The Owu-Ife War, as the name suggests, was a bloody conflict that broke out between the people of Ile-Ife and the natives of the nearby town of Owu between 1821 and 1828. It opened doors of tragedy to other wars in Yoruba land. Causes of the Owu-Ife War The Owu-Ife War broke out barely four…
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The Richards Constitution of 1946 is another link in the chain of colonial or pre-independence constitutions in Nigeria. After Hugh Clifford became Governor of Nigeria, three successive governors held the office (Graeme Thompson, Donald Cameron and Bernard Bourdillon) before another constitution was adopted, namely the Richards Constitution of 1946. Governor Bernard Bourdilloun took office in…
DetailsStanley Enekwe shortly before his execution The robber Stanley Enekwe was executed in April 1972 for stealing an official vehicle of the Nigerian Army. Stanley was reportedly a former Biafran soldier who fought in the Nigerian Civil War and returned in one of the official war vehicles. He was accused of theft and later sentenced…
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Lawrence Anini, also known as “Law”, was born in 1960, the same year Nigeria gained independence, to the Owuo family in Orogbo village in Orhionmwon region, about 30 km from Benin City, the capital of Bendel today’s Edo State, away, born. A 26-year-old thief has terrorized parts of Benin and several other nearby towns; With…
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Lest we neglect the under-represented sounds of West African funk, the folks at Afro Strut have put together a magnificent 3-disc compilation that celebrates the movement. Nigeria 70 reminds us of the spirit and diversity of the sounds that emerged around Lagos in the ’70s with nearly 150 minutes of music. At the outset, let’s…
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Market scene in Nigeria, undated trustees of the British Museum.
For hundreds of years, Christians around the world have celebrated Christmas as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a festival that Christians cannot miss as it involves lots of fun, joy, love, jollof rice and chicken. Although the actual birth date of Jesus Christ remains unknown, the Western Christian Church adopted…
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Muslim progressive Mallam Aminu Kano has not allowed things to continue as before. In politics, he fought against colonial rule from outside and contributed to Nigeria’s freedom. He also fought against internal oppression to put an end to the forced labor of the emirs and the slavery of local oppressors. Throughout his life he was…
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Kenule (Ken) Beeson Saro-Wiwa was a Nigerian writer, activist and television presenter born on October 10, 1995 in the family of Ogoni chief Jim Wiwa. Ken Saro-Wiwa was a member of the Ogoni people, a minority tribe in Nigeria. His homeland, the Ogoni Territory in the Niger Delta, has been the target of oil production…
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Chairman SL Akintola was expected to give a victory speech after the rigged regional elections of 1965 which brought him to power as Premier of the Western Region. On October 15, 1965, shortly before the radio broadcast of the Prime Minister’s speech, an armed man reportedly entered the premises of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC)…
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Hajia Gambo Sawaba was a Nigerian politician and activist known for her charity events, including in support of the women’s freedom struggle in the north. The rights and status of women in Northern Nigeria remains a thorny issue to understand or resolve, although progress has been made. Recently, the #MeToo campaign reached the region. The…
DetailsPrince Idubor, also known as Arhuanran (sometimes spelled Aruanran), was supposed to be the Oba (King) of Benin because the great kingdom was doing well at the time. However, legend has it that his birthright was given to his younger brother, Esigie, who was born on the same day as Idubor. How It Happened Oba…
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Vanguard front page dated September 25, 2002. Price: N60 Vanguard is a daily newspaper published by Vanguard Media based in Lagos, Nigeria. Vanguard Media was founded in 1983 by veteran journalist Sam Amuka-Pemu and three friends.
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When he was alive, Professor Peller was the smartest person in Africa. Even after his passing, it is uncertain whether other African magicians have surpassed his accomplishments. In almost every African nation, he gave performances before not only princes and other elites but also held kings in awe of his magic. Here is how Femi…
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Ara was one of Ekiti’s most important towns in 1850, with a population that rivaled Ijaye’s in Egbaland. To prevent being sold into slavery by Ibadan, the people of Ara (also known as Ara-Ekiti) killed themselves in large numbers in August 1855. Alara Elejofi, the mayor of Ara Town, started the mass suicide by destroying…
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The word “keg,” which is a traditional local container for storing palm wine, gave rise to the name “kegite.”. The Kegites Club’s revelry is accompanied by an ethereal, magical feeling that is difficult to describe. Due to the fervor surrounding their high-spirited activities, anyone who does not agree with them may find themselves making room…
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Sacred Nigerian statues were scheduled to be auctioned off in Paris, but a Nigerian commission has demanded that the event be called off on the grounds that the artifacts were stolen. The artworks were lawfully acquired, according to Christie’s auction house, and the sale will take place on Monday. In recent years, French courts have…
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1. The British arrived in Nigeria in 1851, took control of Lagos in 1861, and established the Oil River Protectorate in 1884. 2. On January 8, 1897, Flora Louisa Shaw, a British journalist, novelist, and wife of Lord Frederick Lugard, proposed the name “Nigeria” for the British Protectorate on the Niger. 3. The first Federal…
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An image of the former military president Ibrahim Babangida riding in a carriage with Queen Elizabeth II during his 1989 visit to London can be found below.
Nigeria witnessed its first military coup d’état on January 15, 1966, during which prominent politicians were killed. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister, was among those killed. During the coup, which was led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, he was taken hostage and taken to an unknown location. The Prime Minister was…
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