTESThis quote describes the climax of this story. The townspeople have realized that they have underestimated the white men and the damage they could cause. This quote very accurately reflects what actually happened in Nigeria when the British began colonizing it. The colonists played on the weaknesses of the clans and the differences that divided them; for example, they encouraged the outcasts of the village to join their church. In doing this, they broke the bonds that had bound the native people together (religion, customs) and the Nigerians found their lives “fallen apart”.

QUESTIONS

•How do you think white Europeans justified taking over African territories without the peoples’ consent? Think about religious, racial, and social reasons.

> “Manifest Destiny” belief

> the “White Man’s burden” belief

> Europeans said that it was their “duty” to civilize and educate the “heathens”

> many believed that white Europeans were biologically superior (Darwin’s theory) to blacks

QUESTIONS

•Do you think the British improved or harmed Nigeria by colonizing it? Explain.

> Yes, improved:

- Nigerians received modern knowledge and education of science, world history, languages, and contact with the outside world (i.e. Nwoye eventually attends the Western school in Umuofia)

- Nigerians were given the opportunity to practice a non-traditional religion (i.e. Nwoye finds more peace in Christianity than the inexplicable actions of his native religion)

- Nigeria became more modern; roads, communication lines, industries, and trains were introduced

> No, harmed:

- British colonists exploited Nigerian resources, such as oil and metal

- Nigerian culture, religion, language, customs, and traditional lifestyle was ignored and destroyed

QUESTIONS

• In “Things Fall Apart”, we see many unusual customs and beliefs that characterized Nigerian identity. For example, newborn twins were left to die in the wilderness because they were believed to be unholy. In your opinion, were the villagers of Umuofia “uncivilized” for adhering to these beliefs? Would you agree with the British in saying that they were “barbarians”? Explain.

> Yes, it is uncivilized/barbaric:

- relying on an “Oracle” and the gods

- using beliefs/legends instead of science to explain things like twins or infertility

- killing innocent children because of a command from a supposed “oracle”

> No, it is not barbaric/uncivilized:

- each civilization has its own reasons for their beliefs and actions

- different cultures cannot be labelled “uncivilized” because they are different from our own; some customs that we find normal may be considered “barbaric” and “uncivilized” by other people (i.e. abortions, pre-marital sex, eating meat, etc.)

Things Fall Apart

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Colonialism & Nigeria by Angie J

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Transcript of Colonialism & Nigeria by Angie J