F O R M A T I O N: The Making of Nigeria

In this season finale of the Formation Podcast, Feyi and Fola discuss how much of an impact World War I had on the new colonial creation of Nigeria, Lugard's predecessors and replacements and how modern day Nigerians might learn something from how the cobbled together country was governed. 

So you've conquered Nigeria, now what? In this episode, Fola and Feyi talk about the first part of the final (and longest) chapter in Formation - Conquest & Discontent. Who were the British men tasked with governing the newly assembled country and what skillsets did they bring to the job, suitable or otherwise. 

They also answer a number of interesting questions from listeners about previous episodes. 

In this episode, Fola and Feyi discuss the second part of the ninth chapter of Formation. They talk about Lugard's time 'on ground' in Nigeria and how he managed to pull off the bluff to conquer Northern Nigeria. They also go into some more detail on the role that Flora's played in his career. 

Thanks to everyone who continues to listen in and to those who have pre-ordered Formation.

In this episode, Fola and Feyi discuss the first part of the ninth chapter of Formation. They talk about the early part of Lugard's life, the supporting characters who helped him achieve his aims in Nigeria, most importantly Flora Shaw, and the general atmosphere in which Lugard grew up. 

They also talked about how they went about doing the research on a larger than life character with plenty of source material to work with. 

Thanks to everyone who continues to listen in and to those who have pre-ordered Formation. 

In this episode, Fola and Feyi discuss the powerful and storied Nupe kingdom in the Niger heartland. They also take a detour to Ilorin and Akassa and bring it all together to show how they were all conquered by a London Stock Exchange listed company, Royal Niger Company. 

They also answer some very interesting questions from listeners about the Saro returnees and the history of pidgin English in Nigeria.

In this episode, Fola and Feyi discuss the implications of the Imperial Era in Benin and Igboland and the European foreign policy environment in which it happened. They also discuss the fascinating Aro regime which ruled over Igboland and the methods they used to achieve their dominance. 

They take some very thoughtful questions from listeners to previous episodes as well. 

In this episode, Fola and Feyi discuss the aftermath of the Clapham Sect Era and how it gave way to a more muscular and violent engagement with Europe. 

They also answer a number of questions from listeners about previous episodes of the podcast. 

In this episode, Fola and Feyi discuss the Mad Men and the Missionaries from Europe who entered pre-colonial Nigeria with their own ambitious agenda, altering the history of the future country in the process. The authors also introduce the idea of what they call the "Clapham Sect Era", as a distinct period of economic transformation in Nigeria's pre-colonial history, and talk about what lessons they think this era holds for modern Nigeria. 

In this episode, Fola and Feyi discuss war, diplomacy, economics, treachery, human suffering and redemption at a newly independent 19th century city-state in south west Nigeria, which came to be known as Abeokuta.