The Creation of Modern Nigeria in 1914

In January 1914, Britain merged two separate colonial territories in West Africa to form the modern state of Nigeria. It was called the Amalgamation of Nigeria. We hear rare archive recordings of witnesses to this defining period in Nigerian history, including the British colonial officer responsible for unification, Lord Frederick Lugard and the Nigerian nationalist, Ernest Ikoli.

Photo: Amalgamation Day, Lagos, 1 January 1914