Lord frederick lugard let us begin with the definition of the indirect rule system. Why indirect rule succeeded in northern nigeria below are some of the reasons why indirect rule succeeded in the north. Ghana under british indirect rule the african perspective expert the european perspective expert indirect rule to control colonies maximizing trade income british influenced what was trade making trade safer historian the initial aim of british rule was to build influence in. Indirect rule system in western eastern and northern nigeria. Indirect rule was a system of governance used by the british and french to control parts of their colonial empires, particularly in africa and asia, through preexisting indigenous power structures.
This system was introduced by frederick lugard considered as the father of indirect rule. British influence in the region began with the prohibition of slave trade to british subjects in 1807. Native laws, for example islamic, were maintained in northern nigeria, with the exception of those considered barbaric. Nigeria as a colony system subsequently institutionalized as indirect rule. The british in northern nigeria, which became the model for indirect rule, in the summary of the lecture in english it is official policy was that of association very put more explicitly. These dependencies were often called protectorates or trucial states. First, indirect rule by traditional and gerontocratic rulers has made it di.
Colonial nigeria was the era in the history of nigeria when the region of west africa was ruled by great britain in from the mid19th century to 1960. There was usually a governor or governorgeneral in the colonial capital who governed along. Contemplate the differences in the cultural values of the european and the colonized. Indirect rule was a system where colonial powers used traditional rulers chiefs as the local level of government, empowering them to tax, dispense law and maintain order. Answers 1 give the reasons why the british used indirect rule in northern nigeria. He assumed the position of high commissioner of the protectorate of northern nigeria in 1900. The african chiefs would work at little or no pay at all. International african institute middlebury college. The problems of colonial governance in this period are striking. What are the factors that led to the adoption of indirect. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Criticism of indirect rule system the indirect rule system was not accepted by most nigerians for many reasons. This paper identifies indirect colonial rule as an important.
Indirect rule and state weakness in africa scholars at harvard. Nigeria current affairs 2020 questions and answers pdf free. Indirect rule in tropical africa uq espace university of queensland. Despite the ostensible unification, the administrative individuality of the three separate regionsnorth, east, and westwas maintained. Preservation of the culture and religion of the people 5. So as to enable africans to adjust to colonization without losing their identity. In buganda, the powers of the lukiiko and other appointed chiefs were increased. Zimbabwe and indirectly ruled regions such as malawi and nigeria boone, 2003. Reasons for the success of indirect rule in northern. Scholars of british indirect rule generally regard its practice in the emirates of. The demise of indirect rule in the emirates of northern nigeria. Indirect rule was seen a solution to the problem of language barrier. In 1933, lord lugard described indirect rule and the role of education in it.
Indirect rule was a system of ruling africans that sought not to displace african authority, but instead to rule through it. Lord lugard considered islam as an inferior religion ukwandu, 2016. Indirect rule was a system of governance used by the british and french to control parts of their. Miss perhams great book, african affairs, volume xxxvi, issue cxliv. Indirect colonial rule and the political salience of. Main features or structure of british indirect rule. A 20th century yoruba nigerian depiction of a british district officer on tour of indirect rulers. Indirect rule, as developed in northern nigeria was a practical means of administering a huge territory, with only limited manpower and cash. With indirect rule there was a central government and a local administration oyebade 2003, 65. Despite this, there were numerous problems with indirect rule in both theory and in practice. Features of indirect rule westafrican colonial administration.
The indirect rule system was introduced to nigeria by lord frederick lugard, known as the father of indirect rule in nigeria. Indirect rule, also known as indirect control, can be defined as a system of administration used by the british colonial government to direct the affairs of nigeria, using existing local power structures and trade networks. Tradition, modernity, and the costuming of political power rochester studies in african history and the diaspora myers, j. The state that indirect rule created was weak in several well dened ways. Give the reasons why the british used indirect rule in. Lugard and indirect rule from the beginnings of colonization in nigeria, lord lugard put indirect rule in place oyebade 2003, 65. This policy of preserving the old social system until. Solved why did the british use indirect rule in northern nigeria. Joining inside story, with presenter hazem sika, to discuss this are guests. Indirect rule undermined the progress of unity between the rulers and the ruled where it was applied. History nigeria area, system, future, power, policy. Indirect rule fail mostly in the eastern part of nigeria,because of lack of centralised government asked in nigeria who is known as the father of indirect rule in nigeria. Reasons for indirect rule pacification and indirect rule in. Local emirs were rulers but real power stayed with the governor.
Britain annexed lagos in 1861 and established the oil river protectorate in 1884. First, there were more british officers in nigeria at this time to be recruited, and secondly, as james s. Indirect rule is largely considered a more humane alternative to its counterpart, direct rule, which placed colonial powers in charge of all aspects of african administration. Indirect rule is the system of government in which the traditional structures of the local people were employed in the administration of the british overseas territories in west africa. Indirect rule in northern nigeria because of the preeminent position of lugard in developing the theory and practice of indirect rule, there has been the tendency to argue that he introduced indirect rule in nigeria only in the north. Inside this nigeria current affairs 2020 questions and answers pdf are all the 2020 current affairs questions and answers for the nigerian history since 1960 arranged according to categories. Following the success of indirect rule in places like ghana and other african countries, the colonial master thought that it will be wise to use indirect rule in nigeria too. By this system, the daytoday government and administration of areas. More so, it is argued that another reason why the colonial masters used indirect rule in nigeria was because of the failure of direct rule in many countries. With the imposition of this indirect rule, the igbo people fought against the rule on behalf of other parts of nigeria in which nnamdi azikwe was the spoke person in chief. Features of indirect rule to do 2 min read recall that indirect rule is the system of government in which the traditional structures of the local people were employed in the administration of the british overseas territories in west africa. Indirect rule is when one country, lets say england, governs another country, let say nigeria, but the governed people in nigeria get to keep certain administration and legal powers.
After the british government assumed direct control of the royal niger companys territories, the northern areas were renamed the protectorate of northern nigeria, and the land in the niger delta and along the lower reaches of the river was added to the niger coast protectorate, which was renamed the protectorate of southern nigeria. Let us first of all free our minds from the current cant about parliamentary. You will be happy to get this and start getting prepared for your forthcoming examinations and interviews right away. Lugard, who also introduced indirect rule into northern nigeria, had decreed in his. What is indirect rule in terms of colonies, and the. Indirect rule in nigeria overview, reasons and results. Tony uranta, the executive secretary of the national summit group. The british appraoch was called indirect rule and was applied to all of nigeria including southeastern nigeria. So as to counterminimize african resistance to the british rule by using local leaders at lower levels. Indirect rule in nigeria definition, features, advantages.
What were the effects of indirect rule in kenya and nigeria. May 02, 2017 why did indirect rule fail in southern nigeria. The negative effects of indirect rule term paper warehouse. It is also argued that the british wanted to train africans and equip them with skills of leadership for eventual serf rule.
Why did the indirect rule work in northern nigeria and not in. Englands indirect rule in its african colonies aha. The fulani of northern nigeria are, as i have said, more capable of rule than the. The chief characteristic of british rule in nigeria was its system of local administration, known as indirect rule. The committee proposed that chiefs and their respective native institutions should be used in the administration of nigeria. The nature and operation of indirect rule in northern nigerian, amply confirm. The negative effects of indirect rule on africans indirect rule was a system of ruling africans that sought not to displace african authority, but instead to rule through it. The aim of the paper british indirect rule in ghana, kenya and s. Indirect rule in nigeria african affairs oxford academic. The capital was later moved to enugu and the second capital was umuahia. Indirect rule was a t ype of contract between the british colonial government and the traditional rulers of northern nigeria. It was first used by the british and later adopted by other european powers after they witnessed its success.
The british intention was purely to exploit colonies rather than invest in them through paying expensive administrators. Essentially, local government was to be left in the hands of the traditional chiefs, subject to the guidance of european officers. Impact of indirect rule in contrast to assimilation policies, great britain fol lowed a comparatively milder policy of indirect rule in its former colonies and territories. Although the years since nigerias return to civilian rule in 1999 have seen an increased interest in its history and politics, nigeria remains one of the most underresearched african countries. Africa is to examine one of the basic principles of the british rule in the colonies across the world anglophone colonialism as a way of indirect rule in african countries such as ghana, kenya.
Solved give the reasons for the failure of indirect rule in southern nigeria. The eastern region was an administrative region in nigeria, dating back originally from the division of the colony southern nigeria in 1954. The purpose of this article is to examine the contention that indirect rule. Indirect rule is a system of government used by the british and french to control parts of their colonial empires, particularly in africa and asia, through preexisting local power structures. Coleman puts it, educated nigerians were growing in number and were, by the 1920s, numerous enough to be indirect or direct agents of british rule coleman 141. The negative effects of indirect rule on africans essay. He had served in india, egypt, and east africa, where he expelled slave traders. Indirect rule has been prac close to lugards ideas. Indirect rule in nigeria, the gold coast in west africa, and kenya, uganda, tanganyika in east africa, for example, britain organized its colonies at the central, provincial, and regional or district levels. Ghana under british indirect rule by michelle lee on prezi. By an act of the british parliament, nigeria became an independent country within the commonwealth on october 1, 1960. Origins of indirect rule indirect rule emerged in nigeria around 1900 when the british government established the niger committee, a council that investigated the state of future nigerian territories.
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