Nigeria is not an African word
A forgotten history of how the most populous country in Africa got its name
Alkebulanians,
It is Nigeria’s independence month of October, I will be releasing a series of posts and videos to commemorate this as well as reflect on the future.
What I’ve discovered the longer I work in this space of true African history and heritage, is how much can be learned about all of us from the study of a few of us.
The truth about Nigeria’s name is no different.
Nigeria was not originally called Nigeria. In fact, it had many names. I’m going to tell you what Nigeria was called, why the new name was created, and who created it.
PAY ATTENTION
The land we now call Nigeria was home to powerful kingdoms and empires:
The Yoruba Oyo Empire, the Benin Kingdom, the Sokoto Caliphate
The Kanem-Bornu Empire, the Igbo communities, and Tiv lands.
These were independent civilisations with their own names, rulers, armies, and histories.
The name “Nigeria” isn’t even an African word.
It was invented out of thin air in 1897 by a British journalist named Flora Shaw, a writer for The Times in London. She took the word from the River Niger, a name in itself derived from Latin and given by British and French explorers like Mungo Park.
She then added “-ia.”
Nigeria was a product marketing label made specifically for colonial administration.
Then Shaw used her writing to run what was essentially a P.R. campaign defending colonisation and the man enforcing it: Lord Frederick Lugard
A man she later married
In 1914, Lugard forced the amalgamation of North and South, stamping the name Nigeria on millions of people.
Before then, they were Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Edo, Kanuri, Tiv, and more.
Each with its own language, culture, history and heritage. These were, in today’s terms, totally separate countries that had very little to do with each other.
“Nigeria” was, in truth, a brand name to align an asset with a vast colonial portfolio.
This is the kind of true history every Nigerian and African must know.
We can’t know where we’re going if we don’t know where we came from.
History is essential to our future and that’s why I create materials to make sure you have what is necessary to gain knowledge of our ancestors and to pass that knowledge on to your children.
Consider picking up a copy of episodes 1 & 2 of my 6 part graphic novel series The Crusaders, about a team of African siblings reclaiming stolen African artefacts and returning them home.
It’s the perfect entry point for young readers to discover the truth about Africa.
We can’t complain about the truth being hidden from us if when the truth is offered, we don’t grab it with both arms. I’ve done my part; it’s time to do yours.
Click the button to grab your copies.
Thank you for sharing this because it is so true. Africa’s narrative is so rich and important to human civilization. Personally I have learned so much over the past two years since I have been following you. With each post my appreciation for the continent increases, especially since now is the time for Africa to rise and claim its evolving role on the world stage. We are in the mist of charting a new course and your light guides many on the journey of reclaiming our heritage and narrative.
This is the type of discovery that send shockwaves to classifications/meaning itself. It was rediscovered here in 2025CE but was known since 1914CE. An imperial algorithm kept for reasons outside my understanding. After all, I believed that Africa had naming traditions. I appreciate this information,late to some but in time for others.