Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Nigeria @ 50 - Day 26: Niger Area
This is the 26th read in the Nigeria @ 50 series
Before this, there was Day 25 at http://www.nonyeanike.blogspot.com/ by Nonye
Ever thought that naɪˈdʒɪəriə is a proud country and a fantastic place to be from?
We can trace our history back to over 9000 years before Christ was born thanks to the Benue and Cross River people - Efik/Ibibio/Annang and more.
I sometimes wish our progenitors were not as prolific in spreading their seed across the Niger Area.
Makes me wonder if we would truly be a great country without our massive population.
What if we were as small as Ghana (23m) or Togo (6.7m)?
Would we still be considered great?
I think so
We have powerful ancient kingdoms that have been around since forever.
The Kanem-Bornu Empire that were centers of Islamic learning and culture. Ife & Oyo kingdoms from which the famed Oduduwa originated or initiated (depending on which side of the fence you sit on), the near legendary Benin kingdom with boundaries that extended to the city of Eko (a Benin name) before it was changed to Lagos by the Portuguese, the Nri-Igbo kingdom (arguably the oldest) that fought wars with the British. The Nok people and their ancient terracotta sculptures. The Akwa Akpa families that founded Calabar and plenty more.
We have an incredible array of old and great historical characters:
King Jaja of Opobo, Usman Dan Fodio, Emotan, Oba Ovonrramwen Nogbaisi, tobenna, Olaudah Equiano, Oduduwa, Idris Aloma...the list is endless
We have a remarkable history. Sometimes even embarrassing.
Niger Area was owned by a company called the Royal Niger Company (you may now call them UAC. Yes. Mr. Biggs) and they sold this entity to the British government for £865,000.
Flora Shaw, a British journalist suggested Nigeria in an article in the Times newspaper.
Because of the slave trade, you can find Nigerian languages, traditions and roots in far flung areas like Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Trinidad & Tobago and the USA.
In Belize, a town was named Eboe Town due to the large Igbo slaves. In the state of Georgia in America, there is also a place called Ebo Landing due to a sad and terrible incident that occurred there involving slaves.
One cannot imagine the amount of black people with Nigerian roots in America.
Douglas B. Chambers, an American historian estimates that 60% of black Americans have at least one Igbo ancestor. Remove the Igbo and put Nigerian and you can make your own estimations.
And the future...
After the BRIC (Brazil, India and China) countries, we are considered to be amongst the next eleven potentially largest economies. A frontier market. Forget the crap going on right now locally. At least the world believes in us. And if they do, who are we not to?
There is a buzz for change in the air...
Especially among the young people and even the old
It is clear that we cannot tolerate business as usual anymore
I dare any local, state or federal government leader to think otherwise.
The elections are coming soon.
Everyone needs to be a part of the the decision making process of this our Niger Area
One (wo)man
One vote
Tomorrow, this continues...
Day 27 in the Nigeria @ 50 series
http://www.comedoes.blogspot.com/ by Comedoes
thanks to Lilith for the picture.
Before this, there was Day 25 at http://www.nonyeanike.blogspot.com/ by Nonye
Ever thought that naɪˈdʒɪəriə is a proud country and a fantastic place to be from?
We can trace our history back to over 9000 years before Christ was born thanks to the Benue and Cross River people - Efik/Ibibio/Annang and more.
I sometimes wish our progenitors were not as prolific in spreading their seed across the Niger Area.
Makes me wonder if we would truly be a great country without our massive population.
What if we were as small as Ghana (23m) or Togo (6.7m)?
Would we still be considered great?
I think so
We have powerful ancient kingdoms that have been around since forever.
The Kanem-Bornu Empire that were centers of Islamic learning and culture. Ife & Oyo kingdoms from which the famed Oduduwa originated or initiated (depending on which side of the fence you sit on), the near legendary Benin kingdom with boundaries that extended to the city of Eko (a Benin name) before it was changed to Lagos by the Portuguese, the Nri-Igbo kingdom (arguably the oldest) that fought wars with the British. The Nok people and their ancient terracotta sculptures. The Akwa Akpa families that founded Calabar and plenty more.
We have an incredible array of old and great historical characters:
King Jaja of Opobo, Usman Dan Fodio, Emotan, Oba Ovonrramwen Nogbaisi, tobenna, Olaudah Equiano, Oduduwa, Idris Aloma...the list is endless
We have a remarkable history. Sometimes even embarrassing.
Niger Area was owned by a company called the Royal Niger Company (you may now call them UAC. Yes. Mr. Biggs) and they sold this entity to the British government for £865,000.
Flora Shaw, a British journalist suggested Nigeria in an article in the Times newspaper.
Because of the slave trade, you can find Nigerian languages, traditions and roots in far flung areas like Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Trinidad & Tobago and the USA.
In Belize, a town was named Eboe Town due to the large Igbo slaves. In the state of Georgia in America, there is also a place called Ebo Landing due to a sad and terrible incident that occurred there involving slaves.
One cannot imagine the amount of black people with Nigerian roots in America.
Douglas B. Chambers, an American historian estimates that 60% of black Americans have at least one Igbo ancestor. Remove the Igbo and put Nigerian and you can make your own estimations.
And the future...
After the BRIC (Brazil, India and China) countries, we are considered to be amongst the next eleven potentially largest economies. A frontier market. Forget the crap going on right now locally. At least the world believes in us. And if they do, who are we not to?
There is a buzz for change in the air...
Especially among the young people and even the old
It is clear that we cannot tolerate business as usual anymore
I dare any local, state or federal government leader to think otherwise.
The elections are coming soon.
Everyone needs to be a part of the the decision making process of this our Niger Area
One (wo)man
One vote
Tomorrow, this continues...
Day 27 in the Nigeria @ 50 series
http://www.comedoes.blogspot.com/ by Comedoes
thanks to Lilith for the picture.
21 comments:
We need to start believing in ourselves more than the world does!
We need to start believing in ourselves more than the world does!
Kai as I dey read this post, my head come dey swell like garri! Haba check out the history! Very rich!
Great post... A very different twist to Nigeria @ 50
Like a reminder to us that we are a great nation and indeed we are!
On a lighter note...I see o, as you slyly put yourself up there with the likes of Ovamrowen, Olaudoh, Oduduwa etc
Guy you be ghost? All of them are great and dead o! Ehen!pls o:)
Great post... A very different twist to Nigeria @ 50
Like a reminder to us that we are a great nation and indeed we are!
On a lighter note...I see o, as you slyly put yourself up there with the likes of Ovamrowen, Olaudoh, Oduduwa etc
Guy you be ghost? All of them are great and dead o! Ehen!pls o:)
Yes! Nigeria is indeed a BLESSED Nation with a very interesting history. God Bless Nigeria!
Looking at your list of great historical characters, I see names like King Jaja of Opobo, Usman Dan Fodio, Queen Emotan, Oba Ovonrramwen Nogbaisi, Olaudah Equiano, Oduduwa, Idris Aloma and yes I also see "Tobenna" the Great.
God Bless Nigeria!
Looking at your list of great historical characters, I see names like King Jaja of Opobo, Usman Dan Fodio, Queen Emotan, Oba Ovonrramwen Nogbaisi, Olaudah Equiano, Oduduwa, Idris Aloma and yes I also see "Tobenna" the Great.
God Bless Nigeria!
History is important for us to have a clear guide for the future. Nigeria has a rich heritage which has to be sustained.
Nice post!
Nice post!
Thanks for that trip down history lane, Naija is indeed great and will become great again.
a truly rich heritage... i also think we would be considered great still.
hmmm... great thought.
"Everyone needs to be a part of the the decision making process of this our Niger Area
One (wo)man
One vote"
Well said............
One (wo)man
One vote"
Well said............
This is a lovely read, and very informative! I love the history focus. Nigeria is made up of many ancient and great kingdoms and we should not forget it.
We have a lot of work to do though, and we have to do this work together
P.S Thanks for checking out my blog and leaving a comment! :D
http://adiyaatu.wordpress.com/
We have a lot of work to do though, and we have to do this work together
P.S Thanks for checking out my blog and leaving a comment! :D
http://adiyaatu.wordpress.com/
Interesting post and refreshing on the historical perspective. Learnt a few things too.
Tobenna, thanks for shedding light on our history. I really enjoyed this. I remember reading about the ancient cities as a child, like Benin and Borno.
I like the use of "the buzz of change"... And I agree with Nonye and Rethots
Very interesting read,
I did not even know about the story of Naija area being sold
This is informative.thanks for the journey down history lane.
We are indeed a great people
I did not even know about the story of Naija area being sold
This is informative.thanks for the journey down history lane.
We are indeed a great people
I think this is the weekend where I get re-acquainted with my country. First I see the documentary called a Naij: A History of Nigeria as part of the new Nigeria cinema being celebrated here in London as part of the black history month. Now you go further to extend my knowledge even further. I am proud to be a Nigerian. It's not easy being a Nigerian in Diaspora these days but reading posts like this delights me.
I hope we can use this forth coming elections to begin the change that we want. I really wish I could vote.
I hope we can use this forth coming elections to begin the change that we want. I really wish I could vote.
I cant believe I missed your piece! Thanks for the walk down history lane! I learnt a great many facts from your post! Great post!
It's been a hot minute.
How are you keeping?
How's J (see i'm not sure if this is the right alphabet sef) and the baby. We should have had a birthday celebration already no?
Just thought to drop a line.
How are you keeping?
How's J (see i'm not sure if this is the right alphabet sef) and the baby. We should have had a birthday celebration already no?
Just thought to drop a line.
UPDATE!!!!!!!!!
dude, it's been almost a year since we've heard from you. how far na? daddyhood has taken over your blogville mojo? please come back to us. time flies but I will forgive your absence :) I hope everything is going on well with you though. take care.
Chief,
pls confirm ur e-mail addy so i can invite u on my blog.Got into some blog wahala @ home hence d lock...:(
pls confirm ur e-mail addy so i can invite u on my blog.Got into some blog wahala @ home hence d lock...:(
The 'world' might (seemingly) 'believe' in us but, that is simply not enough.
We can dare not to believe in ourselves. However, we have (consciously) chosen to believe in ourselves, because we have a CHOICE.
For that power of CHOICE, we should desire to be part of governance (...be a part of the the decision making process...). Yes, we can by utilising our 'one' vote.
Tis several collections of 'One' vote that will make the change.