The History behind the book. A brief history of Nigeria ► 1/3 larger than the state of Texas ►...

The History behind the The History behind the bookbook

A brief history of NigeriaA brief history of Nigeria

►1/3 larger than the state of Texas1/3 larger than the state of Texas►Located on the west coast of Africa – Located on the west coast of Africa –

North of the equator and south of the North of the equator and south of the Sahara Desert. Sahara Desert.

►200 ethnic groups live in present-day 200 ethnic groups live in present-day NigeriaNigeria with their own language, beliefs, and with their own language, beliefs, and cultureculture

Where Nigeria is located in context Where Nigeria is located in context to the world and Africato the world and Africa


► Three main ethnic Three main ethnic groups:groups:

1.1. Protestant Yoruba Protestant Yoruba located in the westlocated in the west

2.2. Catholic Igbo Catholic Igbo (pronounced (pronounced eee-boweee-bow) )

in the eastin the east

3.3. Muslim Hausa-Muslim Hausa-Fulani in the northFulani in the north

Chinua Achebe and the Chinua Achebe and the people people

in his book are Igboin his book are Igbo


Timeline of major events in NigeriaTimeline of major events in Nigeria::1717thth-18-18thth centuries: the British were a major buyer of centuries: the British were a major buyer of

African African slavesslaves 1807: 1807: British outlawed slave trade w/in British outlawed slave trade w/in

their their empire empire 1861: 1861: British occupy Lagos, the present-day British occupy Lagos, the present-day

capital of Nigeriacapital of Nigeria1884-85: 1884-85: The Berlin Conference – the British The Berlin Conference – the British

claimed Nigeria as theirsclaimed Nigeria as theirsBritish motivations: political control, British motivations: political control,

religious (Christian) mission, and economic religious (Christian) mission, and economic gains – also gains – also

called called European ImperialismEuropean Imperialism


►1905: 1905: a white man rode his bicycle into the a white man rode his bicycle into the village Ahiara (in Igbo region) and was killed by village Ahiara (in Igbo region) and was killed by the natives. British forces responded a month the natives. British forces responded a month later searching the village and killing many later searching the village and killing many nativesnatives British created the British created the Bende-Onitsha Hinterland ExpeditionBende-Onitsha Hinterland Expedition

– a military force created to eliminate Igbo opposition– a military force created to eliminate Igbo opposition

► 1912: Collective Punishment Ordinance: British 1912: Collective Punishment Ordinance: British would punish an entire village or community for would punish an entire village or community for crimes committed by one or more persons against crimes committed by one or more persons against white colonistswhite colonists


►While in Nigeria the British:While in Nigeria the British: Operated an efficient administrative Operated an efficient administrative

systemsystem Sent young Nigerians to England for Sent young Nigerians to England for

education which resulted in the rise of education which resulted in the rise of young educated nationalists who wanted young educated nationalists who wanted independence from Great Britain.independence from Great Britain.


► 1947: Nigerians demand independence1947: Nigerians demand independence►October 1, 1960: became an independent October 1, 1960: became an independent

countrycountry► 1963: became a republic--a state in which 1963: became a republic--a state in which

the supreme power rests in the body of the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them by them (dictionary.com) (dictionary.com)

The Nigerian FlagThe Nigerian Flag

A brief history of Nigeria, cont.A brief history of Nigeria, cont.1970-90s: A series of military coups and 1970-90s: A series of military coups and

dictatorships replaced the republic initially set dictatorships replaced the republic initially set up.up.

1993: Nigeria held a democratic presidential 1993: Nigeria held a democratic presidential election followed by another bloodless coup.election followed by another bloodless coup.

1999: 1999: The Fourth RepublicThe Fourth Republic: Ended 16 years : Ended 16 years of consecutive military rule, political instability of consecutive military rule, political instability has followed with several presidents elected in has followed with several presidents elected in loosely democratic elections, marred by fraud.loosely democratic elections, marred by fraud.

2013: Current president: Goodluck Jonathan2013: Current president: Goodluck Jonathan

Culture of West Africa and NigeriaCulture of West Africa and Nigeria

►Religion:Religion: polytheistic which consists of worshipping a polytheistic which consists of worshipping a

combination of ancestors, spirits, a creator combination of ancestors, spirits, a creator god (Chukwu), and a personal god (Chi).god (Chukwu), and a personal god (Chi).

People consult with Oracles for decisions in People consult with Oracles for decisions in life.life.

Religion is ritualistic – not overly concerned Religion is ritualistic – not overly concerned with moralitywith morality

Morality largely decided through tribal Morality largely decided through tribal traditions and verbal sayingstraditions and verbal sayings

Some Christianity and IslamSome Christianity and Islam

Religion cont.Religion cont.► ChiChi: the concept of the Chi parallels the : the concept of the Chi parallels the

western concept of a soul although Chi is western concept of a soul although Chi is more complex. Igbo believed that an more complex. Igbo believed that an individual’s fate is given a Chi by the creator individual’s fate is given a Chi by the creator (Chukwu) at the moment of conception(Chukwu) at the moment of conception

► Before each reincarnation the individual Before each reincarnation the individual bargains for better circumstances in the bargains for better circumstances in the next life. Thus, Chi becomes one’s personal next life. Thus, Chi becomes one’s personal god that guides one to fulfill the expected god that guides one to fulfill the expected destiny destiny

► A person may be ruled by her Chi, but it is A person may be ruled by her Chi, but it is up to her to make the most of her fate.up to her to make the most of her fate.

Culture of West Africa and Culture of West Africa and NigeriaNigeria

► The society is The society is patriarchal – to not patriarchal – to not have power over have power over one’s wife is one’s wife is considered weak.considered weak.

► Self-sufficiency and Self-sufficiency and hard work are valuedhard work are valued

► Strength and Strength and courage are also courage are also valuedvalued


► Secret societies:Secret societies: peoples in western Africa use secret societies as a peoples in western Africa use secret societies as a

way of drawing members of different kinship way of drawing members of different kinship groups into obligatory associations that cut across groups into obligatory associations that cut across tribal and family relationships tribal and family relationships

Members are responsible for supervising and Members are responsible for supervising and regulating the sexual, social, and political conduct regulating the sexual, social, and political conduct of all members of the wider society outside of an of all members of the wider society outside of an immediate kinship or tribe. immediate kinship or tribe.

To carry out this responsibility, high-status society To carry out this responsibility, high-status society members impersonate important supernatural members impersonate important supernatural figures by donning masks and performing in figures by donning masks and performing in public. One secret kept from the uninitiated is public. One secret kept from the uninitiated is that these masked figures are not the spirits that these masked figures are not the spirits themselves themselves


►Secret Societies cont’d:Secret Societies cont’d: Membership is automatic on initiation, Membership is automatic on initiation,

and all men and women are ordinarily and all men and women are ordinarily initiated initiated


►Secret Societies: do Secret Societies Secret Societies: do Secret Societies exist in America?exist in America?

About the AuthorAbout the AuthorChinua AchebeChinua Achebe

► Born on November 16, Born on November 16, 19301930

► Raised by Christian Raised by Christian parents in the Igbo parents in the Igbo village of Ogidi in village of Ogidi in southeastern Nigeriasoutheastern Nigeria

► He wrote He wrote Things Fall Things Fall ApartApart – published in – published in 1959 – it is the most 1959 – it is the most widely read book in widely read book in modern African modern African literatureliterature

About the AuthorAbout the AuthorChinua AchebeChinua Achebe

►Achebe has continued to write and Achebe has continued to write and currently lives in the U.S.currently lives in the U.S.

►His novels focus on the traditions of His novels focus on the traditions of Igbo society, the effect of Christian Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of values influences, and the clash of values during and after the colonial era.during and after the colonial era.

3 level 3 questions3 level 3 questions

►Why do countries dominate and Why do countries dominate and overtake other countries?overtake other countries?

►What happens when a person’s pride What happens when a person’s pride is challenged?is challenged?

►How is culture significant in influencing How is culture significant in influencing a person’s perspective?a person’s perspective?

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