Folola and Heaton, A History of Nigeria
Things to Consider:
- Important Dates:
- 1841: The (British) Niger Expedition commences efforts to
spread Christianity in Nigeria.
- 1861: Great Britain annexes Lagos as a Crown Colony.
- 1914: The northern and southern protectorates are
amalgamated with Lagos to establish Nigeria as a British
colony.
- 1960: Nigeria achieves independence.
- Roles:
- Church (Missionaries)
- Military
- Arts
- Politics
** Homework Questions ** (See Q's for Chapter Seven and Nine
)
(n.b. I have refrained from writing "According to the authors" for
each of the questions, but please realize that I am asking you to
provide their views on these topics.)
Chapter Four:
85:
- What phenomena influenced political, economic, and social
processes in the Nigerian region in the second half of the
nineteenth century?
86:
- What was the most common and effective tool for colonial
expansion?
86:
- What three groups (not countries) were the primary agents
pushing for greater British involvement in the region?
87-88:
- What two factors helped Christian missionaries in the
region in the nineteenth century?
88:
- What role(s) did Christianized Africans play in the
missionaries' efforts?
89:
- Why did many indigenous leaders welcome Christian
missionaries?
90:
- Traders in what product replaced the slave trade in the
nineteenth century as the most important commercial activity
in the region? Explain.
- Why did this trade increase tensions in the area?
- Why had European traders been forced to rely on middlemen?
91:
- What factors reduced this reliance?
Other Discussion Questions:
85:
- Why was the process of colonization in the region drawn out
for over forty years?
86:
- What was the "Scramble for Africa"? See also p. 92.
88:
- Who was Samuel Ajayi Crowther?
89:
- Why did most missionaries prefer the British as
partners instead of indigenous leaders?
91:
92:
- How did instability actually lay the foundation for
British colonization of the region?
- What was the Berlin Conference of 1884-85?
106:
- What was the Ekumeku movement? What challenges did it pose
to British colonial efforts?
- What was the most important factor in Britain's eventual
success? See also 108-9.
108:
- How many indigenous rulers willingly relinquished their
power? Explain.
- What grassroots movements existed at the time?
Homework Questions:
Chapter Seven:
158:
- Why did Nigeria's future look so promising when it achieved
independence in 1960?
- What three phenomena damaged this potential?
159:
- What three ethnic groups dominated the northern, western,
and eastern regions of Nigeria?
- What efforts were made to construct a unified Nigerian
culture? Why did these efforts fail?
160:
- What were the cause(s) and consequence(s) of the Nigerian
Civil War (1967-70)? See also 180.
161:
- Why was English declared the national language of Nigeria
in 1960?
162:
- How did the founding of new universities contribute to
Nigeria's national unity?
Chapter Nine:
229:
- Why has General Sani Abacha been "the most vilified of all
Nigeria's post-independence rulers" (229)?
230:
- What measures did Abacha take to strengthen his power?
232:
- What was the Ogoni Bill of Rights?
Other Discussion Question:
Chapter Seven:
158:
- To what does the "national question" refer?
159:
- What does it mean to be "a state without a nation"
(159)?
160-61:
161:
- How did his plays promote national unity?
162:
- Why was so much scholarly attention paid to
Nigeria's colonial past?
Chapter Nine:
229:
- What was the IGC? (See p. xviii)
230:
- What was the SAP? (See p. xvii)
- What was the CD?
231:
- What event solidified Abacha's status as a tyrant?
- How did oil production create conflict?
233:
- What were the economic consequences of Nigeria's poor
standing in the international community under Abacha?
234:
- How much money did Abacha and his family embezzle from the
country?
Back to Top