Colonial Nigeria
Explore Nigeria’s colonial era (c. 1861–1960), from the annexation of Lagos and the Royal Niger Company to the 1914 amalgamation and the road to independence. This category examines British administration, missionary education, commerce and railways, taxation and labor, cultural change and urban life, and the rise of nationalist movements, including women’s protests, unions, and political parties. Discover biographies, key events, and documents that reveal resistance, collaboration, and everyday experiences across Nigeria’s regions.
Esien Esien Ukpabio: 2 Defining Milestones in the Rise of Indigenous Leadership in Old Calabar
A striking black and white lantern slide made around 1900 to 1910 shows Esien Esien Ukpabio, also rendered Essien Essien Ukpabio, seated with his...
Ankwe Men in Shendam, 1923: 4 Figures in a Striking Portrait of Colonial Muri Province
Ankwe men in Shendam, 1923 appear in a historical photograph from a town that was then part of Muri Province under British colonial administration....
How Hassan Katsina Helped Keep Northern Nigeria From Breaking Into Revenge
Nigeria was not yet a year into its second decade of independence when the foundations of the country began to shake.The crisis did not...
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,...
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...
Colonial Federalism in Nigeria: 3 Powerful Forces That Reshaped Nationalist Politics
Colonial federalism in Nigeria developed alongside the country’s existing ethnic, cultural and political identities. During the final decades of colonial rule, constitutional regionalisation, uneven...
How Colonial Institutions Shaped Post-Independence Nigerian Politics: 3 Powerful Constitutional Shifts That Entrenched Regional Rivalry
How Colonial Institutions Shaped Post-Independence Nigerian Politics begins during the final decades of British colonial rule, when constitutional reforms progressively strengthened the political importance...
Guregu and Ogedengbe: The Powerful Colonial Caption Behind a Yoruba Military Mystery
Guregu and Ogedengbe are linked by a striking description associated with a colonial-era photograph. Guregu is identified as Ogedengbe’s “principal Lieutenant” and described in...
The Battle of Burmi in 1903
The Battle of Burmi 1903 was one of the decisive confrontations in Britain’s conquest of Northern Nigeria. On 27 July 1903, Sultan Muhammadu Attahiru...
Hadejia Resistance of 1906: 5 Crucial Hours That Reshaped an Emirate
The Hadejia Resistance of 1906 was not the beginning of Hadejia’s encounter with British colonial power. It was the violent culmination of several years...