Slavery, Power, and the Personal: A Feature Investigation THE American plantation system was not only an economic enterprise—it was a rigid social order in which human beings were commodified and subordinated to the logic of property and dominance. Within these systems, authority was absolute for enslavers and severely circumscribed for the enslaved. Stories that dramatize […]
By IGBINEDION DENNIS The Punitive Expedition of 1897: A Trauma With Lasting Impact IN the late 19th century, the powerful Kingdom of Benin, located in present-day southern Nigeria, was one of West Africa’s most culturally advanced states. Known for its highly organised political system, sophisticated metallurgy and trade networks, it commanded respect from neighbours and European […]
By GODWIN KELECHI A Brilliant Soldier and Poet MAJOR General Mamman Jiya Vatsa (3 December 1940 – 5 March 1986) remains one of Nigeria’s most compelling military figures not only for his rank and influence but for the extraordinary circumstances that led to his execution — at the hands of a government led by his childhood […]
Sandhurst Alumni on the World Stage ON 25 July 1969, Abuja’s diplomatic calendar witnessed a moment of distinction when Brigadier Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa of Ghana arrived in Nigeria on a two‑day state visit at the invitation of Nigerian Head of State, Major‑General Yakubu Gowon. This meeting was notable for marking the first official encounter between […]
From Odojele Village to London’s Halls of Learning BORN on 13 May 1911, in Odojele Village in Onitsha, present-day Anambra State, Sir Louis Nwachukwu Mbanefo emerged from modest beginnings to become one of the most consequential legal minds of his generation. The son of Odu Mbanefo, a traditional chief, he grew up at a time […]
By CLARA DIKE Queen Amina of Zaria: Rewriting Power and Gender in 16th Century Northern Nigeria A Princess Trained for Power IN the mid-16th century, at a time when political authority across much of West Africa was overwhelmingly male-dominated, a royal daughter in the Hausa city-state of Zazzau would emerge as one of the most formidable […]
History, Dissent and the Nigerian State NIGERIA’S post-independence history is marked by recurring confrontations between the state and dissenting voices from its constituent regions. From the oil-rich creeks of the Niger Delta in the 1960s to the political agitation in the South-East today, the tension between national unity and regional grievances has remained unresolved. Two […]
Introduction QUEEN Elizabeth II’s long reign—spanning seven decades from 1952 until her death in 2022—left an indelible mark on nations across the globe, particularly those in Africa that transitioned from colonial rule to independence and beyond. Among these, Nigeria’s historical relationship with the late British monarch encapsulates key political, social, and diplomatic shifts that continue […]
Introduction: Historical Memory and Modern Emotion FOR many Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria, the mention of Egypt elicits strong emotions that extend far beyond biblical symbolism or ancient history. This reaction—often perceived externally as rooted in religious narratives about Israelites in Egypt—is actually grounded in a political and historical memory of events during the Nigerian–Biafran […]
Nigeria Before Nigeria LONG before the name “Nigeria” existed, the region comprised a mosaic of independent political entities. The Oyo Empire in the west, the Benin Kingdom in the south, and Kanem-Bornu in the northeast were sophisticated states with centralised governance. Meanwhile, Igbo communities and the Niger Delta city-states operated as self-regulating societies, each with […]