GST 112 Test Compilations 16

Study Summary: Nigerian History, Culture, and Society

This summary synthesizes key information from the provided questions, covering various aspects of Nigerian history, politics, economy, culture, and society.

I. Nigerian History and Political Structures

• National Formation: Nigeria emerged as one entity in 1914 after the amalgamation.
• Colonial Foundations: Kaduna was founded by the British in 1913.
• Leadership Structures:
  • The analogy of political structures includes Alaafin-Oyo and Mai-Kanem Borno, similar to Attah-Igala and Etsu-Nupe.
  • The leadership of Kanem-Borno before the Shehu was called the Mai.
• Major Conflicts & Resolutions:
  • The Fulani Jihad of 1804 was primarily driven by the level of syncretic practices among the Habe rulers.
  • The Nigerian Civil War ended in 1970.
  • Lt-Col Odumegwu Ojukwu's interpretation of the Aburi agreements emphasized extreme decentralisation.
  • At the Kampala peace talks of May 1968, Biafra requested recognition of its sovereignty.
• British Colonial Administration:
  • The Sokoto Caliphate was conquered by the British in 1903.
  • The British Indirect Rule system in Nigeria, in principle, favored local autonomy but did not encourage the use of Native Militias.
  • Lagos Colony merged with the Southern Protectorate in 1906.
• State Creation: The creation of states in Nigeria was intended to address the fear of domination.
• Political Challenges: A significant obstacle to administrative and political unitarism in Nigeria is the country's heterogeneity.
• Anti-Corruption Agencies: The two major anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria are EFCC and ICPC.

II. Economy and Corruption

• Economic Dependency: A dependent economy is characterized as a disarticulated one.
• Oil Economy:
  • Federal control of crude oil production deprived host communities of the fiscal revenue accruing from oil production.
  • When crude oil export replaced agriculture in Nigeria, the culture of corruption escalated.
  • The first shipment of Nigerian crude oil was exported through Port Harcourt.
• Effects of Corruption: One effect of corruption in Nigeria is election rigging. Manipulation of electoral processes leads to various negative outcomes, but it does *not* produce legitimate leaders.
• Colonial Motives: The major motive of European colonial presence in the Nigerian area was economic.
• Trade Practices: Trade associations perform functions like enforcing rules and discipline of members, but *not* the exploitation of members.

III. Culture and Society

• Ethnic Geography: The Hausa are found in large numbers in Kebbi, Kaduna, and Kano states.
• Cultural Practices:
  • Amongst the Ngor Okpala people, a lion roaring at night in the village square signifies an abomination had been committed.
  • The manhood test for marriage amongst the Hausa is called "Sharo".
  • Forgotten aspects of Nigerian culture that may be useful for the present generation include chastity within and without marriage.
  • In some pre-colonial societies, royals had elaborate funerals.
  • A woman who committed adultery without confessing among some Nigerian groups would not be able to bear children.
  • Pre-jihad Hausaland was widespread with practices like venerating trees/rocks and religious polytheism, but *not* Christian missionary activities.
• Intergroup Relations: The interaction between two or more distinct cultural groups is known as intergroup relations.
• Urban Culture: Urban culture encompasses various practices, belief systems, social forms, etc. of city dwellers.
• Sociological Analysis of Cities: A sociological analysis of a city comprises its social compositions and their interactions with one another.
• Morality: In most Nigerian communities, stealing was discouraged.

IV. Religion and Colonialism

• Christianity in Nigeria:
  • The first Christian missionaries visited Warri.
  • The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is one of the major umbrella Christian organisations.
  • The failure to successfully introduce Christianity to Nigeria in the initial period was due to factors like the overwhelming influence of traditional religion, fewer missionaries, and concentration on the slave trade, but *not* the absence of Arab missionaries.
  • The Catholic Church of Nigeria does not ordain women as bishops/prophetesses.
  • The Society of African Mission established a coconut plantation at Topo.
• Islam in Nigeria:
  • The early presence of Islam in Nigeria was notably in Borno.
  • Mai Umme Jilmi (Jilme) is believed to be the first Kanem-Borno ruler to accept Islam.
  • The functions of the Ulama included legal support, interpreting religious knowledge, and guardianship, but *not* "conquest of the faithful".
  • Ahmad bin Fartuwa was the chronicler of Mai Idris Alooma.
• Pentecostalism: One impact of Nigerian Pentecostalism on females is that it has gradually broken religious barriers that hitherto hindered women's rise to leadership positions. Foreign Pentecostal Churches initially *excluded* the willingness of white priests to subordinate themselves to African leadership.
• Native Churches: The establishment of “Nigerian Native Churches” was an indication that Nigerians could throw off the yoke of “spiritual or religious" colonialism.

V. Gender Roles and Women's Issues

• Historical Influence: The Queen Mother was most influential for women in the Benin Kingdom.
• Women's Status in Pre-colonial Nigeria: Pre-colonial Nigerian women were generally active.
• Marginalization: Women have largely been marginalized in Nigerian politics.
• Women's Programs: Mrs. Maryam Abacha established the Family Support Programme.
• Colonial Era Women's Organizations: Westernized women's organizations emerged and developed under the colonial era.
• Economic Activities: Generally, women were engaged in a variety of crafts such as dyeing, pottery, cosmetics, and bead-making. Riverine women used canoes as a form of mobile shop.
• Modern Challenges: Women in Nigeria have suffered a lot from the lack of implementation of gender sensitive laws.

VI. Education and Language

• Yoruba Language: Ajayi Crowther wrote the Grammar and Vocabulary of the Yoruba Language in 1843.
• American Education: All individuals except Clement Isong played noticeable roles in the introduction of American education in Nigeria.
• Educational Institutions: The Ogbomoso Peoples Institute was formally opened in October 1938 with Eyo Ita as its first principal.
• Western Influence: The profound socio-cultural western influences on Nigeria include religion and education.

VII. Urbanization and Environment

• Urban Development: Akin Mabogunje described the towns and cities of Nigeria as "crucial nodes or swellings in the spatial economy".
• City Foundations: Enugu was founded in 1909.
• Environmental Pollution: Air pollution is directly associated with generator sets.

VIII. Legal System

• The legal system encourages corruption through various means (incapable of punishing, slow to grievances, rewarding unjust) but *not* when it is capable of pursuing justice and equity.