Nigeria

        Outside Nubia and Egypt, the oldest sculptures so far discovered in Africa have been produced in Northern Nigeria about 2500 years ago. They were produced by what is today known as the Nok culture, named after the little town where the sculptures were first discovered in the 1920s. The Yoruba [1] kingdom of Oyo was founded about 1400 in southwest Nigeria. From the 12th to the 14th centuries, other advanced cultures developed around that time at Ife and in the north, where Muslem influence prevailed and written and spoken Arabic flourished.

        The Kingdom of Benin , situated in southern Nigeria was ruled by the oba (to whose family human sacrifices were made) and by a sophisticated bureaucracy. This African state flourished from the 14th century to the 17th century. Portuguese and British slave ships appeared from the 15th-16th centuries. Benin sold slaves as well as ivory, pepper, and cloth. When missionaries stepped up their efforts to convert people to Christianity, black Moslems such as [3] Aliyu dan Sidi composed poetic protests, while Yoruba authors wrote novels in support of the new religion (Gardner, 1994). After a period of decline, Benin revived in the 19th century with a trade in palm products. Iron work, carved ivory, and brass figures made in Benin rank with the finest art of Africa. In the 19th century Fulani leader, [4] Usman dan Fodio, established a loosely controled Islamic empire in the north of Nigeria, centered in Sokoto.

        Britain seized Lagos in 1861 and gradually extended control inland until 1900. The modern Nigerian city of Benin was conquered and burned by the British in 1897. In 1903 British forces completed the conquest of northern Nigeria, uniting Northern and southern Nigeria in 1914 with boundaries drawn to serve commercial interests (Rakov, 1990). Of the approximately 300 ethnic groups included three dominated: (a) the Hausa-Fulani in the north, (b) the Ibo in the southeast, and (c) the Yoruba in the southwest.

        After World War II, writers focused on decaying colonialism and on the "new" Africa. National literatures began to appear, notably in Nigeria with the work of Chinua Achebe, [7] Wole Soyinka, Amos Tutuola, and others. Soyinka was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature for his work, including poems such as When Seasons Change from the book A Shuttle in the Crypt (1972).

        Nigeria became independent Oct. 11, 1960 and joined the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In February 1962 an organization of African states was established by leaders of 20 nations meeting at Lagos, Nigeria.

        On May 30, 1967, the Eastern Region seceded, proclaiming itself the Republic of Biafra , thereby plunging the country into civil war. It ended more than 30 months later with the capitulation of Biafran chief of staff Brig. Gen. Philip Effiong. Some 2 million people died, including many "Biafrans" (mostly Ibos) who died of starvation despite international efforts to provide relief. Effiong had assumed leadership following the flight of Gen. Odumegwu Ojukwu to the Ivory Coast.

        Oil revenues made possible a massive economic development program, largely using private enterprise, but agriculture lagged. After 13 years of military rule, the nation experienced a peaceful return to civilian government, Oct., 1979. In 1981 an uprising by Moslem separatists, in which nearly 1,000 were killed, took place in Kano.

        Nigerian basketball player [9] Hakeem Olajuwon [1963-] entered the Univ. of Houston in 1981, led his team to three consecutive NCAA tournament semifinals, and was drafted into the NBA by the Houston Rockets.

        On December 31, 1983 Nigeria's 5-year-old democratic experiment ended in a military coup. Gen. Mohammed Buhari deposes President Alhaji Shehu Shagan and claimed his armed forces saved the nation from "total collapse." Two years later Nigeria's president Buhari was overthrown August 27 in a bloodless coup. Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Babangida proclaimed himself president.

        In 1991 a 3,000-sq mi (7,770-sq km) capital territory was created near the old town of Abuja (renamed Suleja). The site, near the center of the country, has a good climate and is not associated with any particular ethnic group. Abuja officially became Nigeria's capital in 1991.

        Babangida promised elections but voided the result of a presidential election on June 23, 1993; riots followed in which many were killed. He resigned and appointed a civilian to head an interim government, Aug, 26, 1993, but that government was ousted in a military coup, Nov. 17. On June 11, 1994, the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, Moshood Abiola, declared himself president; he was jailed June 23.

        Criticism of human rights abuses in Nigeria mounted during 1995. Nine critics of Nigeria's military government were executed at Port Harcourt November 10, prompting international protests. The dead included poet-playwright Ken Saro-Wiwa who had campaigned for a more equitable distribution of the nation's oil wealth and against environmental damage wrought by foreign oil companies.

        Nigeria now has a [18] population of about 134 million people living in an [19] area of about 924 thousand square kilometers.