Ch.+15+British+Colonialism


 * || Colonialism in Nigeria is often viewed as a struggle between the British and the French in the mid to late 1800's and the converting of the local peoples there to western religions and customs. However some of the first Europeans arrived in Nigeria in the 1400's. This is said to be the start of colonialism in Nigeria. The first Europeans who did arrive here were Portuguese soldiers and explorers in 1471.They eventually established a port in the region which they called Lagos after the flourishing Portuguese maritime city. This port however quickly became a center for a brutal slave trade, in which Europeans hired men from several African tribes to capture native people's from other smaller tribes to use as slaves. Other European nations began to join in this slave trade such as the British, the dutch, and the French. One of these slaves by the name of Olaudah Equiano was a very notable character. He was just a small Igbo boy when he was captured and shipped off to Virginia, and soled to a captain in the Royal British Navy. He was then trained in seamanship, baptized, and learned to read and write, while attending school in England. He was also present on a British ship that besieged the fortress of Louibourgh during the seven years war (1756-1763) under his master admiral Boscawane. This slave trade that Equiano was engulfed in would not "cease" until 1807 when it was abolished by the British. Britain also began to look to Nigeria for wealth and colonization once they had effectively defeated the French in the Napoleonic wars (ended in 1815). By 1886 the British had established the Royal Niger Company Which controlled a great deal of trade along the Niger river especially in Nigeria. Trade with African tribes flourished at first, but when the company imposed prohibited dues on the people of the brass tribe in the Niger delta, hostilities ensued. Company trading posts were attacked by Brass warriors along the river and the company had to send in soldiers gunboats, and royal navy ships to convince the tribesman to cease the raids. The company then faced growing competition with France and Germany who owned land surrounding the Niger river and delta. The company could not actively defend itself if hostilities were to break out, so the company land was officially ceded to the British government. To prevent a war with France (and possibly Germany) Britain gave up some of the old company land and limited it to the protectorates of north and south Nigeria. The British then began to interact with the natives of the area teaching them western ideas, and policies, none were more affected by this than the Igbo tribe. Many became westernized, literate, and were baptized. Eventually growing conflicts with other Nigerians out of extreme differences, caused the Igbo to Secede and create the Independent state of Biafra, which would lead to a civil war in the 20th century. All of these events of turmoil in Africa were caused by European influence and Colonialism especially by the British. This could also be the reason why most African nations have a weak central government, leaving many Africans including Nigerians in extreme poverty.

By: Dan Center || Oluadah Equiano shown here finally "earned" his freedom from his master admiral Boscawane after the seven years war. He British soldiers such as the ones however did not have to earn his freedom, he was free from shown above were sent to Nigeria the moment he was born. and the Niger river delta to oppress uprisings such as the one by the Brass.
 * || [[image:olaudah_equiano.jpg width="181" height="195"]][[image:british_soldiers.jpg width="280" height="207" align="right"]]

(Use the following link to access the video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJe1W_HIWmA

Bibliography:

"The Slave Trade."__U.S. library of congress,__ 1991, http://countrystudies.us/nigeria/7.htm

"Olaudah Equiano"__[|Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.]__ 12, November 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olaudah_Equiano

"European Imperialism in Africa."__YouTube, LLC__. 2009,http://www.youtube.com/

= = || This is an example of a Portuguese soldier from the first expedition of Europeans to Nigeria ||