Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Gutek Chapter 18
Gutek stresses the three stages of Nigerian history as the main influence on its' economy, politics and education: indigenous early history, British colonial rule, and post-independance. Because of British rule, the political, judicial, and educational systems are somewhat western in ideology, although there has been an attempt to move away from those policies and create a unique Nigerian national identity since independance in 1960. Nigeria is a divided and fragmented nation composed of many different states, ethnicities, language, and religions, and this has impeded national development. In 1966, these tensions boiled over when a millitary coup inflamed rivalries and caused the president to flee the country. A civil war ensued when the Igbo area of eastern Nigeria seceded from the nation and the millitary leaders of Nigeria attempted, succesfully, to stop them. The war ended in 1970, and the hard feelings still linger today. The nation signed a new constitution in 1999 with a bicameral congress and a multi-party system, and the new government is striving to integrate the nation and diversify and stabilize the economy, which is dependant on the petroleum industry. Nigeria faces problems such as AIDS, illiteracy and internal tensions, but the new emphasis on national education is an attempt to remedy these problems.
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It was interesting to see that only 10% of Nigerians still practice an indigenous religion. 50% are Muslim and 40% have converted to Christianity. I think Gutek should have also mentioned that although some consider themselves Christian, they still use elements from traditional practices... such as voodoo and witch doctors. My interviewee's own family and surrounding village was homogeneously Christian (although Yoruba has its own religion, none recognized it). However, he mentioned that superstitions are still very common and even his mother had used procedures before to "fight off any bad spirits that someone might have cast on our family."
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