Nigerian Heritage – SS1 Citizenship & Heritage Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Heritage is everything handed down from past generations that a people value and protect, such as language, customs, buildings and art.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Explain what heritage is and name its two main parts.
2. Give examples of Nigerian cultural heritage, such as language, dress and festivals.
3. Identify examples of Nigerian monuments, historical sites and artefacts.
4. State reasons why we should protect our heritage.
5. List ways in which students can help to preserve our heritage.

What is Nigerian heritage?

Nigerian heritage is the culture, history and objects that Nigerians inherit from their ancestors and pass on to the next generation.

• Cultural heritage: the living things we do, such as language, dress and festivals.
• Historical heritage: the physical things we can touch or visit, such as monuments, sites and artefacts.
• Why it matters: heritage tells the story of who we are and where we come from.

What is cultural heritage?

Cultural heritage is the living heritage of a people: the way they speak, dress, celebrate and behave.

Language

• Languages: Nigeria has over 500 languages, including Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Edo and Tiv.
• Wisdom: each language carries the knowledge and values of our ancestors.
• Proverbs and folk stories: these are part of our language heritage and teach morals.

Dress (attire)

• Agbada and Baban Riga: flowing robes that show dignity.
• Isi-Agu: an Igbo top with a lion-head design that represents strength.
• Iro and Buba: a Yoruba wrapper and blouse that show grace, like the George wrapper.
• Gele: tying a headgear is a skill passed down through generations.

Festivals

• Durbar: a display of horses and royalty in Kano and other northern emirates.
• New Yam Festival: celebrates the harvest in the East.
• Eyo Festival: a masquerade festival in Lagos.
• Argungu Fishing Festival: a fishing contest in Kebbi State.
• Osun-Osogbo Festival: a yearly festival at the sacred grove in Osun State.

Other cultural heritage

• Traditional food: amala and ewedu among the Yoruba, tuwo shinkafa among the Hausa, and pounded yam with egusi soup.
• Music and dance: Bata among the Yoruba and Atilogwu among the Igbo.
• Values: respect for elders and traditional leaders.

What is historical heritage?

Historical heritage is the physical heritage, such as monuments, sites and artefacts, that has survived for hundreds of years.

• Monument: a building or structure built to remember a person, event or period.
• Historical site: a place that is important because of past events or ancient remains.
• Artefact: an object made by people in the past, such as a sculpture or tool.

What are examples of Nigerian monuments and buildings?

• The Walls of Benin: once one of the largest man-made structures in the world.
• The Gobarau Minaret (Katsina): an ancient tower built over 600 years ago.
• The First Storey Building (Badagry): where the Bible was first translated into Yoruba.

What are examples of Nigerian historical sites?

• Sukur Cultural Landscape: a UNESCO World Heritage site in Adamawa State with ancient stone architecture.
• Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove: a forest in Osun State filled with ancient sculptures and shrines.
• Olumo Rock: a rock in Abeokuta, Ogun State, used as a place of refuge in the past.

What are examples of Nigerian artefacts?

• Nok terracotta: ancient clay heads found in Kaduna State, dating back to about 500 BC.
• Benin Bronzes: brass and bronze castings from the old Benin Kingdom. Some have been returned from museums in Europe.
• Ife bronze heads: realistic life-sized heads linked to the ancient Oonis of Ife.

What is the difference between cultural and historical heritage?

Cultural heritage is what a people practise today, while historical heritage is what survives physically from the past.

Why should we protect our heritage?

We protect our heritage because it gives us identity, brings income and teaches us lessons from the past.

1. Identity: our heritage makes us Nigerians and sets us apart from other peoples.
2. Tourism: visitors come to see our festivals and monuments, and this brings money to communities.
3. Education: we learn about science, architecture and morals from how our ancestors built and lived.
4. Unity and pride: shared heritage helps different groups respect one another and feel proud.
5. Future generations: children after us have a right to inherit what we received.

What are the threats to our heritage?

Heritage is lost through neglect, theft, damage and the loss of our own customs.

• Neglect: old buildings and sites fall apart when no one maintains them.
• Looting and theft: artefacts are stolen and sold abroad.
• Foreign influence: young people may drop their mother tongue and dress.
• Development: roads and buildings may destroy old sites.
• Conflict and fire: war and accidents can destroy monuments and objects.

How can we preserve our heritage?

We preserve heritage by practising it, protecting it and teaching it to others.

• Speak your mother tongue: learn to speak it fluently.
• Show respect: honour elders and traditional leaders.
• Visit museums and sites: this supports their upkeep and helps you learn.
• Tell the stories: share the stories of your village with friends.
• Take part: join in festivals and wear traditional dress with pride.
• Do not damage: never write on, break or remove parts of monuments and sites.
• Support agencies: the National Commission for Museums and Monuments looks after museums and monuments in Nigeria.

Evaluation

1. What is heritage?
2. Name the two main parts of Nigerian heritage and give one example of each.
3. Name three artefacts described in this lesson and say where each one comes from.
4. State three reasons why we should protect our heritage.
5. Discussion: If a foreign tourist came to your village or town today, what is the first historical site or festival you would show them? Why?

Assignment

Heritage report: Write a short report on one heritage item from your hometown, and bring a small item from home that represents it.

1. Find out the name of the traditional festival celebrated in your hometown and the time of year it happens.
2. Bring a small item that represents your heritage, such as a piece of cloth, a bead or a traditional recipe.
3. Say in two sentences why this item or festival should be protected.