Toyin Falola. The History of Nigeria. Westport and London: Greenwood Press, 1999. xviii + 269 pp. $45.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-313-30682-2.

Toyin Falola. Culture and Customs of Nigeria. Westport and London: Greenwood Press, 2001. xviii + 202 pp. $45.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-313-31338-7.

Reviewed by Ray Kea (Department of History, University of California at Riverside)
Published on H-Africa (July, 2003)

Nigerian History and Culture

Nigerian History and Culture

Both books belong to series that are intended to provide students and interested laypeople with up-to-date and concise information about contemporary nation-states and their cultures. In this sense, they are general, introductory texts that are meant to provide an audience having little or no knowledge of contemporary Nigeria with information covering different aspects of local and national life in that country. Therefore, they do not presuppose a prior knowledge of the country's history, politics, cultural life, etc. Written in a lively, straightforward, and engaging narrative style, they are well-crafted texts and serve their purpose. They are also timely. Nigeria is a regional power in West Africa and it is one of the world's leading oil producers and a member of OPEC. In light of the U.S. government's pressing interest in the offshore oil resources of western Africa, Nigeria is bound to have an important role in future American geopolitical strategies. Learning about this complex and fascinating country is an urgent matter. Falola's books are an excellent starting point.

The History of Nigeria is divided into fourteen chapters. The first five chapters are essentially background material for the remaining nine chapters, which form the heart of the book. The introductory chapter ("Nigeria in Perspective") offers an overview of the country covering such topics as geography, government, social and cultural systems, economy, education and health, history, and underdevelopment and political problems. Chapter 2 ("Precolonial States and Societies") presents a survey of the country's history from the Stone Age to the nineteenth-century Sokoto jihad. Chapter 3 ("European Penetration") focuses on the nineteenth century and the roles of European explorers, missionaries, traders, and the Royal Niger Company in the land. Chapter 4 ("British Conquest and Resistance") reviews the colonial conquest of the lands that were to form the colony of Nigeria and the ways the conquest was accommodated or resisted. Chapter 5 ("Colonial Rule") provides an overview of the implementation of indirect rule throughout the colony and chapter 6 ("Nationalism and Independence") surveys the growth of nationalism, the formation of nationalist parties, and the struggle for independence. The remaining chapters focus on the political history and economy of Nigeria, from the First Republic, 1960-1965 (chapter 7), to the democratization process and the elections of 1999 (chapter 14, "Crisis Management and the Transition to Democracy"). They include a wealth of factual data about the politics (of federalism and regionalism, for example), political parties, politicians, and policies of the First and Second Republics (chapters 7 and 11). The first period of military rule and the civil war are treated in chapter 8 ("Military Rule and the Civil War, 1966-70"). The chapters on the politics of the different coups and military regimes are analytically insightful and rich in information (chapters 9, 10, 12, and 13).

The author's political analysis is skillfully linked, in non-technical language, to his analysis of the political economy of oil production and its fractionalizing effect on the national political scene. In the epilogue, the author, recognizing that "the modern history of Nigeria is a troubled one," draws attention to "unresolved problems," relating to human rights, ethno-nationalism, the threat of military coups, the protection of the constitution and civil society, and better economic management. He is unsparing in his criticism of the anti-democratic features and the kleptocratic and corrupt nature of the Nigerian patrimonial state. In addressing the country's "future scenario," he calls for action: "The only way to prevent military intervention is not through the legal system but through courageous massive uprisings against illegal regimes" (p. 187). He believes that pro-growth democratic forces will strengthen civil society which "mount a greater force against authoritarianism" (p. 192). A very useful appendix ("Notable People in the History of Nigeria") provides short biographies of four nineteenth-century and more than thirty eminent twentieth-century Nigerians, along with one British colonial official. The sketches include intellectuals, administrators, politicians, and military officers among others.

Culture and Customs of Nigeria has eight chapters, including an introductory chapter. The introduction gives an overview of present-day Nigeria, covering geography, peoples, languages, education, cities, resources and economy, government, and history, from antiquity to 1999. The last section of the chapter tackles "cultural issues," which embrace what the author calls "primordial, modern, and Nigeria-wide cultures" (p. 24). He identifies contemporary Nigeria as a land of many rich, interacting cultures which people respond to in different ways and with which they formulate identities. Cultures, the author comments, change over time and travel within and beyond the nation's territorial boundaries. The implications of this perspective are spelled out throughout the book in ways that illuminate the dynamism and interactive nature of cultural practices. The remaining chapters discuss the following wide-ranging topics: religion and worldview in chapter 2, literature and media in chapter 3, art and architecture/housing in chapter 4, cuisine and traditional dress in chapter 5, gender roles, marriage, and family in chapter 6, social customs and lifestyle in chapter 7, and music and dance in chapter 8. The concise and informative descriptions of cultural and "traditional" life in contemporary Nigerian society make this a first-rate reference book.

This reviewer enthusiastically welcomes and recommends both books. Interested readers wishing to learn about contemporary Nigeria would find them valuable sources of information.

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Citation: Ray Kea. Review of Falola, Toyin, The History of Nigeria and Falola, Toyin, Culture and Customs of Nigeria. H-Africa, H-Net Reviews. July, 2003.
URL: http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=7907

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