THE FORCED MARRIAGE Part I

The geographical site called Nigeria comprises of about 250 ethic nationalities with specific
cultures, traditions, languages and even religion pre-intrusion of the Portuguese in 1472AD.

Some of these 250 nations have long and rich history dating back to the pre-existence of Christ.

Archeologists claim that some of the earliest terracotta sculptures found around the area are
made by Nok people who dwelled there. And these sculptures suggest that an ancient Egyptian
style of social structure, and perhaps religion, existed in the area.

The Igbos are people of the Nri kingdom which dates back to the 10 th century AD.

The Hausas have an almost aged history and a very interesting one at that. According to
tradition, there were seven "true" states. In the myth of origin, Bayajidda, the son of the king of
Baghdad, arrived in Daura via Bornu. He killed the snake that occupied the well, denying the
townspeople access to the water. As a reward, Bayajidda married the queen. Their son Bawo
was the progenitor of six sons, thereby founding six states—Daura, Katsina, Zazzau (Zaria),
Gobir, Kano, and Rano. Bayajidda's son by his first wife, Magira (a Kanuri woman), founded
Biram, the seventh state.

The Yoruba mythology states that Ile-Ife is the source of the human race and that it pre-dates
any other civilization. The Yorubas are descendants of Oduduwa and through the years have
become a powerful nation with different kingdoms. The kingdoms of Ife and Oyo were
prominent in the 12th and 14th century respectively.

The Binis of the Benin Kingdom; the Ibibios; the Efiks; the Ebiras; the Itsekhiris; Tivs, Igalas etc
are few of the numerous independent and powerful nations that make up Nigeria.

The incursion of Africa by the Europeans brought about slavery, looting, desecration,
dehumanization and destruction of the people, their temples and properties.

Slavery and carting away of Africa’s finest continued formally for hundreds of years until slavery
was abolished in the 19th century. Though it continued thereafter but it was done illegally.

To think that slave trade was once referred to as a legal trade is sickening.

By 1852 Britain had established its presence in area later to be known as Nigeria. In 1885,
British influence on West Africa received international recognition and in the following year it
formed the Royal Niger Company under the leadership of George Taubman Goldie to acquire
territories as Real Estate Properties. In 1900 the company's territory came under the control of
the British government, which moved to consolidate its hold over the entire Niger area. On
January 1, 1901 Nigeria became a part of the British Empire.

Many wars against the subjugation and oppression were fought by the kingdoms and empires
that make up what later became Nigeria against the British Empire in the late nineteenth and
early twentieth century.

Notable of those wars were the British Conquest of Benin in 1897 and the Anglo-Aro war from
1901—1902. The restraint or complete destruction of these states opened up the Niger area to
British rule.

Need one be told that slavery was still fully in existence at that time? How would you leave your
territory, travel thousands of miles land and sea to take another man’s land, religion, beliefs,
wealth and take his sons and daughters captive.

You in return give him your own religion which teaches thou shall not covet your neighbors’
things.

SMH! That is the height of hypocrisy!

Some geographers and travelers had referred to the area which was a real estate property of
the British government as Central Sudan. But in 1897, an alien, Flora Shaw, who worked as a
journalist and married to Fredrick Lugard, the Governor of the protectorate, preferred to
shorten the name “Royal Niger Company Territories” to Nigeria, a compound word formed
from Niger (the river) and Area.

In Africa, a child is named by his parents and never by an alien. There is more to a name than
just a tag to our people. That is why before or when a child is born a name is well thought out.
A name that will be an identity and most likely depict the future of the child is given.

The Europeans not only took the wealth of Africans but also attempted to take away their
history and identity.

Administratively, Nigeria was divided into the northern and southern provinces and Lagos
colony. That was the beginning of the problem. A people so diverse and independent are
forcefully merged together with a river (or two) dictating the terms of administrative division?
What a shame!

The history of the Ibibios has to be studied to understand how powerful a people they are. So is
that of the Yoruba people: a proud and mighty nation with unique religion (Ifa!) which the
entire world has come to terms with regarding science, mathematics and information
technology.
How do you merge these two mighty nations together without their consent? How do you
marry two highly independent and successful people without seeking their opinion? Pre-
independence the Europeans imposed several constitutions on Nigerians without the Nigerian
people deciding their own fate.

Doesn’t common sense teach that before you get married, you date/court the person you
intend to marry in a bid to prove compatibility or the lack thereof before you proceed to (or not
to) marry him/her?

What makes it even worse is that this marriage is not between two (2) people but between Two
Hundred and Fifty (250) people.

OMG! How do you manage such a large and diverse and forced union?

To be continued!