Population: 140 Million. Languages: 4 - 500 identifiable groups. Ethnic Nations: ~250 Nigeria has more writers and authors than the rest of West African combined. Nigeria has the 4th largest number of doctors in the world. Nigeria is divided into 3 zones by 2 Rivers. The Ramparts at Eredo in Nigeria are reputed to be walls of the ancient Kingdom of the Queen of Sheba m Nigeria is an artificial construct by the British encompassing different cultures and kingdoms with Histories dating over 2000 years. The earliest forms of Art produced in West Africa are found in Nigeria - This is the Iron Age Nok Culture. The earliest anatomically modern Human fossils in West Africa are found in Nigeria, in the area now know as Akure. These fossils are over 10,000 years old. When German Explorers first discovered the ancient city of Ile-Ife they couldnt believe that Africans were responsible for the Art (Racism) - they claimed they had discovered the lost city of Atlantis. cf. Leo Frebenius; German Ethographer. Nsibidi is an ancient form of writing existing in Nigeria over 1000 years ago; debunking racist claims about lack of writing in Africa. This form of writing was reserved for initiations into mystical societies . Nsibidi is Heiroglyphic and Hieratic in Nature. Some of the earliest democratic institutions arise in the area now called Nigeria - The Old Kingdom of Oyo had a parliamentary system called the Oyomesi in which the power of the King was balanced by a council of Chiefs who could drive the King to commit suicide should he overstep the bounds of his authority. Yorubas, a dynamic culture in West Africa believe Ile Ife is the cradle of all Life; here, Oduduwa descended from Heaven and laid the foundations of the Earth. The Odu-Ifa is a form of Arithmetic Geomancy practiced by Yorubas for over 1500 years. The Odu-Ifa is a form of divination in which the will of the Gods is revealed through the manipulation of beads on checkered boards to the number of 256. Santeria, Voodoo and Candomble are all South American and Carribean religions directly traceable to the Ifa religion of the Yorubas. This shows the persistence of the Yoruba culture throughout the horrors of slavery. The Yoruba States are some of the most powerful states in the early west African period; stretching from the present Nigerian interiors to modern day Benin. The Hausa states of Karnem Bornu were reputed to have the most powerful armies in their time. The leader of Karnem Bornu was reputed to be able to summon 120,000 soldiers within 24 hours. "Things fall apart" a story by Chinua Achebe deals with the colonial conquest of Igbo society. This story has been translated into more than 10 languages with over 10 million copies in print and is often compared to the great Greek Tragedies. Wole Soyinka is the only Black African to have won the Nobel Prize for Literature. He is a Yoruba Man. "Opa Oranmiyan," the Staff of Oranmiyan is an ancient Yoruba Monolith that has stood as a symbol of Yoruba Unity for centuries. It is based on a Yoruba myth. The staff of Oranmiyan is covered with an ancient Yoruba symbolic writing system. Most of Artwork by the Kingdoms who are now under jurisdiction of the Nigerian state are in Europe. They were stolen by European. Imperialists who now display them in their Museums for hefty fees. The "Odu Ifa" also encompasses a wide body of oral literature, mystical recitations that are passed down from priest to priest; generation to generation. Every child born in authentic Yoruba culture has a Prophecy attached to his/her life. This Prophecy is called "The Oriki" - it is a map of what the child is and what he will become. The Igbos of Eastern Nigeria launched a series of massive riots that put paid to Colonialism in Nigeria. This was led by the Women of Aba, protesting the heavy taxation of the colonial Lords. They marched on the colonial offices and chased the administrators away. Other Interesting Nigeria Facts: Nigeria is the 6th largest Oil Producer in the world. Nigeria supplies 8% to 15% of the United States Oil demand. Nigeria is among the top 5 producers of cocoa beans in the world. 2nd largest deposit of Bitumen in the world is found in Nigeria. The largest Christian gatherings in the world have been held in Nigeria - (Holy Ghost Festivals; Redeemed Christian Church of God; 5 to 12 Million People) The Largest Church auditorium in the world is in Nigeria (Faith Tabernacle of Winners Chapel Churches, Otta) There are more Muslims in Nigeria than there are in Saudi Arabia - 60 Million Vs 20 Million. There are more muslims in Nigeria than there are in any other country in Africa. Nigeria contains two species of the rarest animals in the world; the lowland Gorrilla and drill Monkey of Afi Mountain ranges. If you go to areas in the Niger-Delta of Nigeria and step firmly on the soil, Petroleum will gush out. Nigeria is a peace-keeper in West Africa. Nigerian forces quelled the Sierra-Leonean and Liberian rebellions. The economy of Nigeria is greater than that of the rest of West Africa combined. Nigerian businessmen were some of the main financers of the ANC in their struggle against apartheid. Nigerian Millionaire, MKO Abiola sent 10M Dollars to Youeri Museveni to help topple the despot Idi Amin Dada. The pastor of the largest church in the United Kingdom is a Nigerian; Matthew Ashimolow of the Kingsway International Christian Center The Pastor of the Largest church in the Ukraine is a Nigerian.same also in Kenya, Tanzania etc etc | |