African History
Jaja Wachuku’s Famous “Sleeping” Photo Was Actually a Protest
For years, one photograph has been used to tell a very simple story about Nigerian diplomacy.Jaja Wachuku is seated at the United Nations with...
The Fulani Jihad That Transformed Northern Nigeria
In 1804, a religious dispute in the Hausa state of Gobir exploded into a revolution that would change the political map of West Africa.At...
The Rivers That Became Highways of Colonial Expansion
For centuries, the rivers of West Africa were already busy highways. Canoes carried traders, farmers, fishermen and goods between communities long before European colonial...
How European Colonialism Destroyed Centuries Old Political Systems
Before European colonial governments began dividing Africa into colonies, the continent was already home to powerful kingdoms, empires, confederacies, city states, councils, emirates and...
The Story Behind Britain’s “Punitive Expeditions” in Nigeria
Britain did not conquer the territories that became Nigeria in one single war.In many places, British control arrived through treaties and negotiations. In others,...
How Oyo Became Rich Through Trade and War
Imagine a kingdom where the more territory you controlled, the more markets, people and trade routes came under your influence.That was Oyo.Long before Nigeria...
The Battle Where Poisoned Arrows Terrified British Soldiers
A British commander was leading his troops towards a fortified town in Northern Nigeria. His forces had rifles, artillery and Maxim machine guns. The...
How the Berlin Conference Changed Nigeria Without Nigerians Being There
In November 1884, men representing some of the most powerful countries in Europe gathered in Berlin.They came from Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Italy...
How Palm Oil Helped Drive British Expansion in Nigeria
Long before petroleum became synonymous with Nigeria's economy, the oil palm was already connecting West African communities to the industrial economy of Britain.During the...
Nigeria’s Home of Twins: The Mystery Behind Igbo-Ora’s Remarkable Twin Births
In southwestern Nigeria, there is a town where the arrival of twins is so deeply woven into everyday life that it has become part...