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.