Nigerian History in Pre-Colonial Times – Southern Nigeria

This article introduces us to the pre-colonial history and people of Southern Nigeria. This period witnessed major epochal developments in the history of the people. Major empires like Oyo, Benin and Igbo states emerged in the area. The period also witnessed major social, political and economic relations between these people.

 

Nigerian History in Pre-Colonial Times – Southern Nigeria

Let us now examine briefly some of the major cultures that emerged in the southern part of Nigeria.

Ife Culture

Ife is one of the main cultural centres in southern Nigeria. The culture is said to have been influenced by the NOK culture and it (Ife) also influenced the culture of Benin and Igbo Ukwu. The people of Ife developed a Civilization which dates back to about the 6^th century B.C. and 100 A.D. and its main features include iron-working and craft specialization. Ife art as it is known to include Terra cotta and brass, mouldings in bronze which reflect human heads as well and that of some animals. It also includes wood carving and potsherd pavement. Ife brass heads are made up of copper and zinc and the terra cotta heads have vertical facial marks on them. These works came to light through the work of archaeologists like Leo Frobenius, Oliver Myers and Frank Willet. Full article on the oyo empire – Nigerian History in Pre-colonial times – Oyo empire

 

Benin Culture

Just like Ife, Benin had one of the earliest cultures in Nigeria. Although it derived the knowledge of brass casting from Ife, Benin artwork became more popular than the latter due to the fact that Benin kingdom was the first in Nigeria to have contact with the Europeans and it was through these early Europeans visitors that its artwork found their way to Europe and other parts of the world. The Binis were highly skilled in craft-work. Their main artwork includes bronze and brass heads and figures, stools and vessels. Some other features of its artwork include potsherd pavement which is similar to that of Ife. Full article on the great Benin kingdom – Nigerian History in Pre-colonial Times – The great Benin Kingdom

 

Igbo-Ukwu

This is a culture that flourished at Igbo-Ukwu (a town about 40km south-west of Onitsha in Anambra state). The main feature of this culture includes bronze, pottery decorated in highly ornamental style, vessels, beads and objects made of copper such as wristlets, bells, bracelets and earrings. It also had models of some animals like snake, ram head and chameleon. A sophisticated burial site of an important personality was also found in the area. According to Professor Thurstan Shaw, who carried out extensive archaeology study of Igbo-Ukwu, the burial site is evidence of a highly developed civilization centred around some form of the semi-divine ruler which was dependent upon the trans-Saharan ivory trade as well as trade-in other articles including slaves and kola nuts. Radiocarbon dates from Igbo-Ukwu show that the culture flourished from about 1100 B.C. to about 850 A.D.