Nigeria's Colonization, Indipendance and War Flashcards
What is Africa’s most populous country with a current population of around 230 million people?
Nigeria
Which country is the sixth largest in the world?
Nigeria
What natural resources is Nigeria rich in?
Oil and metals
Which region was formally colonized by the British in 1885?
Nigeria
What strategy did the British use to govern Nigeria during colonial rule?
Indirect rule
What did indirect rule in Nigeria allow?
Local traditional rulers/chiefs/leaders to govern while maintaining ties to the British
When was the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria formally established?
1914
Which three historically disparate ethnic groups were brought together in Nigeria?
- Hausa
- Yoruba
- Igbo
What tensions emerged between ethnic groups in Nigeria, with riots occurring in 1945 and 1953?
Conflicts between Hausa and Igbo
When did Nigeria gain independence from the British?
1960
After Nigeria’s independence, which ethnic group’s leaders and politicians concentrated power?
Hausa
What significant event occurred in January 1966 in Nigeria?
A military coup led by mostly Igbo military officers
What was the result of the January 1966 military coup in Nigeria?
Short-lived reshuffling of national leadership
What happened during the counter-coup in July 1966?
Widespread killings of Igbo minorities in the north
What happened to thousands of Igbo during the counter-coup in July 1966?
They fled to the south of Nigeria
Who established the Republic of Biafra in May 1967?
Emeka Ojukwu
What major conflict began in July 1967 in Nigeria?
Biafran War
What did the Nigerian government declare against Biafra in July 1967?
War
Who were the opposing sides in the Biafran War?
- Biafra and its Igbo population
- The rest of Nigeria and its majority Hausa leadership
When did the Biafran War last until?
January 1970
What were the estimated deaths due to the Biafran War?
1-2 million people, many from starvation
What country colonized Nigeria?
The British
