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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Nigeria
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Member of the *Commonwealth since 1960 and a republic since 1963. This region on the west coast of Africa was a highly developed part of the continent, with early civilizations such as the *Benin and the *Hausa, but it was also the area from which Europeans exported slaves. During the 19C Britain attempted to end the *slave trade and to develop a local economy based mainly on palm oil. Increasing British involvement and a succession of local treaties led to the establishment of Nigeria in 1914 as a single unified colony. It became independent in 1960 but tribal frictions caused the Ibo, in the southeast, to attempt secession as the separate state of *Biafra. They were defeated in the ensuing civil war (1967–70).
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