Nigeria

Where the name comes from

Nigeria is named after the Niger River, which flows through its west and reaches the Atlantic through the Niger Delta.

First people

The Nok culture made terracotta sculptures here more than 2,000 years ago, and Hausa states, Yoruba kingdoms and the Kingdom of Benin followed.^1,2

Known for

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and is known for Nollywood, one of the world’s largest film industries, and for Afrobeats music.³

Outside contact

Britain annexed Lagos in 1861, set up protectorates over the north and south in 1900, and joined them in 1914, bringing together many older states and peoples.^4,5

The modern country

Nigeria became independent in 1960 as a federation, and sharing power among its many ethnic groups, languages and regions has been a challenge ever since.⁴