The Foundations of Ethno-Religious Politics and Conflicts in Nigeria, 1914-1966: A Critical Review of Existing Literature

This paper examines the impact of ethno-religious dynamics on Nigeria’s social structure, political interactions, and national identity. Drawing on over 40 scholarly sources, spanning historical texts, political analyses, and sociological theories, this study traces the roots of Nigeria’s ethno-religious tensions from the colonial era to the present. It engages key works by scholars such as Afigbo (1972), Nnoli (1978), Ake (2000), and Falola and Heaton (2020), as well as speeches by Nigeria’s founding fathers. Using the historical method, the paper situates these challenges within the colonial experience, where British policies institutionalised ethnic and religious divisions. It argues that post-colonial leadership largely failed to address these divisions due to political self-interest. The review concludes that while ethnicity and religion hold potential for unity, they have more often been manipulated as instruments of division, particularly through “divide and rule” tactics. The study, thus, contributes to ongoing debates on national integration, identity politics, and conflict resolution by emphasising the need to confront historical legacies as a path toward democratic governance and sustainable development in Nigeria.