This is a look behind the scenes of Nigeria’s historic presidential election on June 12, 1993. In the history of Nigeria, this election is regarded as the freest and fairest. Then why was it thrown out? Background: On December 31, 1983, Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s second attempt to lead a democratic government was stopped by the…
During the civil war that lasted exactly two years, six months, and nine days, Nigerian and Biafran troops engaged in a number of confrontations, one of which was the Abagana Ambush on March 31, 1968. The Nigerian army suffered the greatest single loss in the civil war during this ambush. Background In October 1967, the…
The Jalumi war, otherwise called Ogun Jalumi and Clash of Ikirun, was a horrendous conflict battled by Ibadan and Ikirun against the unified powers of Ilorin, Ila-Orangun, Ekiti and Ijesha on the first of November, 1878, in the northeastern piece of cutting edge Osun State. The Jalumi war was one of many pulverizing nationwide conflicts…
On October 15, 1938, Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, better known as Fela Kuti, was born in Abeokuta, the state capital of Ogun State. Musician and political activist Fela pioneered his own distinctive musical style, known as “Afrobeat.” He fought against military oppression and political tyranny by utilizing Afrobeat as a weapon. Over 200 times, Fela…
The disastrous Benin punitive expedition of 1897 left the great kingdom of Benin devastated and without valuable artifacts, artworks, sons, daughters, or a great king. The “punitive expedition,” as the British referred to it, was sparked by a historical event known as “the Benin massacre.” A portion of the Benin army killed Consul Philips and…
Wole Soyinka was born in Abeokuta, near Ibadan, in western Nigeria, on July 13, 1934. He began his preparatory education at Government College in Ibadan in 1954, and he continued his education at the University of Leeds, where he earned his doctorate in 1973. Wole Soyinka and his sister, Tinu. Wole and Tinu Soyinka in…
Dr. Raymond Harold Prince, a pioneer in transcultural psychiatry, was born in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, on September 27, 1925. Dr. Raymond was a child who could identify all kinds of birds, trees, and flowers. He was raised in a religious household but later converted to atheism. He tried to get away from his Baptist upbringing,…
Before, during, and after colonial rule, a significant portion of Nigeria was located in the north; all due to the Hausa/Fulani people and the lovely way of life they lead. Here are fifteen old photos that show how life was in northern Nigeria in the past. Kano in 1950. A Hausa man during worship. Ahmadu…
A small aircraft was observed flying above Lagos, Nigeria, on May 30, 1926. The pilot was Mr. M. Landrich, and there was a passenger on board. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon. With the intention of flying directly to Cotonou, which is about 500 miles away, the aircraft took off from Elizabeth Vile in the…
Atinuke Oloyede, who won the first Miss Nigeria pageant in 1957, is depicted in the image above.