绿色低碳环保儿童画:nigerian

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ni.html

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ngtoc.html

The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country in Western Africa. The most populated country in Africa, Nigeria re-achieved democracy in 1999 after a sixteen-year interruption by a series of corrupt and brutal military dictators. From 1966 until 1999, Nigeria had been ruled (except the short-lived second republic, 1979-1983) by military dictators who seized (or attempted to seize) power in coups and counter-coups. Nigeria borders the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, Niger in the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the south. Major cities include the capital Abuja, the former capital Lagos, Ibadan, Calabar, Warri, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, Kaduna, Onitsha, Nnewi, Jos, Ilọrin, Maiduguri, Aba, Bauchi, Owerri, Sokoto, and Benin City.

The country's name first appeared in print in The Times in 1897 and was suggested by the paper's colonial editor Flora Shaw who would later marry Frederick Lugard, the first Govenor General of the Amalgamated Nigeria. The name comes from a combination of the words "Niger" (the country's longest river) and "Area". Its adjective form is Nigerian , which should not be confused with Nigerien for Niger.

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Nigeria has had a unique history. More than 2,000 years ago, the Nok people were producing sculptures. In Kano and Katsina, recorded history dates back to around AD 1000. Hausa kingdoms and the Kanem-Bornu Empire prospered as trade posts between North and West Africa. The Yoruba kingdoms of Ifẹ and Ọyọ were founded about AD 700-900 and AD 1400 respectively. The Ifẹ produced the terra cotta and bronze heads the Ọyọ extended as far as modern Togo. The Kingdom of Benin developed an efficient army and renowned artisans. The southeast produced the Onitsha, Nri, and Arochukwu kingdoms. The Nri kingdom reigned before slavery with Divine priests and powerful Ezenri. A prominent town they controlled was Igbo Ukwu which was home to Bronze figures and was a burial site for Kings. Niger Delta kingdoms also flourished, like the Calabar, Opobo, Bonny, Brass, Elem kalabari and others which were controlled by the Ijaw, Efik, Igbo, and Ibibio.

Beginning in the 17th century Europeans established ports for slave trafficking. In the early 19th century the Fulani leader Usman dan Fodio united most areas in the north under the control of an Islamic Fulani Empire centered in Sokoto.