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What Britain Did to Nigeria: A Short History of Conquest and Rule
Most accounts of Nigeria’s colonisation were written by British officials, presenting it as a noble civilising mission to rid Africans of barbaric superstition and corrupt tribal leadership. Thanks to this skewed writing of history, many Nigerians today still have Empire nostalgia and view the colonial period through rose-tinted glasses.
Max Siollun offers a bold rethink: an unromanticised history, arguing compellingly that colonialism had few benevolent intentions, but many unjust outcomes. It may have ended slavery and human sacrifice, but it was accompanied by extreme violence; ethnic and religious identity were cynically exploited to maintain control, while the forceful remoulding of longstanding legal and social practices permanently altered the culture and internal politics of indigenous communities. The aftershocks of this colonial meddling are still being felt decades after independence. Popular narratives often suggest that the economic and political turmoil are homegrown, but the reality is that Britain created many of Nigeria’s crises, and has left them behind for Nigerians to resolve.
This is a definitive, head-on confrontation with Nigeria’s experience under British rule, showing how it forever changed the country—perhaps cataclysmically.
Max Siollun offers a bold rethink: an unromanticised history, arguing compellingly that colonialism had few benevolent intentions, but many unjust outcomes. It may have ended slavery and human sacrifice, but it was accompanied by extreme violence; ethnic and religious identity were cynically exploited to maintain control, while the forceful remoulding of longstanding legal and social practices permanently altered the culture and internal politics of indigenous communities. The aftershocks of this colonial meddling are still being felt decades after independence. Popular narratives often suggest that the economic and political turmoil are homegrown, but the reality is that Britain created many of Nigeria’s crises, and has left them behind for Nigerians to resolve.
This is a definitive, head-on confrontation with Nigeria’s experience under British rule, showing how it forever changed the country—perhaps cataclysmically.
390 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2021
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April 26, 2023
Why did the British come to the Niger Valley in West Africa? What did they do with the lands, societies, and peoples they encountered? What lasting impact did it leave? These are just some of the questions this detailed and well-written book seeks to answer. The subtitle of this book written by Nigerian historian and journalist Max Siollun is “A Short History of Conquest and Rule,” but a full read of this work makes clear that this book is much more. “What Britain Did to Nigeria” reads more like a general history of “Nigeria” than anything else. It traces the peoples and civilizations of the Niger Valley from the middle-ages through the mid-to-late colonial period in the 20th Century. It details the rise and fall of various pre-colonial African states in the region, including the great northern polities of Kanem-Bornu, Hausa city-states, and Sokoto Caliphate, and also the highly influential and storied southern polities of Oyo and Benin. It also discusses the social orders of the various “decentralized states” south of the Niger. I was most captivated by the pan-African character of many of these pre-colonial states. Sadly, Siollun later discusses how African ethnic diversity—while once possessing the potential to coalesce into autonomous nations and societies—would eventually be co-opted by the British to flatten identities into more static ethnic categories (i.e. “Yoruba” and “Igbo”), making them easier to rule. Here, Siollun shows that the ethnic strife that exists in Nigeria today can be traced back to British colonial rule, and the quasi-forced amalgamation of Niger Valley ethnic groups ultimately hindered the natural movement toward African unity. In briefly telling this history of pre-colonial West Africa in and around the Niger Valley, Siollun does a great job setting the stage for the British terror that was to come.
Siollun introduces the British empire by detailing its gigantic role in expanding the trans-Atlantic slave trade along the Niger Valley coast—an area that became known as the “slave coast.” In retelling this horrible history, Siollun made sure to explore and connect how the trans-Atlantic slave trade (as well as other trade relations and British exploration more generally) paved the way for total British domination of the region by the 20th Century. I was fascinated by Siollun’s explanation for how slave raiding encouraged and directed by the British served as an early precursor to colonialism by stifling inter-African travel and unity, causing different groups of West Africans to fear one another. Britain took advantage of the fear, mistrust, and disunity that the slave trade imbued when it came down to conquering the lands.
As the book makes clear, British colonialism in the Niger Valley was at first spurred by the economic interests of private British traders and trading companies. The desire for these trading companies—such as George Goldie’s Royal Niger Company—to secure trading monopolies on the goods (and labor) that juiced the Industrial Revolution led to the wholesale usurpation of Indigenous African trade networks and traders. These British trading companies played on the British government’s fear of competition from other colonial empires in the region, including France, Germany, and Belgium, to convince it to eventually consolidate its power militarily over wide swaths and subdivisions of land north and south of the Niger valley. To that end, at the root of British colonialism of the Niger valley areas was the use of royal charters by trading companies who sought the official stamp of approval from the British government to make “treaties” with African chiefs for land, and to set up shop for trade. Siollun spends much time detailing the exploits of George Goldie and his Royal Niger Company, who he claims was the single most important and influential Briton when it comes to the colonization of Niger Valley and eventual creation of “Nigeria.” Siollun’s research on Goldie and the Royal Niger Company definitively shows that British colonialism was a violent, terroristic, and treacherous manifestation of white supremacist capitalism and imperialism in West Africa.
Ultimately, “What Britain Did to Nigeria” provides a step-by-step account of how the British Empire systematically dismantled the societies they found in the Niger Valley, eventually created “Nigeria” out of the colonies of Northern Nigeria Protectorate and Southern Nigeria Protectorate (mostly for purposes of administrative and financial convenience), and went on to administer this amalgamation in innovative but highly inhumane ways. In telling this story, Siollun made sure to give sufficient attention to the persistent, unceasing forms of resistance (especially by the Igbo peoples of the south-east), and also consistently discussed how British colonial governance paved the way for the continued dysfunction and ethno-religious violence that Nigeria has experienced since independence. The book details the activities and motivations of individual British colonial traders and administrators, governors, missionaries, African proxy-rulers who propped up Britain’s famed “indirect rule” system, and the various courageous Africans who resisted. All-in-all, this is an excellent historical account of how and why Nigeria was created.
Siollun introduces the British empire by detailing its gigantic role in expanding the trans-Atlantic slave trade along the Niger Valley coast—an area that became known as the “slave coast.” In retelling this horrible history, Siollun made sure to explore and connect how the trans-Atlantic slave trade (as well as other trade relations and British exploration more generally) paved the way for total British domination of the region by the 20th Century. I was fascinated by Siollun’s explanation for how slave raiding encouraged and directed by the British served as an early precursor to colonialism by stifling inter-African travel and unity, causing different groups of West Africans to fear one another. Britain took advantage of the fear, mistrust, and disunity that the slave trade imbued when it came down to conquering the lands.
As the book makes clear, British colonialism in the Niger Valley was at first spurred by the economic interests of private British traders and trading companies. The desire for these trading companies—such as George Goldie’s Royal Niger Company—to secure trading monopolies on the goods (and labor) that juiced the Industrial Revolution led to the wholesale usurpation of Indigenous African trade networks and traders. These British trading companies played on the British government’s fear of competition from other colonial empires in the region, including France, Germany, and Belgium, to convince it to eventually consolidate its power militarily over wide swaths and subdivisions of land north and south of the Niger valley. To that end, at the root of British colonialism of the Niger valley areas was the use of royal charters by trading companies who sought the official stamp of approval from the British government to make “treaties” with African chiefs for land, and to set up shop for trade. Siollun spends much time detailing the exploits of George Goldie and his Royal Niger Company, who he claims was the single most important and influential Briton when it comes to the colonization of Niger Valley and eventual creation of “Nigeria.” Siollun’s research on Goldie and the Royal Niger Company definitively shows that British colonialism was a violent, terroristic, and treacherous manifestation of white supremacist capitalism and imperialism in West Africa.
Ultimately, “What Britain Did to Nigeria” provides a step-by-step account of how the British Empire systematically dismantled the societies they found in the Niger Valley, eventually created “Nigeria” out of the colonies of Northern Nigeria Protectorate and Southern Nigeria Protectorate (mostly for purposes of administrative and financial convenience), and went on to administer this amalgamation in innovative but highly inhumane ways. In telling this story, Siollun made sure to give sufficient attention to the persistent, unceasing forms of resistance (especially by the Igbo peoples of the south-east), and also consistently discussed how British colonial governance paved the way for the continued dysfunction and ethno-religious violence that Nigeria has experienced since independence. The book details the activities and motivations of individual British colonial traders and administrators, governors, missionaries, African proxy-rulers who propped up Britain’s famed “indirect rule” system, and the various courageous Africans who resisted. All-in-all, this is an excellent historical account of how and why Nigeria was created.
February 24, 2023
This book will forever sit on my shelf of 'star books'
Detailing the influence of the British on pre-colonial and post-colonial Nigerian era, it is a rich blend of history and today's Nigeria which helps to understand the making and structure of the country right to this present moment. The politics of Nigeria can be traced back to the time of the occupation of the British empire.
It is interesting to note that the intentions of the white man in Africa was majorly for himself and not the Blackman. So many buried or layered atrocities and patriarchal dominance of the British over Nigeria.
I felt a myriad of emotions reading this book. At some point, I felt something bordering on anger and have had to put down the book to reflect on what I read. A lot of what the book says are evident in present day Nigeria. We were all just blind to see it. This book opens the eye to these structures and practices. One of which is of particular interest and wonder to me before reading the book is the high rate of northerners in the Nigeria army.
This is a book of rich history for every Nigerian or anyone interested in the history of Nigeria.
Seems this is becoming a yearly read for me. Second read.
Detailing the influence of the British on pre-colonial and post-colonial Nigerian era, it is a rich blend of history and today's Nigeria which helps to understand the making and structure of the country right to this present moment. The politics of Nigeria can be traced back to the time of the occupation of the British empire.
It is interesting to note that the intentions of the white man in Africa was majorly for himself and not the Blackman. So many buried or layered atrocities and patriarchal dominance of the British over Nigeria.
I felt a myriad of emotions reading this book. At some point, I felt something bordering on anger and have had to put down the book to reflect on what I read. A lot of what the book says are evident in present day Nigeria. We were all just blind to see it. This book opens the eye to these structures and practices. One of which is of particular interest and wonder to me before reading the book is the high rate of northerners in the Nigeria army.
This is a book of rich history for every Nigerian or anyone interested in the history of Nigeria.
Seems this is becoming a yearly read for me. Second read.
August 2, 2021
Britain's inglorious history in West Africa is best known through the history of the trade in enslaved people. Siollun picks up the story in the period after 1808, the date of abolition. As he explains, dependence on brutality exploited human labour was in the process of being reduced by the early years of the new century owing to the advent of machinery. But the machine age had its own needs for commodities, a high proportion of which could be supplied by goods originating in the Niger River region. Palm oil, for lubricant and soap, was the first of these, followed in later years by rubber.
Up until this time British penetration of West Africa was limited to the coastal regions, where ships could be anchored whilst the traded goods were brought in from the interior and loaded aboard. The appalling mortality rate for Europeans virtually prohibited journeys beyond this point for all but the most adventurous, or reckless. In time the situation improved as medicine began to provide more protection from local diseases - in particular quinine and its role in reducing the symptoms of malaria. Nevertheless, it was still only a particular type of European - a 'palm oil ruffian' - who dared to venture far inland.
For a long period trade was established through African 'middle men' - entrepreneurs already involved in trade and familiar with the politics of the states of the regions. Among the Kanem-Borno, the Sokoto Caliphate, and the Oyo and Benin kingdoms held precedence. To the south east diverse ethnic groups which ultimately became fused under the name 'Igbo' had evolved a decentralised society which in most cases did not recognise any authority higher than the town or village. But the principles of trade were well established and had run their West African course for many centuries before the arrival of the Europeans.
Though trade through local middle men had sufficed to generate healthy profits for companies based in the UK pressure began to build up as a consequence of the expansion of French presence as it expanded eastwards from its base on the western coast. African palm oil producers potentially had alternative buyers for their goods, producing the possibility of higher prices. Siollun brings to our attention George Goldie at this point, from a Manx family that had interests in West Africa that dated from the slave trade in the late eighteenth century. Goldie was presented with an opportunity to leave behind his scandal-ridden life in the UK in 1876 when he became a director in the African Trading Company, which, just three years later, bought out its principal rivals in the African trade and formed the United African Company.
Goldie's business plan was to build a monopoly for itself out of all trade in the 'oil rivers' region by entering into treaties with African chiefs which gave his company exclusive rights to purchase their produce. He worked hard to obscure the record of what actually went on to secure these so-called agreements, but Siollun has good grounds for claiming that extortion, terror and fraud were bound up in the business. The contribution of the man most closely associated with the history of Britain in what came to be called Nigeria, Frederick Lugard, is recounted at this point. In the 1890s Lugard was employed by the Royal Niger Company, as Goldie's firm was now called, to secure treaties with chief in the northern region where the border between Benin and Nigeria now runs. Reports were circulating as to how agents of the company seized children and held them as hostages as one means to extort signatories to treaties; in other cases signing being concluded with an 'X', on behalf of the chief, many of which came to be contested in the following period.
As an example of how this change to trading relationships impacted on African society, Siollun provides a chapter telling the story of the Jaja of Opobo, a kingdom on south-east of what is now Nigeria. In his role as a businessman, the Jaja employed several thousand people and ran a state that provided school education and maintained a naval force that patrolled the rivers of the kingdom. Trade in palm oil has to be funnelled through him, which the British saw as raising the price of the commodity they were seeking to buy. A cartel was formed which refused to buy palm oil at any price other than the one they were prepared to pay. The Jaja made arrangements to get round this boycott by shipping the goods directly to buyers in the UK himself.
The obstacle he presented to British interests was overcome through the unilateral declaration of a protectorate over the region where Opobo was located. The authority to do this had been provided by the 1884 Berlin Conference on West Africa and did not require of the consent of the indigenes. The British traders used this as an opportunity to lobby for the removal of the Jaja in order that the way could be cleared for them to trade directly with farmers. The story of his treatment as the hands of the upstart temporary British consul, Harry Johnston, who manufactured grounds for the Jaja's arrest, trial and deportation to St Vincent in the Caribbean, ought to be one of the better known stories of imperial infamy from this period.
Siollun continues to set out the story of how the political authority of the British expanded through wars and invasions, with details of the destruction of the Kingdom of Benin and the theft of the famous bronzes and ivory carvings and the longer acts of attrition directs against the Aro people in the south east. Resistance was constant, waged by guerrilla fighters and also the coordinated mass actions of women who worked to 'shame' the British and their local allies because of the depravities they were perpetrating. Gradually their fightback was defeated. What it seems to have achieved was the displacement of the companies from their central role as quasi-state authorities and its consolidation into a colonial structure that forced the diverse people and cultures of the region of a monolithic authority which, in 1914, was given the name 'Nigeria'.
Siollun aims for a tone which is dispassionate and objective but, given the story he has to tell, cannot but convey the reality of the violence, greed, selfishness and racism which were the hallmarks of British rule prior to the country's independence in 1960. A second volume of 'What Britain Did' is clearly called for, dealing with the period after independence and tracing the connections between the forms of colonial rule and the system of government corruption that has been such a big part of Nigeria's history today. I would be at the head of the queue to read it.
Up until this time British penetration of West Africa was limited to the coastal regions, where ships could be anchored whilst the traded goods were brought in from the interior and loaded aboard. The appalling mortality rate for Europeans virtually prohibited journeys beyond this point for all but the most adventurous, or reckless. In time the situation improved as medicine began to provide more protection from local diseases - in particular quinine and its role in reducing the symptoms of malaria. Nevertheless, it was still only a particular type of European - a 'palm oil ruffian' - who dared to venture far inland.
For a long period trade was established through African 'middle men' - entrepreneurs already involved in trade and familiar with the politics of the states of the regions. Among the Kanem-Borno, the Sokoto Caliphate, and the Oyo and Benin kingdoms held precedence. To the south east diverse ethnic groups which ultimately became fused under the name 'Igbo' had evolved a decentralised society which in most cases did not recognise any authority higher than the town or village. But the principles of trade were well established and had run their West African course for many centuries before the arrival of the Europeans.
Though trade through local middle men had sufficed to generate healthy profits for companies based in the UK pressure began to build up as a consequence of the expansion of French presence as it expanded eastwards from its base on the western coast. African palm oil producers potentially had alternative buyers for their goods, producing the possibility of higher prices. Siollun brings to our attention George Goldie at this point, from a Manx family that had interests in West Africa that dated from the slave trade in the late eighteenth century. Goldie was presented with an opportunity to leave behind his scandal-ridden life in the UK in 1876 when he became a director in the African Trading Company, which, just three years later, bought out its principal rivals in the African trade and formed the United African Company.
Goldie's business plan was to build a monopoly for itself out of all trade in the 'oil rivers' region by entering into treaties with African chiefs which gave his company exclusive rights to purchase their produce. He worked hard to obscure the record of what actually went on to secure these so-called agreements, but Siollun has good grounds for claiming that extortion, terror and fraud were bound up in the business. The contribution of the man most closely associated with the history of Britain in what came to be called Nigeria, Frederick Lugard, is recounted at this point. In the 1890s Lugard was employed by the Royal Niger Company, as Goldie's firm was now called, to secure treaties with chief in the northern region where the border between Benin and Nigeria now runs. Reports were circulating as to how agents of the company seized children and held them as hostages as one means to extort signatories to treaties; in other cases signing being concluded with an 'X', on behalf of the chief, many of which came to be contested in the following period.
As an example of how this change to trading relationships impacted on African society, Siollun provides a chapter telling the story of the Jaja of Opobo, a kingdom on south-east of what is now Nigeria. In his role as a businessman, the Jaja employed several thousand people and ran a state that provided school education and maintained a naval force that patrolled the rivers of the kingdom. Trade in palm oil has to be funnelled through him, which the British saw as raising the price of the commodity they were seeking to buy. A cartel was formed which refused to buy palm oil at any price other than the one they were prepared to pay. The Jaja made arrangements to get round this boycott by shipping the goods directly to buyers in the UK himself.
The obstacle he presented to British interests was overcome through the unilateral declaration of a protectorate over the region where Opobo was located. The authority to do this had been provided by the 1884 Berlin Conference on West Africa and did not require of the consent of the indigenes. The British traders used this as an opportunity to lobby for the removal of the Jaja in order that the way could be cleared for them to trade directly with farmers. The story of his treatment as the hands of the upstart temporary British consul, Harry Johnston, who manufactured grounds for the Jaja's arrest, trial and deportation to St Vincent in the Caribbean, ought to be one of the better known stories of imperial infamy from this period.
Siollun continues to set out the story of how the political authority of the British expanded through wars and invasions, with details of the destruction of the Kingdom of Benin and the theft of the famous bronzes and ivory carvings and the longer acts of attrition directs against the Aro people in the south east. Resistance was constant, waged by guerrilla fighters and also the coordinated mass actions of women who worked to 'shame' the British and their local allies because of the depravities they were perpetrating. Gradually their fightback was defeated. What it seems to have achieved was the displacement of the companies from their central role as quasi-state authorities and its consolidation into a colonial structure that forced the diverse people and cultures of the region of a monolithic authority which, in 1914, was given the name 'Nigeria'.
Siollun aims for a tone which is dispassionate and objective but, given the story he has to tell, cannot but convey the reality of the violence, greed, selfishness and racism which were the hallmarks of British rule prior to the country's independence in 1960. A second volume of 'What Britain Did' is clearly called for, dealing with the period after independence and tracing the connections between the forms of colonial rule and the system of government corruption that has been such a big part of Nigeria's history today. I would be at the head of the queue to read it.
December 17, 2023
Nigeria would be a better place if every African living there read this book…
October 27, 2022
Solid book, the part on conquest is a lot more comprehensive and interesting than the part on rule, where some economics & a better picture of what life was like for the average Nigerian would have been better. If this was as detailed as 'How Europe Underdeveloped Africa' then this book could've been a real classic, but a lot of it is very focused on discrete incidents of violence & not broader structural / state violence. The section on forced labour for example doesn't really go into as much detail as sections on specific British officers being cruel. Max sometimes adopts a little bit of a paternalistic attitude towards modern day Nigerians but he also clearly has a great deal of respect for the historical legacy of resistance to colonialism. As a Yoruba man I wish there was more on us but we get enough of the limelight tbh. Also shout out to the Igbo, them man were fighting.
July 26, 2022
The most insightful book about the history of Nigeria I have read so far. Very detailed and well-researched.
This book needs to be read in school. I also feel every adult Nigerian needs to unlearn what we've been taught about our history and relearn it with a new lens.
Max Siollun's What Britain Did to Nigeria is an excellent place to start.
This book needs to be read in school. I also feel every adult Nigerian needs to unlearn what we've been taught about our history and relearn it with a new lens.
Max Siollun's What Britain Did to Nigeria is an excellent place to start.
October 4, 2021
A rare historical account of the British experience in Nigeria post 1808 to independence. Siollun gives a detailed historical overview focusing on the (sometimes brutal) interaction between Nigerian societies and the British trader, soldier, missionary and administrator. Packed with insights and more often viewed through the perspectives of the Nigerian this is an excellent and undervalued account. A few typos and editing issues to be overlooked but well worth the effort.
January 15, 2023
This book first came to my attention when I noticed it on the desk of Major General AK ibrahim, force commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force. He graciously lent me his copy, which I have just finished. I have read many books about Nigeria, and this What Britain did to Nigeria is one of the best. I had not read Max Siollun until this week. History books about Africa's most populous country are more often than not written by non-Nigerians. It was both refreshing and eye-opening to read a book penned by a Nigerian on the subject of the former colonial power. Siollun is balanced and fair; perhaps even too balanced and fair, as he goes to great lengths to give the British the benefit of the doubt when recounting some truly horrific episodes of Nigeria's not-too-distant past. Would Nigeria exist had the British not stitched together several protectorates for financial reasons? Probably not. Would the area that constitutes present day Nigeria have been colonised had the British not decided to do so? Almost certainly.
As a South African resident, I plainly see elements of policies that were apartheid in all but name. Although the Afrikaners invented the term, it existed in South Africa as well under the British. Most interestingly, current administrations in both Nigeria and South Africa continue to profit from some of the more onerous elements of British rule, notably that of posts created for government appointed African leaders to do the bidding/dirty work of their masters.
This book should be required reading in Nigerian schools. Well done Max Siollun.
As a South African resident, I plainly see elements of policies that were apartheid in all but name. Although the Afrikaners invented the term, it existed in South Africa as well under the British. Most interestingly, current administrations in both Nigeria and South Africa continue to profit from some of the more onerous elements of British rule, notably that of posts created for government appointed African leaders to do the bidding/dirty work of their masters.
This book should be required reading in Nigerian schools. Well done Max Siollun.
August 1, 2021
I am so glad I stumbled upon this book because it is a must read if you have any interest in the history of Nigeria. It is both gripping and very readable. In many places, what it reveals is also truly shocking. Max Siollun's grasp of military history makes his descriptions of the military encounters between the British led forces and the communities of Northern and Southern Nigeria unique and particularly interesting. His anecdotes about the behaviour and bungling of some of the key figures behind the formation of Nigeria (including Lugard and Goldie) show that almost no British colonialists left a heritage to be proud of. I really could not put this book down and read it over two days.
November 20, 2024
A really good book. Showed a lot of how colonialism happened in Nigeria and explains why the country is the way it is. The ripple effects of colonialism still being felt heavily. I was really upset to find that the amalgamation that is so celebrated was to resolve an accounting issue and to find that Lord Lugard was actually a murderer. Being taught History where he was celebrated made me sick.
Max is a phenomenal historian. His books are a must read for any Nigerian who wants to understand our history truly
Max is a phenomenal historian. His books are a must read for any Nigerian who wants to understand our history truly
February 16, 2025
Gave me a new perspective into how Nigeria the country came to be. I could also link some current behaviours of the Nigerian society to influences of colonialism. One thing I've picked up is that culture evolved. Colonialism erased a lot of our culture and what we have now our reactions to that either from survival or through assimilation of the colonialists behaviours. This Should be a compulsory read of senior secondary school students. I believe this will open up conversations about where Nigeria is heading to and how we can do things our way and not the inherited way
June 29, 2024
I had hoped for a more rigorous attempt to tie together the historical building blocks of contemporary Nigeria with the current structural challenges of this arguably ungovernable country. The history part is well-written, detailed, and informative. I learned a great deal. And clearly the Nigerian chapter in the history of Great Britain is not so great. Still, the author has another book in front him to complete the story and mark an important contribution to our understanding of Nigeria.
January 28, 2022
This book unravels the mystery surrounding many contradictions we witness in present day Nigeria.
In this balanced, well researched book, Max chronicles the colonial and precolonial influences that contributed to making Nigeria what it is today.
Anyone interested in understanding Nigeria should read this classic!
In this balanced, well researched book, Max chronicles the colonial and precolonial influences that contributed to making Nigeria what it is today.
Anyone interested in understanding Nigeria should read this classic!
November 15, 2024
A beautiful book that deals with the modern history of Nigeria, the stage of British colonialism and the formation of what is now known as Nigeria. What distinguishes this book is that the writer is a Nigerian from the region and is more worthy of writing about it. I think I will read his other books.
April 3, 2025
The title should really have set my expectations. I struggle to think of an instance where Britain invading another nation or peoples turns out well, and this book confirms, nothing good comes of the brits being in Africa. You might not think it’s bad, but read this and king leopolds ghost and it’s just a really thorough picture of how cruel the western powers are when they go anywhere.
January 10, 2022
By far the least interesting book written by Max but contains in no limited amount the less written about resistance of the Niger Delta and South-east regions to colonial rule, I must commend him for that.
May 7, 2025
Brilliant book. I didn't realise how much of the history lessons I was taught in Nigeria was from the British perspective. This book gives a more balanced version and I've learned a lot more about the history, but also have a better understanding of the present.
July 7, 2021
A desperately tragic (true) tale of misguided thoughts of superiority and blatant greed. Brilliantly and meticulously researched. A must read. I'm sorry Nigeria.
October 17, 2021
It’s a simple and well detailed history on British conquest of Nigeria and the aftermath. I loved every bit of it.
May 29, 2023
The content of the book is rich.
July 11, 2023
One of the best historical writings on Nigeria and west Africa dated right from antiquity and now...
August 16, 2023
Well worth the read. Explains so many things about modern day Nigeria, including why so many Northerners were encouraged to join the army.
October 28, 2024
It is difficult - almost impossible - to fall in love with Nigeria after reading this book.
November 17, 2024
Fantastic book, integral for anyone wanting to know about the scramble for Africa as it affected Nigeria
February 12, 2025
nice book
August 1, 2025
Fantastic novel on the complex factions of Nigerian colonization. Accessible writing and easy-to-follow facts. Absolutely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews