The modern history of Nigeria happened relatively fast! At the beginning of the 19th century an Islamic cleric Usman Dan Fodio worked to bring the hundreds of tribes and ethnic groups in Nigeria under his control and his Islamic vision. He was successful. The Sokoto Caliphate he established is seen as the golden age for some Muslims in Nigeria to this day. Nevertheless, it was short-lived. By the beginning of the next century, British imperialism changed everything about Nigeria, its name, its language, religion, economy, and more.
This podcast episode in our History of Africa podcast series looks at the making of Nigeria.