A History of Nigeria

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About A History Of Nigeria

Product Description Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and the world's eighth largest oil producer, but its success has been undermined in recent decades by ethnic and religious conflict, political instability, rampant official corruption and an ailing economy. Toyin Falola, a leading historian intimately acquainted with the region, and Matthew Heaton, who has worked extensively on African science and culture, combine their expertise to explain the context to Nigeria's recent troubles through an exploration of its pre-colonial and colonial past, and its journey from independence to statehood. By examining key themes such as colonialism, religion, slavery, nationalism and the economy, the authors show how Nigeria's history has been swayed by the vicissitudes of the world around it, and how Nigerians have adapted to meet these challenges. This book offers a unique portrayal of a resilient people living in a country with immense, but unrealized, potential. Review "Dissatisfied with too much emphasis placed by the existing historiography of Nigeria on political and economic developments of the 20th century, the authors... of this new history set out to provide a more balanced picture of the past by paying special attention to social and cultural themes and the longue durée.... They show the complexity, fragility, and contested nature of national identity.... Recommended." - Choice "[A] condensed but rich chronological account of events, forces, and actors that helped to shape the historical development of the region from about 9000 BC to 2007...[An] important contribution to Nigerian and African history and will be of value to students and scholars in the field." International Journal of African Historical Studies, Gloria Chuku Book Description An exploration of Nigeria's pre-colonial and colonial past, and its journey from independence to statehood. About the Author Toyin Falola is the Frances Higginbotham Nalle Centennial Professor in History at the University of Texas, Austin. His books include The Power of African Cultures (2003), Economic Reforms and Modernization in Nigeria, 1945–1965 (2004) and A Mouth Sweeter than Salt: An African Memoir (2004). Matthew M. Heaton is a Patrice Lumumba Fellow at the University of Texas, Austin. He has co-edited multiple volumes on health and illness in Africa with Toyin Falola, including HIV, Illness and African Well-Being and Health Knowledge and Belief Systems in Africa (2007).