The most populous country in Africa and the largest in area of
the West African states, Nigeria was an early twentieth century
colony that became an independent nation in 1960. A country of
great diversity because of the many ethnic, linguistic, and religious
groups that live within its borders, Nigeria is also a country
with a long past. The history of the peoples that constitute the
present state dates back more than 2,000 years. The earliest archaeological
finds were of the Nok, who inhabited the central Jos Plateau between
the Niger and Benue rivers between 300 B.C. and 200 A.D. A number
of states or kingdoms with which contemporary ethnic groups can
be identified existed before 1500. Of these, the
three dominant regional groups were the Hausa in the northern kingdoms
of the savanna, the Yoruba in the west, and the Igbo in the south.
Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in
1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. Under the
constitution, the executive branch is headed by a president, who is popularly
elected for a four-year term and is assisted by a cabinet. The bicameral legislature
consists of a 360-seat house of representatives and a 109-seat senate; all legislators
are elected for four-year terms. Parliament convened for the first time in Abuja
in Aug., 1999. For administrative purposes, the country is divided into 36 states
and a federal capital territory.
This collection of internet sources provides access to a sampling of useful
web sites that provide information and resources for learning and teaching
about the history and cultural traditions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Emphasis is on online resources of Nigerian cultural resource institutions
and local groups providing information on Nigeria’s cultural properties
and landscapes, material culture, and expressive forms such as language, arts
and crafts, music, dance theater, and literary arts. Although selective, inclusion
of a site by no means constitutes endorsement by either the African and Middle
Eastern Division or the Area Studies Directorate of the Library of Congress.
Every source listed here was successfully tested before being added to the
list. Users, however, should be aware that a successful connection may sometimes
require several attempts.
For Library of Congress contact information and additional research and bibliographic
materials on Nigeria consult the Library’s African Section Nigeria
Country Web page.
21st Century Yoruba (http://www.nubacom.com/21CenturyYoruba/foreign.htm)
‘Highlights the scientific and economic direction of the Yoruba people for the 21st’.
Abuja City.com (http://www.abujacity.com)
Site provides photographs of emirs and sultans of northern Nigeria.
Achebe, Chinua - Biography (http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/achebe.htm)
This site contains a biography of the Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, including a description of his major works, a list of many of his other books, and a suggested bibliography of criticism.
African Arts.com (http://www.univie.ac.at/afrikanistik/oracle/KofarHausaE.html)
‘A central repository of African Art related information and pictures; includes information on Nigerian art and sculpture’.
African Music Archive (http://www.uni-mainz.de/%7Ebender/)
Established in 1991, the archive at the Institute of Ethnology and African Studies, Johannes-Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany has a collection of modern African popular music recordings and videos from Nigeria and other West African countries.
African Music Encyclopedia (http://africanmusic.org/artists/sunnyade.html)
Site provides an overview of music from Nigeria by country and artist.
African Music Homepage (http://biochem.chem.nagoya-u.ac.jp/%7Eendo/africa.html)
Site offers discographies on most of the major artists of Nigeria.
African Post-Colonial Literature in English (http://www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/post/misc/africov.html)
‘Site contains articles on Nigerian history and literary traditions, including biographical profiles of notable Nigerian writers such as Ken Saro-Wiwa and Wole Soyinka.’
Archaeology in Northeastern Nigeria (http://www.informatik.uni-frankfurt.de/%7Esfb268/c7/c7.htm)
‘Study from the University of Frankfurt which examines what archaeology discoveries in northeastern Nigeria have revealed about the history and culture of the area’.
CNENigeria (http://www.cnenigeria.com)
Site features stories, poetry, music, art, and world news.
Centre for Black African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) (http://www.cbaac.org)
Edo Nation Online (http://www.edo-nation.net)
Forum for the Edo community. Site provides information on the history and culture of the Edo people located in southern, Nigeria.
Egbe Isokan Yoruba (http://www.yoruba.org/index.htm)
‘Association projects the honor and dignity of Yoruba culture, language and tradition in Africa and the Diaspora’.
Emecheta, Buchi - Biography (http://www.postcolonialweb.org/misc/authors.html)
Site contains biographical data on London-based female Nigeria novelist, Emecheta Buchi , a description of her major works, and a suggested bibliography of criticism.
G.I. Jones - Photographic Archives of Southeastern Nigerian Art and Culture (http://www.siu.edu/%7Eanthro/mccall/jones/index.html)
Taken by the late G.I. Jones, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge, the photographs depict the arts and culture of southeastern Nigeria.
Hausa Home Page (http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/aflang/Hausa/)
‘UCLA Hausa Page, with information on the Hausa language and links to other sites that have information on Hausa language and culture’.
Ifa Link (http://www.cultural-expressions.com/ifa/ifadef.htm)
Site provides an overview of Yoruba religion and Yoruba stories of creation.
Igbonet (http://home.igbonet.com)
Web site of the Ibgo Heritage, Inc. an organization fostering closer relations between Igbos in the diaspora and in the homeland. Site includes information on all aspects of Igbo life, including politics, education, business, entertainment, and culture.
Ijaw Resource Center (http://www.ijawcenter.com/states/delta.html)
Site include information on music, art, community activities, and Ijaw organizations worldwide.
K'ofar Hausa: The Online Dictionary (http://www.univie.ac.at/afrikanistik/oracle/KofarHausaE.html)
‘A searchable dictionary in Hausa, English or German’.
Motherland Nigeria (http://www.motherlandnigeria.com)
Site contains information on Nigerian culture and customs, including ethnic groups, language resources, names, foods and more.
National Association of Yoruba Descendants in North America (http://www.yorubanation.org)
‘The mission of the organization is to project the honor and dignity of Yoruba culture, language and tradition worldwide’. Site includes a list of association chapters in the United States.
Ndi Igbo (http://www.igbo.biz/igbo/)
Site provides information about the Igbo people and culture.
Ndokwa on the Web (http://www.ndokwa.20m.com)
Site features news, photos, traditions, history, and the culture of the Igbo people.
NewAfrica.com (http://www.newafrica.com)
Site provides information on the economy, history, society and culture of Nigeria.
Nigeria - The World GenWeb Project (http://www.rootsweb.com/%7Engawgw/)
‘Information about the genealogy and local history of Nigeria’.
Nigeria Arts.net (http://www.nigeria-arts.net)
‘Site featured as the largest database of Nigerian artists and creativity on the Internet, including music, literature, visual arts, etc’.
Nigeria Entertainment (http://www.nigerianentertainment.com)
‘Features movie and book reviews, travel spots, and more’.
Nigeria Map (http://www.map.freegk.com)
Overview of culture, history, economy, currency, government, people, education and languages
Nigeria's Kitchen (http://faculty.valencia.cc.fl.us/bmoeinian/world/nigeria.html)
Links to sites on Nigerian cooking.
Nigerian Nation (http://www.nigeriannation.com)
‘Site provides information on the geography, history, culture, government, religion and news in Nigeria’.
Odili (http://odili.net)
‘Internet portal for Nigeria aimed at the Asaba people’.
Okri, Ben (http://www.postcolonialweb.org/misc/authors.html)
Site contains biographical data on Ben Okri, Nigerian poet and novelist, a description of important works, and a suggested bibliography of criticism.
Olaudah Equiano (http://www.brycchancarey.com/equiano/)
‘Links and web resources which discuss The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa the African (1789) a strongly abolitionist autobiography written by a slave captured in Nigeria when he was a boy of 11. Sold into slavery, Olaudah Equiano later acquired his freedom.
Olaudah Equiano Foundation (http://www.atomicage.com/equiano/)
‘The Equiano Foundation aims to provide a valuable educational vehicle through which to resurrect, restore, and celebrate the life and works of Olaudah Equiano, a black writer and abolitionist of 18th century Britain’.
Saro-Wiwa, Ken (http://www.postcolonialweb.org/misc/authors.html)
Association of Nigerians Abroad (ANA)
Soyinka, Wole - Biography (http://nobelprizes.com/nobel/literature/1986a.html)
‘Nobel Prize page on Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka’. Site includes a biography on the distinguished Nobel laureate and related links to interviews and reviews of books on Wole Soyinka’.
US-Africa.org (http://us-africa.tripod.com/nigeria.html)
‘Internet portal to African countries providing extensive photographs and information on Nigeria’s history, art and culture’.
United Nigeria Association, Tulsa, Inc. (http://www.nigerianunion.org)
Non-profit and non-political organization whose goal is to focus on the exposure of Nigerian cultures and traditions for educational purposes.
Urhobo Historical Society (http://www.waado.org)
‘An extensive collection of popular and scholarly historical summaries, images from art exhibits, and information about the Urhobo Historical Society and about Urhobo communities in Nigeria and elsewhere’.
World Music Portal (http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/)
Sites features biographies and discographies of popular Nigerian musicians.
Yoruba - Learn Yoruba Home Page (http://www.learnyoruba.com)
‘Website offers a basic primer, with audio files and downloadable font’
Yoruba Art in Wood and Metal (http://www.fa.indiana.edu/%7Econner/yoruba/woodcarver.html)
Site provides an overview of Yoruba history and artistic traditions.
Yoruba Ethnographic Archive (http://anthropology.uchicago.edu/yea/)
Site provides ethnographic research on Yoruba history, culture, and society.
Yoruba Studies Association (http://www.unl.edu/oduduwa/)
‘A scholarly forum for students of Yoruba life and culture’.
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