Toyin Falola is the Frances Higginbotham Nalle Centennial Professor in History at the University of Texas, Austin. His books include The Power of African Cultures (2003), Economic Reforms and Modernization in Nigeria, 1945–1965 (2004) and A Mouth Sweeter than Salt: An African Memoir (2004). Matthew M. Heaton is a Patrice Lumumba Fellow at the University of Texas, Austin. He has co-edited multiple volumes on health and illness in Africa with Toyin Falola, including HIV, Illness and African Well-Being and Health Knowledge and Belief Systems in Africa (2007).

'This book by Falola and Heaton, two experienced and now famed collaborators, is a remarkable new addition to the growing library on a general history of Nigeria. Profiting from the weaknesses and strengths of its predecessors, it treats not only Nigerian politics, administration and economy but focuses also on culture and social history especially on art, music, literature and drama. Its social-scientistic treatment of the key issues across ethnic and regional boundaries gives it a refreshing new flavour. It will surely meet most of the needs of those within the academy and outside it who want to get a less slippery grip on the box of puzzles and bafflements known as Nigerian politics and affairs.' Professor A. E. Afigbo, Nigerian National Order of Merit, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki

• Introduction; 1. Early states and societies, 9,000 BCE–1500 CE; 2. Slavery, state and society, c.1500–c. 1800; 3. Political and economic transformations in the nineteenth century; 4. Transition to British colonial rule, 1850–1903; 5. Colonial society to 1929; 6. Nationalist movements and independence, 1929–60; 7. Instability and civil war, 1960–70; 8. Oil, state, and society, 1970–83; 9. Civil society and democratic transition, 1984–2007; 10. Nigeria and Nigerians in world history; Concluding remarks: Corruption, anti-corruption, and the 2007 elections.

Toyin Falola is the Frances Higginbotham Nalle Centennial Professor in History at the University of Texas, Austin. His books include The Power of African Cultures (2003), Economic Reforms and Modernization in Nigeria, 1945–1965 (2004) and A Mouth Sweeter than Salt: An African Memoir (2004). Matthew M. Heaton is a Patrice Lumumba Fellow at the University of Texas, Austin. He has co-edited multiple volumes on health and illness in Africa with Toyin Falola, including HIV, Illness and African Well-Being and Health Knowledge and Belief Systems in Africa (2007).

'This book by Falola and Heaton, two experienced and now famed collaborators, is a remarkable new addition to the growing library on a general history of Nigeria. Profiting from the weaknesses and strengths of its predecessors, it treats not only Nigerian politics, administration and economy but focuses also on culture and social history especially on art, music, literature and drama. Its social-scientistic treatment of the key issues across ethnic and regional boundaries gives it a refreshing new flavour. It will surely meet most of the needs of those within the academy and outside it who want to get a less slippery grip on the box of puzzles and bafflements known as Nigerian politics and affairs.' Professor A. E. Afigbo, Nigerian National Order of Merit, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki

• Introduction; 1. Early states and societies, 9,000 BCE–1500 CE; 2. Slavery, state and society, c.1500–c. 1800; 3. Political and economic transformations in the nineteenth century; 4. Transition to British colonial rule, 1850–1903; 5. Colonial society to 1929; 6. Nationalist movements and independence, 1929–60; 7. Instability and civil war, 1960–70; 8. Oil, state, and society, 1970–83; 9. Civil society and democratic transition, 1984–2007; 10. Nigeria and Nigerians in world history; Concluding remarks: Corruption, anti-corruption, and the 2007 elections.

Toyin Falola is the Frances Higginbotham Nalle Centennial Professor in History at the University of Texas, Austin. His books include The Power of African Cultures (2003), Economic Reforms and Modernization in Nigeria, 1945–1965 (2004) and A Mouth Sweeter than Salt: An African Memoir (2004). Matthew M. Heaton is a Patrice Lumumba Fellow at the University of Texas, Austin. He has co-edited multiple volumes on health and illness in Africa with Toyin Falola, including HIV, Illness and African Well-Being and Health Knowledge and Belief Systems in Africa (2007).

'This book by Falola and Heaton, two experienced and now famed collaborators, is a remarkable new addition to the growing library on a general history of Nigeria. Profiting from the weaknesses and strengths of its predecessors, it treats not only Nigerian politics, administration and economy but focuses also on culture and social history especially on art, music, literature and drama. Its social-scientistic treatment of the key issues across ethnic and regional boundaries gives it a refreshing new flavour. It will surely meet most of the needs of those within the academy and outside it who want to get a less slippery grip on the box of puzzles and bafflements known as Nigerian politics and affairs.' Professor A. E. Afigbo, Nigerian National Order of Merit, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki

• Introduction; 1. Early states and societies, 9,000 BCE–1500 CE; 2. Slavery, state and society, c.1500–c. 1800; 3. Political and economic transformations in the nineteenth century; 4. Transition to British colonial rule, 1850–1903; 5. Colonial society to 1929; 6. Nationalist movements and independence, 1929–60; 7. Instability and civil war, 1960–70; 8. Oil, state, and society, 1970–83; 9. Civil society and democratic transition, 1984–2007; 10. Nigeria and Nigerians in world history; Concluding remarks: Corruption, anti-corruption, and the 2007 elections.