Before 1914

 

The Nri in the East (around Awka), Nok of the central plains (Plateau state), Benin kingdom of the Midwest, Kanem-Borno empire around the lake Chad basin, Fulani-Hausa caliphate, the Oyo empire, the Kanuri, Borgu... All these civilizations and cultures existed as individual entities with their kings, Emirs or Obas. Sometimes their interaction was on trade or military incursions from neighbouring mighty empires or farther distant ones like the Songhai empire.

The slave trade started in the 15th century and continued 400 years. 

Before the transatlantic trade began, the Portugese in 1470 were the first to discover the interesting Benin kingdom with it's interesting terracotta crafts and they commended the civilization discovered to their European counterparts.

During the slave trade, coastal outpost along west Africa were established where captured slaves from the inland were sold to the "Foreigners." They themselves couldn't venture inland because then the fatality rate was high - Quinine the drug used to treat malaria had not yet been discovered.

By early 19th century the pressure against slavery in Europe has climaxed. Slavery is abolished. But yet illegal trade continued 🙂. Around this time, Mungo Park explored the course of the Niger River before he died at Bussa. (Fun fact - some who captured Mungo asked what the slaves sold were used for, hoping they were not being eaten.)

Meanwhile the Europeans were intent on stopping slave traders and their little invasion started.

The interest in knowing where River Niger drains back into the ocean was mounting for western explorers after Mungo's death. Hugh Clapperton and Lander started their journey to explore the River. They got to Kano, Sokoto before the former died.

Lander came back again with his brother (stubborness ah) and they were successful in going upstream from Lagos to Bussa. The connection amidst the scattered land discoveries in the north and south has been made. More so, Quinine has been discovered.

The scramble for Africa began, commercial interest mixed with anti slavery propaganda - Lagos was annexed in mid 19th century. The interest in produce like palm oil and sub sahran trade expanded. The encroachment continued by colonists who disposed Obas and Kings, replacing them with obedient relatives. 

The peak came in the early 20th century when Lord Lugard already the Governor of the Southern protectorate conquered Northern cities to form the Northern protectorate.

 

In 1914, another timeline in history began....

Now here we are.