By Lawan Musa Danlami ( Baba Lawan)
August 2025
Nigerians must learn from history to avoid the repetition of tragic events and cycles of violence. Conflict produces nothing but the loss of lives, the destruction of property, and deep societal divisions. Historical precedent shows that many ethnic conflicts in Africa stem from political manipulation, economic competition, and colonial-era policies that were deliberately designed to sow division and maintain imperial control.^1
In Nigeria, these dynamics are visible in the persistent conflicts between the Fulani and Tiv in Benue State—recorded since at least the early 1960s^2—and recurrent clashes on the Jos Plateau between Hausa settlers and indigenous ethnic groups, which escalated in 2001, 2008, and 2010.^3 These conflicts often reflect the remnants of British colonial “divide and rule” policies (c. 1900–1960), whereby ethnic identities were reinforced and politicized for administrative convenience.^4
Colonial Legacies and Modern Manipulations
Efforts to pit the Hausa against the Fulani in contemporary Nigeria echo the strategies of colonial authorities. From the period of conquest to the end of colonial rule, British and other European powers across Africa manipulated ethnic and religious identities to prevent unified resistance.^5 This policy has had enduring effects; between 1900 and the present, Africa has experienced multiple crises traceable to such divisions.
Even today, renewed attempts to provoke Hausa-Fulani clashes exist, but historical awareness—and divine providence, in the view of many Nigerians—has so far prevented large-scale escalation.
Complexity of Ethnic Conflicts in Africa
Africa is home to hundreds of ethnic groups, some of which have been drawn into violent conflict due to historical grievances, economic inequalities, or competition over scarce resources. It is inaccurate, however, to portray entire communities as inherently aggressive. Most violence emerges from complex socio-political conditions rather than inherent “tribal” hostility.^6
Selected African Ethnic Conflicts and Timelines
Ethnic Group(s) Region/Country Notable Conflict(s) Key Years
Fulani (Peul) West Africa (Nigeria, Mali, Niger) Farmer-herder clashes, jihadist affiliations 1999–present
Hausa Nigeria Clashes with other ethnic groups (e.g., Jos crises) 2001, 2008, 2010
Igbo Nigeria Biafra secessionist war, IPOB activism 1967–1970, 2015–present
Yoruba Nigeria Yoruba Nation separatist agitation 2020–present
Kanuri Nigeria/Chad Boko Haram insurgency 2009–present
Tuareg Mali/Niger Rebellions, jihadist alliances 1990–1995, 2007–2009, 2012–present
Dinka & Nuer South Sudan Civil wars 1983–2005, 2013–2020
Hutu & Tutsi Rwanda/Burundi Rwandan genocide, civil wars 1990–1994, 1993–2005
Amhara & Tigray Ethiopia Tigray War 2020–2022
Oromo Ethiopia OLF insurgency 1992–present
Afar & Somali Ethiopia/Djibouti Border disputes, insurgency 1998, 2010–present
Darfur Tribes (Fur, Zaghawa, Rizeigat) Sudan Darfur conflict 2003–present
Azande & Banda Central African Republic Civil war factions 2012–present
Mbororo Cameroon Farmer-herder clashes 2000–present
Kikuyu & Kalenjin Kenya Post-election violence 2007–2008
Luba & Lulua DR Congo Ethnic tensions 2016–2017
Hema & Lendu DR Congo Ituri conflict 1999–2003, 2017–present
Ovimbundu & Mbundu Angola Civil war 1975–2002
Afrikaners (Boers) South Africa Far-right extremism, unrest 1994–present
Somali Clans (Hawiye, Darod, etc.) Somalia Clan-based civil war 1991–present
In a nutshell the recurrence of ethnic conflicts across Africa highlights the urgent need for historical awareness as a safeguard against political manipulation. The Nigerian case, particularly Hausa-Fulani relations, demonstrates how colonial legacies continue to shape present-day interethnic relations. A deeper understanding of history can serve not only as a warning but also as a foundation for building more inclusive political and social frameworks.
Footnotes
1. Ali Mazrui, The Africans: A Triple Heritage (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1986), 122–125.
2. Toyin Falola, Violence in Nigeria: The Crisis of Religious Politics and Secular Ideologies (Rochester: University of Rochester Press, 1998), 93–94.
3. Human Rights Watch, “Jos: A City Torn Apart,” HRW Report, December 2010.
4. A. E. Afigbo, The Warrant Chiefs: Indirect Rule in Southeastern Nigeria, 1891–1929 (London: Longman, 1972).
5. Mahmood Mamdani, Citizen and Subject: Contemporary Africa and the Legacy of Late Colonialism (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1996), 34–40.
6. Donald Horowitz, Ethnic Groups in Conflict (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985), 56–59.
Bibliography
Afigbo, A. E. The Warrant Chiefs: Indirect Rule in Southeastern Nigeria, 1891–1929. London: Longman, 1972.
Falola, Toyin. Violence in Nigeria: The Crisis of Religious Politics and Secular Ideologies. Rochester: University of Rochester Press, 1998.
Horowitz, Donald. Ethnic Groups in Conflict. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985.
Human Rights Watch. “Jos: A City Torn Apart.” HRW Report, December 2010.
Mamdani, Mahmood. Citizen and Subject: Contemporary Africa and the Legacy of Late Colonialism. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1996.
Mazrui, Ali. The Africans: A Triple Heritage. Boston: Little, Brown and Company
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