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The Nok culture of northern Nigeria flourished between 1000 BC and 500 AD producing life-sized terracotta figures which are some of the earliest known sculptures in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Tiv culture in the north central region of Nigeria dates to 6 BC. Some of the famous bronze terracotta sculpture heads from this culture have been shown around the world.
In the northern part of the country, Kano and Katsina have recorded history which dates back to around 999.
In southeastern Nigeria the Kingdom of Nri of the Igbo people flourished from around the 10th century until 1911 and the city of Nri is considered to be the foundation of Igbo culture.
In northeastern Nigeria, the Kanem Empire ruled from the 8th century to 1376 and was succeeded by the Bornu Empire, which was a powerful Islamic monarchy until it was defeated by the Fulani in the early 19th century.
The first Hausa kingdom was actually ruled by a queen, Amina, in the 11th century. Hausa kingdoms, based in what's now northern Nigeria, flourished from the 15th to 18th centuries, before eventually being defeated by the Fulani, who proclaimed the Sokoto Caliphate in 1809. The Sokoto Caliphate ruled for less than 100 years before being abolished by the British.
Climate
Varies; equatorial in the south, tropical in the centre, arid in the north. Natural hazards include periodic droughts and flooding. Tornadoes and hurricanes are rare because they typically are weak at this stage and travel west of the Atlantic.
Terrain
Southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in the southeast, plains in the north. The Niger river enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea. The highest point is Chappal Waddi at 2,419 m.
Must Visit
- Lagos: Bar Beach, Badagary Beach, Tarkwa bay Beach
- Lekki (suburb of Lagos): Lekki Forest Reserve - nice little fenced-off and interesting patch of tropical rainforest with wooden walkways located on the outskirts of the city on the Lekki Express Way, just before the second toll gate", as many people tend not to know about the existence of the place, so taxi will probably look at you with a "huh" expression even though he may drive past it daily, Lekki Beach, Eleko Beach
- Hiking and tourism on the Plateau
- Enugu: Hiking and traditional events, e.g. New yam and atiliogwu dancers
- Calabar: Harbour where you can get boat rides, a nice cinema, sit-out parks and slave monuments in the Marina Resort located in Calabar; also there is Tinapa (the Nollywood studios) a little drive outside the city.
- Obudu: Small town a few hours to the north from Calabar very close to the Cameroon border - rent a car from Calabar airport (comes with driver) and ask the driver to take you there via Tinapa. This is a cool mountain escape with a nice resort (Obudu Mountain Resort) on the mountain (the president also has a weekend home there). They have some forest walks, hiking, one of the longest cable cars in the world and very nice pristine swimming pools with fountains available.
- Imo: Igbo Ukwu Shrine, if you are interested in Nigerian art.
- The old walled cities of Kano, Katsina and Zaria.
- Oyo: Palace of Alaafin, traditional markets and Calabash carvers.
- Daura: the spiritual centre of the Hausa people.
- Machina: A town with its annual cultural festival which takes place in March featuring cultural events such as traditional wrestling and horse racing.
