Elephant Memories History Podcast | Podcast on RSS.com

Elephant Memories History Podcast

Elephant Memories History Podcast

by Max Siollun

Why Did Northern Nigeria Adopt Sharia Law?

In the early 2000s, twelve states in northern Nigeria adopted Sharia (Islamic) law into their legal codes. Why did they do this?It was bigger than Islam and Muslims. Sharia was part of a desire to purify northern society and return it to a revered bygone era, AND ironically - was part of a religious revival in both Islam and Christianity. Although other countries have Sharia, Nigeria's Sharia is more stringent than most other countries, which has contributed to its controversial status in Nigeria, and the violence between Christians and Muslims regarding it.

History of Nigeria’s Ethnic Tensions: One Nation, Many Divides

Someone once called Nigeria "the most complicated country in the world"! Nigeria has over 500 different languages, and is the only country in the world with a population split 50:50 between Christians and Muslims. In this episode with Dr Brandon Kendhammer, we explore how Nigeria has spent the past 50 years trying to find ways to ensure equal treatment and peaceful co-existence between hundreds of different ethnic groups, and its major religions. Have these measures succeeded? Or have they instead amplified ethnic, regional, and religious differences?

Maryam Babangida's Story: Glamour and Power of the First Lady

Maryam Babangida changed what it means to be Nigeria’s First Lady. She exercised power as if she was the joint president with her husband, and government ministers feared and bowed to her. Maryam and her husband were the first power couple of modern Nigerian politics. They were like the Barack and Michelle Obama of their era. Maryam's elegant, glamorous, and imperial appearance made her a celebrity. She was the first president's wife to constantly appear on magazine and newspaper front pages. She did not look out of place when she met the equally fashionable and glamorous Princess Diana. Listen to this episode to learn more about the most famous and powerful First Lady in Nigeria's history: a woman who was so powerful that a minister claimed that she and her husband were a “joint imperial presidency”.

Christianity and Islam in Nigeria: Religion, Conflict, and Coexistence

Religion is Nigeria's most incendiary divide. Why is religion such a huge issue in Nigeria? What is the relationship between Christianity, Islam, and politics? Is Nigeria a secular country? I will be addressing these questions with Dr Alexander Thurston (an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati, and an expert on Islam and politics in West Africa, who has written many books on both topics – including “Salafism in Nigeria: Islam, Preaching and Politics”).

419: The Secret World of Nigeria's "Yahoo Boy" Internet Scammers (Part 1)

You've probably heard of the so-called "Nigerian Prince" scam (AKA "419", Yahoo, advance fee fraud etc). But who are the people behind the Nigerian scam? In this episode (Part 1 of 2 episodes on this topic), we will journey into the world of the so-called "Yahoo Boys". I’ll be discussing their world with Carlos Barragan: a Spanish journalist who met and interviewed several Yahoo Boys after one of them scammed his mum and convinced her to fall in love with him, by pretending to be an American soldier.

Nigeria Under General Sani Abacha: The Military v The People

What role did Nigeria's current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu play in the 1990s pro-democracy campaign? What was it like living under the military government of General Sani Abacha? This episode is a continuation from Episode 6 ("Untold Stories of the June 12 Election Annulment in Nigeria") and covers the terrifying 1993-1998 military rule era when a mysterious wave of assassinations, bomb blasts, and repression terrified Nigerians into fearing their own government.

Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup in America: How the Super Eagles Shocked the World

How Nigeria amazed the footballing world with its breathtaking attacking and flair at the 1994 World Cup in America. Was this the best African team to ever play at the World Cup?

Untold Stories of the June 12 Election Annulment in Nigeria

The Babangida military government’s annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election plunged Nigeria into its worst political crisis since its civil war over 20 years earlier. Why was the election annulled? The annulment also buried the role of many courageous pro-democracy activists who campaigned for an end to military rule (despite being targeted with a terrifying wave of assassinations, bomb blasts, and repression). In this episode, one of those pro-democracy activists (Kayode Ogundamisi) spoke to me about the key people and parts of the June 12 story that history forgot.

Expat Adventures in Nigeria: Corporate Warfare (Part 1)

What is it like being an expat in Nigeria? British businessman and former CEO of Guinness Nigeria Keith Richards lived and worked in Nigeria for over 20 years. During that time he had movie style adventures such as encountering the niece of a powerful politician who wanted to kill him, a workplace where an employee tried to murder a rival executive by poisoning him, negotiating with armed vigilante group the Bakassi Boys (who were known for summarily executing criminals), and meeting Nigeria’s most powerful politicians such as formerPresident Obasanjo and the intimidating former Minister of Defence Theophilus “TYD” Danjuma. This is Part 1 of two episodes with Keith. Keith also wrote a book about his time in Nigeria entitled “Never Quite the Insider: a Nigerian Memoir”. He also wrote a novel entitled “Which of your Sons?” You can read more about Keith on his website at: https://outsiderinside.co.uk/.

Umaru Dikko Kidnapped in London: Secret Agents, a Diamond Dealer, and a Politician

When military intelligence agents from Nigeria and Israel abducted Nigeria’s former Minister of Transport Umaru Dikko in broad daylight on a London street in 1984, it triggered a spectacular three-country international scandal that involved secret agents, anti-terrorist police, fake passports, a diamond dealer, planes being impounded, a dramatic airport rescue, and the worst ever diplomatic crisis between Nigeria and Britain. This episode reveals the hidden story behind one of the most dramatic international espionage incidents in history.

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