State Formation In Nigeria | Africahustle
The formation of states in the developement of man has never been the result of mere chances or accidents. In history, state formation has been known to be based on the presence of certain factors. These factors are always relevant to the availability of man basic needs which are food shelt and clothing. In ealy times wherever factors that provided these basic necessities were present they encourage human convergence thus encouraging state formations as will be seen below.
The factors that encouraged state formation during the ealy period in nigeria include the followings.
Economic factor: this factor has the most direct link with the basic needa of man. It includes good climate, good vegetation for agriculture, availability of water and opportunity for trading activities.
Economic factor will first and foremost assure man of his food and clothing. During the early period therefore, whenever economic factor was favourable the it attracted human migration and settlement which, most times subsequently developed to state formation.
Security: this another important factor as it affects the physical safety of man. After food and shelter man wants to remain alive. During the early period, he was faced with very many enemies eg wild animals, sprits and his fellow men man did not just settle anywere his security was important ot him.
That was why many early settlements were either on mountains , on hill tops inside velleys or inside caves werever these geographical features were available, men usually converged there for security reasons.
Religious Factor: Before the arrival of islam or Christianity early nigerspritual their traditional religion. Their differences notwithstanding, the one community to the other. Common functions which included the spritual protection of the worship from their enemies as well as mankind available all thing that would make life comfortable eg sufficient rain and sunshine successfuo farming etc.
These traditional spirits were believed to be found in some specific places like mountain tops, valleys etc. It was not unusual therefore ot find mans early settlements on mountain tops, valleys and caves. As a result of the factors mentioned, many early states were formed in nigeria e.g the hausa states, the Benin Kingdom the old oyo Empire, the nupe Kingdom, the Kanem-Borno Empire etc.
