History of Nigeria
Many aspects of Nigerian history impact the plot development of Purple Hibiscus. From the father's conversion to catholicism resulting from British influence, to military coups affecting the universities and newspapers, history played a major role in the some of the largest events in the novel.
Colonization:
- British influence in the Niger area increased gradually over the 19th century, but Britain did not effectively occupy the area until 1885, and then under competition from France and Germany. The colonial period proper in Nigeria lasted from 1900 to 1960.
- In 1900 the Royal Niger Company's charter was revoked and British forces under Frederick Lugard began to conquer the north, taking Sokoto in 1903. By 1906, Britain controlled Nigeria, which was divided into the Colony (i.e., Lagos) and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria and the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria.
Nigerian Coups:- January 1966- Coup carried out by Igbo officers, including Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna, among others
- July 1966- AKA Nigerian Counter-Coup of 1966, Major-General Gowon succeed Ironsi. It lasted from July 28 to July 30th1966
- 1975- General Yakubu Gowon was brought down in a palace coup, and Brigadier Murtala Muhammed gained power as Head of State
- 1976- “Dimka Coup”, a bloody coup which led to the assassination of General Murtala Muhammed, Lt General Olusegun Obasanjo then became Head of State
- 1983- Led by a group of senior army officers who overthrew the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari. Major General Buhari was appointed Head of State by the conspirators.
- August 1985- A palace coup led by Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Babangida who overthrew the administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari.
- Vatsa coup of December 1985- Hundreds of military officers were arrested, some were tried, convicted and eventually executed for conspiring to overthrow the Babangida administration. The conspirators were alleged to have been led by Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa.
- 1990- Major Gideon Orkar staged a violent and failed attempt to overthrow the government of General Ibrahim Babangida.
- 1993- Babangida resigned and appointed Ernest Shonekan as interim president. This only lasted three months, as a palace coup led by General Sani Abacha. In September 1994, Abacha issued a decree that placed his government above the jurisdiction of the courts, effectively giving him absolute power
- Modern day Nigeria is seemingly democratic, since there has not been a coup since 1999. But, because the military was so prevalent for so many years, the imprint from the military is still very evident in Nigeria.
- In an unstable government many young men turned to the army as a job of significance
Independence:
- October 1, 1960= received complete independence from Britain
- Established parliamentary government under new constitution
- Today the current Head of state is President Muhammadu Buhari
- Very large gap between wealthy and poor sections of the country/ some towns are extremely modernized with factories and developed country amenities while other sections are still extremely underdeveloped
- Shown through the contrast between Kambili’s family vs Aunty Ifeoma and the grandfather
Current Change
- 2000 - Adoption of Islamic, or Sharia, law by several northern states in the face of opposition from Christians.
- 2009 - The Boko Haram Islamist movement launches a campaign of violence which drags on for years and spreads to neighbouring countries. One high-profile incident involves the kidnapping of 200 school girls in 2014.
- 2015 - an opposition candidate won against a sitting president for the first time
Freedom House Rating
Status
Partly Free
| Freedom Rating
4.5
| Civil Liberties
5
| Political Rights
4
|
*Scale: 1= best, 7= worst
Lauren, Gillian, Taylor
www.allnigerianrecipes.com
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