History of religion in nigeria pdf

The history of nigeria before independence in order to understand the current nigerian politics and society, three dominant characteristics need to be taken into account. In the west, the yoruba and the edo, just like the hausafulani. However, nigerias most diverse feature is its people. And to eileen johnson, i express my gratitude for the excellent maps contained in this book. Culture of nigeria history, people, clothing, traditions. Nigeria contains more historic cultures and empires than any other other nation in africa. Estimates suggest 8085 million nigerians identify as muslim roughly 50% of the total population, of which the majority are probably sunni 60 million, though this is not a unified identity and includes a wide variety of different viewpoints. The importance, how to, effect causes relationship, comparison, history, role. This article brings you some interesting facts about the yoruba tribe in nigeria, and well be looking into their history, culture and religion the yoruba tribe is one of the three largest and most powerful ethnic groups in nigeria. Get free research paper on religious conflicts in nigeria. The majority of those in northern nigeria adhere to some form of sunni islam, while christianity, in the guise of various protestant denominations and roman catholicism, dominate in.

It is the secondlargest province in the anglican communion, as measured by baptized membership but not by attendance, after the church of england. Religion and the making of nigeria religious cultures of. This paper is about the religious conflicts of the people in nigeria and its impact on their social lives. As far as nigeria is concerned, this is the country where this conflict is more powerful than any other concept. The emphasis of this early activism is on the spiritual forces that govern politics and on bringing about reform through prayer freston 2001. In fact, history indicates that conflict is an ongoing process in human relations and may occur within. The history of christianity in nigeria can be traced back to the 15th century, when the portuguese were the first europeans to arrive the shores of the region via the atlantic. Nigerias flag consists of three equal vertical bands of green, white, and green. Download history of education in nigeria pdf summary. Here youll discover interesting information regarding the igbo people including information on the igbo culture, history, religion, clothes, and several other intriguing facts. Islam was introduced to nigeria through two geographical routes. Advanced undergraduates and graduate students in african studies, africanists, and specialists in religious studies will find vaughans work fascinating, complex, and helpful in understanding the history and character of modern nigeria. By examining key themes such as colonialism, religion, slavery, nationalism and the economy, the authors show how nigerias history has been swayed by the vicissitudes of the world around it, and how nigerians have adapted to meet these challenges.

Religion and conflict in nigeria countdown to the 2015 elections special reportunited states institute of summary nigeria is by far the largest country in the worldwith a population of just over 180 millionevenly divided between muslims and christians. Although igbos are mostly christians today, they have a deep and original culture. With a population of about 170 million, muslims are estimated to be 50%, christians 40% and practitioners of african religions are put at 10% this estimation excludes practitioners of alternative religious ideologies from the eastern world. The majority of nigerian muslims are either nondenominational muslims or sunni and are concentrated in mostly the northern region of the country with some christian population, the same way christians dominate in the south with some muslim population. In nigeria mostly there are two types of religions, islam and christianity. Although the years since nigerias return to civilian rule in 1999 have seen an increased interest in its history and politics, nigeria remains one of the most underresearched african countries.

Jan 30, 2012 the majority of those in northern nigeria adhere to some form of sunni islam, while christianity, in the guise of various protestant denominations and roman catholicism, dominate in southern nigeria. The church of nigeria is the anglican church in nigeria. Issues and solutionsproject topics and materials in nigeria. These are african religions afrel, christianity and islam. This issue is still widely debated, as there have been various statistical reports regarding the dominant religion in nigeria between christianity and islam. The history of nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers nigerians living in the area as early as 1100 bc. Lagos, is an associate professor in the department of history and strategic studies, university of lagos, nigeria. The origins of islam in the country is linked with the development of islam in the wider west africa.

Ahistoryofnigeria assets cambridge university press. Academic works on the history, growth and development of. Geographical, historical and political profiles of nigeria. History of religion in nigeria before and after colonization.

Hundreds of languages are spoken in the country, including yoruba, igbo, fula, hausa, edo, ibibio, tiv, and english. Trade was the major connecting link that brought islam into nigeria erinle oluwashola idris 2020. They date back as far as the 5th century bc, when communities living around the southern slopes of the jos plateau make wonderfully expressive terracotta figures in a tradition known now as the nok culture, from the nigerian village where these. History has it that in the past, in nigeria, the dominant religion was the traditional religion popularly known as african traditional religion. The three largest and most dominant ethnic groups are the hausa, yoruba, and igbo pronounced eebo. This book offers a unique portrayal of a resilient people living in a country with immense, but. How the secessionist nigerian state of biafra and its leader odumegwuojukwu, have been made into sacred forms.

Trade was the major connecting link that brought islam into. We would attempt to examine the influences on the language, dressing, food and cultural practices and norm of the yoruba people, in an attempt to reach a befitting conclusion as to the history of the yoruba, we would also include some folk lore and stories, to enable you the readers reach a strong conclusion. A bibliography of secondary literature, working papers in african studies 269 2017. To the 15th century in nigeria was strengthened islam, it was brought here through the desert tradersmuslims. From the facts stated above, religion in nigeria has come a long way and will remain an influential part of nigerian history. The history of this religion actually roots back to the days when jesus commanded to take the good news that he saves those believing and trusting him to the ends of the world. First major centralized state in northern nigeria was kanembornu, the occurrence of which belongs to the late 8th century a.

As a student of nigerian history and politics, i benefi ted enormously. The yoruba constitute approximately 35 percent of nigerias total population, and around 40 million individuals throughout the region of west africa. An 18 december 2012 report on religion and public life by the pew research center stated that in 2010, 48. The igbo people are located in the south eastern geopolitical zone of nigeria. Nigeria has a diverse geography, with climates ranging from arid to humid equatorial. Hundreds of languages are spoken in the country, including yoruba. Nigeria, country located on the western coast of africa. The igbos stand out in many ways in a country of over 400 languages. Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world, is divided along, not only cultural lines, but also along religion. Religious practice in nigeria is just as varied and diverse as the population, creating a complex and fascinating situation that arises from its triple. Th e scholarship on religion and society in nigeria is authoritative in african studies. Facts about christianity, islam and traditional religions in nigeria. They also cover large portions of kwara state, and even edo state. This article aims to shed more light on the origin and history of the yoruba people.

This article brings you the history of religion in nigeria. According to a 2010 survey conducted by the pew forum, nigerias population has both christians and muslims in a nearly equal ratio, with a small percentage of the population following other religious beliefs such as indigenous faiths and no affiliations at all. According to statistics, they make up as much as 35% of the total population of nigeria. Yoruba people are a large ethnolinguistic group or ethnic nation in africa, and the majority of them speak the yoruba language. In 2016, declining oil revenue led to nigerias first recession in more than 25 years. Using a wealth of archival sources and extensive africanist scholarship, vaughan traces nigerias social, religious, and political history from the early nineteenth. Organized as a loose federation of selfgoverning states, the independent nation faced the overwhelming task of unifying a country with 250 ethnic and linguistic groups. Numerous ancient african civilizations settled in the region that is today nigeria, such as the kingdom of nri, the benin empire, and the oyo empire. According to certain sources, christianity is the dominant religion in nigeria, with an estimated population of 90 million christians in the country. By examining key themes such as colonialism, religion, slavery, nationalism, and the economy, the authors show how nigerias history has been swayed by the. Prior to their conquest by europeans, these ethnic groups had separate and independent histories. Historical overview of pentecostalism in nigeria pew. This happened after he resurrected and showed up to the disciples. Other statistics reveal that the church of nigeria has 2 million active attendees on a.

The plateau area around jos was a meeting point for cultural influences from the upper niger valley where agriculture developed independently as early as 5000 bce and from egypt. On the other hand, the history of christianity in nigeria dates back to the 15th century when the portuguese brought the religion along with them. History has it that in the past, in nigeria, the dominant religion was the traditional religion popularly known. Feb 28, 2000 religious conflicts in nigeria by barry mason and chris talbot 28 february 2000 violent religious clashes broke out in the city of kaduna in northern nigeria on february 21 and have continued. However, their affiliations with slave trade made it difficult to plant the religion in the country as they were more interested in the lucrative slave business than being on the missionary field. They consist of many subgroups and are known to be socially and culturally diverse. Most nigerian christians are protestant though about a quarte.

Mar 21, 2020 nigeria, country located on the western coast of africa. 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. Nigeria is a large country both in terms of size, population, and importance on both a regional and global scale, and few issues are as central to the national ethos as religion. Religion and politics pentecostal political activism originates with the founding of the christian students social movement of nigeria in 1977. First, the spread of islam, predominantly in the north but later in southwestern nigeria as well, began a. The nigerian igbo culture, religion, origin and history. First, the spread of islam began a millennium ago, predominantly in the north but later on extended to southwestern nigeria. However in nigeria, religious conflict does not only carry religious motive but also politically inclined such that according to marshall, recently, the president of nigeria was forceful in saying the nigerian conflict has nothing to do intrinsically with religion, that is used as an excuse by politicians 10. A history of nigeria by toyin falola cambridge core. Galadima and turaki christianity in nigeria 87 factors which have contributed in shaping and defining the nature of the nigerian church.

This along with buddhism were imported from india and some other asian countries. Facts about christianity, islam and traditional religions in nigeria this article brings you the history of religion in nigeria. Religion and the making of nigeria is an essential addition to academic libraries. Several dominant themes in nigerian history are essential for understanding contemporary nigerian politics and society. Although some recovery progress was evident by 2018, many nigerian citizens did not see relief, and the country earned the unenviable distinction that year of having the most people in extreme poverty in the world. The beginning of the history of christianity in nigeria. Political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. Academic works on the history, growth and development of christianity in africa. Religious conflicts in nigeria world socialist web site. It is said that the traditional religion of nigeria is the richest heritage which the forebears of nigeria have handed down to their children nwahaghi 1998, p. And well be looking at some interesting facts about christianity, islam and traditional religions in nigeria. A history of an african popular music from nigeria, 1992. Religious conflicts in nigeria by barry mason and chris talbot 28 february 2000 violent religious clashes broke out in the city of kaduna in northern nigeria on february 21 and have continued. According to a 2019 report from the world factbook by cia, about 51% of nigeria s population is muslim, about 47% are christians, about 0.

This is approved for students in accountancy business computer science economics engineering arts. Other smaller groups include the fulani, ijaw, kanuri, ibibio, tiv, and edo. Religion and politics in nigeria roseline morenike oshewolo and borok andrew maren department of history and international studies, federal university, lokoja, kogi state, nigeria abstract the relationship between politics and religion is intimate because there is always a point of convergence. Mission and religion and society babcock university, ilishanremo, ogun state, nigeria email. Southern nigeria can be divided into two broad societies, namely, western and eastern societies. It gives its current membership as over 18 million, out of a total nigerian population of 190 million. The portuguese brought christianity with them but were unable to successfully plant christianity because of their involvement in slave trade. Nigeria has a long history, with its roots in early civilisations of distinguished artistry. Yorubas are one of the most popular ethnic groups in nigeria. More than 250 ethnic tribes call presentday nigeria home. And well be looking at some interesting facts about christianity, islam and traditional religions in nigeria nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world, is divided along, not only cultural lines, but also along religion.