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history of Nigeria
References & Edit History Related Topics
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Nigeria Political map of Nigeria showing its international boundaries with Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, as well as major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt. Rivers and key towns are marked throughout the country. An inset locator map highlights Nigeria's position in western Africa. Nok pottery head Ornate leaded bronze staff head from Igbo Ukwu, Nigeria, featuring intricate openwork patterns and loops adorned with colored glass and stone beads, displayed on a stand. Map of western Africa showing the greatest territorial extent of major historical states from the 11th to 16th centuries. The 14th-century Kingdom of Mali is outlined in green, the 16th-century Songhai Empire in purple, and the 16th-century Hausa Bakwai states in red. Major cities, rivers, and regional names are labeled within and around these territories. Map of western Africa showing the locations and territorial extents of major kingdoms and peoples from the 17th to 19th centuries. The Hausa Bakwai states are outlined in orange, representing their largest area in the 17th-18th centuries, while the Fulani kingdom is outlined in green, showing its 19th-century peak. Major cities, rivers, and regions such as the Niger and Benue Rivers, the Bauchi Highlands, and the Adamawa Plateau are labeled for context. Ife sculpture Plaque showing a warrior and attendants Map of western Africa in the late 19th century showing areas under French and British control in 1880, and illustrating the advance of French, British, and German colonial forces with dated arrows. French-controlled territory is shaded green and British-controlled territory is shaded purple, with major advances and key cities labeled. Boundaries between mandates established in 1919 are also marked, and an inset locates the region within Africa. Antique map showing the northwest region of Africa as published in the 1902 Encyclopaedia Britannica. The map details colonial territories and countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, the Sahara, Senegal, Portuguese Guinea, French Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, and Nigeria, with borders, cities, rivers, and geographic features labeled in fine print.

history of Nigeria: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • J.F. Ade Ajayi
  • Anthony Hamilton Millard Kirk-Greene
  • Toyin O. Falola
    Dr. Toyin Falola is an African historian and the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair Professor in the Humanities and a Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a Fellow of the Historical Society of Nigeria and A Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters.
  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: History World - History of Nigeria. Jun 18, 2026
Add new Web site: CORE - The Amalgamation of Nigeria: Revisiting 1914 and the Centenary Celebrations (PDF). Nov 19, 2025
Add new Web site: Academia - The History and Evolution of Nigeria (PDF). Jan 31, 2025
Add new Web site: GlobalSecurity.org - Nigeria - History. Dec 20, 2024
Changed “Muhammed Yusuf” to “Mohammed Yusuf” to reflect the more common spelling of his name. Sep 18, 2024
Add new Web site: South African History Online - Nigeria. Aug 16, 2024
Add new Web site: University of Central Arkansas - Government, Public Service, and International Studies - Nigeria (1960-present). Apr 12, 2024
Add new Web site: Embassy of Nigeria, Sweden - History of Nigeria. Feb 29, 2024
Add new Web site: Humanities Libretexts - Nigerian Culture and History. Jan 18, 2024
New article added. Oct 27, 2023
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