Colonialism and Violence in Nigeria looks closely at the conditions
that created a legacy of violence in Nigeria. Toyin Falola examines
violence as a tool of domination and resistance, however unequally
applied, to get to the heart of why Nigeria has not built a successful
democracy. Falola's analysis centers on two phases of Nigerian history:
the last quarter of the 19th century, when linkages between violence and
domination were part of the British conquest; and the first half of the
20th century, which was characterized by violent rebellion and the
development of a national political consciousness. This important book
emphasizes the patterns that have been formed and focuses on how
violence and instability have influenced Nigeria today.