Africa in Change: West Africa: Nigeria (1963)

[Applause] [Music] six is a Nigerian Nigeria new nation in West Africa already strong and the dynamos are just beginning to turn Nigeria on the West African Coast stands as a bwork of Independence in Subs the Dark Continent we now know that such a phrase described our lack of knowledge of this land rather than the land itself for Millennia Nigeria was was no more than a conglomeration of tribes some containing millions of people others so tiny that their names have scarcely been recorded there may be as many as 300 languages spoken at least 12 of them are official to create order from this Myriad variety Nigeria has been organized into three quite different regions like all young Nations Nigeria must draw the different social governmental and religious together and cement the bonds of federation Nigeria is the balance wheel of the world's presently uncommitted Nations its steps toward Unity are vital to the world Nigeria is larger than any European country except Russia the population is greater than that of any other African nation many remote area are readily accessible only by Air Aviation knits the remote parts of the nation together and at the same time opens Nigeria to the world Kano an ancient city in the Arid northern region is linked by air with Mediterranean eastern and southern Africa as well as with the rest of Nigeria a century ago Caravans entered other gateways to Cano having traveled from Tripoli for 11 months OFA small Caravans still arrive and leave every few days within encircling walls of sundried brick kano's Market stands the heart of a thriving city that was great before Europeans heard a whisper of its name cloth dyed with Indigo has been been an export from Kano as long as Craftsmen can remember pounding the Indigo into the cloth secures the color one of the few fast colors ever discovered the great mosque is the dominating influence on the people of this city Islam wields the guiding force over education in Kano and in most of the Savannah lands and parched plateaus of the northern region the north is by far the largest region of Nigeria the population centers around historic and modern Kano and along the Niger and benu rivers in the South this river system is navigable from the coast that can be made for no other great African river it provides Transportation food and a livelihood for many fishing communities [Music] fishermen still use traditionals in the very shadow of the great modern bridges that span these [Music] Rivers farther north herdsmen spend their lives at another occupation learned from their ancestors fan Nomads and their herds fill even the remotest and most inhospitable corners of Nigeria yet every year modern research and Medicine advance to meet them [Music] most buildings in Northern Nigeria contrast with this Veterinary Center the people build of mud and brick and thatch with grass in villages tightly knit together the staple foods are grains Millet sorghum and Maze they thresh the grains in mortars grind it into flour and cook it into a thick porridge great work and skill goes into the preparation of meals great pleasure into eating them while there is no food shortage in Africa there are vitamin or protein deficiencies in some areas modern technology and chemistry now work to supplement the Nigerian diet traditional methods of work such as hand spinning go on within walking distance of the most modern tin this mineral has been mined on the bouchi plateau for more than 50 years new surface mining methods are being developed and tested chemical sprays developed by African research have come to the aid of agricultural exports Great Pyramids of grain and peanuts are protected from pests and disease until they can be shipped despite the many changes in Outlook and habit much has not changed Islam with its colorful dress ceremony music and dancing binds people of the north together all this will persist shoulder toosh shoulder with advancing [Applause] technology honoring the Amir of Kano who is both political and religious leader brings the hardworking people of the northern Plateau together [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] today Muslim prayer unites this old city so old it was a bustling Trade Center at the time of the Norman conquest of England Pagan ceremonies from the pre-islamic days are still performed within sight of the spires of the [Music] [Applause] mosque this arid Muslim centered northern region is the largest area of Nigeria further south the rainfall becomes greater and with it Greater dependence on water for travel and power the ocean port and the Niger River make trade with the Eastern region a simple matter today a cathedral stands here in the East instead of a mosque Christianity shapes education and encourages industrial expansion in the Eastern region large and small scale trade flourishes along the Niger and benu new Bridges provide links that well distant areas together the people now look to these Rivers for irrigation and hydroelectric development as well as for drinking water and swimming holes business and secretarial schools help the people of the Eastern Reg to rush to meet the business World more quickly than the Islamic North oil was recently discovered in the East Nigerians are developing their industry with their own research methods and their own hands this Eastern region of Nigeria is the only only coal producing area in all of West Africa Eastern Nigerians utilize tribal and family groups to form trading firms and for purposes other than those for which they were originally intended these family units become especially important in the absence of specialized groups such as those that Islam affords the north also unlike the North the easterners eat Roots yams and cassava the higher rainfall in the east and west does not permit grain to ripen or cattle to thrive the people in the east and west use palm oil for cooking rather than peanut oil which is used in the north some Palm kernels are locally processed many more are [Music] exported this region of Nigeria has long been the world's major source of palm oil the first recorded shipment of oil of palm was in 1588 when a few cks were carried to England by a captain Welsh [Music] International Trade has multiplied since the establishment of the Nigerian national shipping line in 1959 just a few hundred fet from the hustle of Port hortt the only Harbor in the Eastern region the coast lies hidden in gnarled mangrove swamps as in the Eastern region the climate and land of the West are sharply different from the north the western region is mainly Christian but has a larger mlim element than the East despite religious and Industrial similarities with the East the western region has a unique historical background as early as the 11th century this region was the center of a flourishing art and culture the ancient yoru kingdoms still knit the region together and determine much of the social life their splendors still influence present day Art and Design [Music] [Music] today Nigerian artists combine modern Trends with their Rich Heritage African designs for public buildings for houses for entire cities are being realized today in Western Nigeria theater no longer a luxury is widespread television is extremely popular and spreading this group viewing a Nigerian television program is from a Lagos Public School development of communications and other marks of a Modern Nation have changed the face of the western region cement now where thatched mud houses stood how different the Christian East and West are from the mlim north each of Nigeria's three regions has its own ancient traditions and historically and culturally they have little in common what then gave them the spark to form a federation the idea of a Federated Nigeria developed during the years of British occupation Britain's relationship was always a polite one typified by Goodwill tours of the queen or prime minister and little of the tension that has plagued some other African States in 1861 Britain occupied the trading Port logos to stop the export of slaves now logos is the federal [Music] capital through the years of British guidance Nigeria's trade developed new mining and lumbering techniques were introduced and Nigeria became an important member of the World Market Ghana's Independence came in 1957 but the turning point for all of Africa was 1960 1960 Nigerian [Music] independence from then on colonialism in Africa was for all intents and purposes history the celebration was a tribute to both pasts the traditional past and the colonial past for some final words on Independence here is the prime minister of the Federation 1960 with a very great year for Africa and for Nigeria as we shall do everything in our power to continue to retain the Friendship of our friends the Friendship of the African nations and the friendship of the world as a whole the English left behind the concept of one nation a common language English and a government structure based on the parliamentary system the task now to combine the many different traditions and make Nigeria real logos became the new nation's capital in 1960 seats of government were established in each region kaduna in the mlim north and new in the east abadin in the west new and modern buildings accompany modified British procedures in government each region has a parliament and a prime minister similar to the federal [Music] government at each Center of government universities and hospitals rise soon these institutions will be staffed entirely by [Music] Nigerians most Nigerians live better than they ever have before they vote young people especially the idea of unity is becoming meaningful education is the key to adding European methods to the traditional social and governmental forms in the north education centers around the teaching of the Quran and Islamic law Islamic scholars are holy men teachers or judges they are held in high regard this Arabic alphabet of the north quite different from that of the Christian east and west where education is the same type as in the Western World increased number of trade schools introduce better agricultural methods and Advanced Machinery Nigerians cling to Traditions toward modernity expanding tapping new resources in the years since Independence Nigeria has been tabbed for leadership industrial methods are producing objects in new ways while crafts are still very much alive to combine the heritage of diverse peoples to give reality to the new federal structure superimposed on the three regions by Britain that is the task which faces these particular West Africans the younger generation must keep the past alive and build for the future the nation is large and important one African in every six is Nigerian [Music] get