Lord Lugard, the former governor-general of Nigeria, in 1926, wrote his unfiltered thought about Nigerians. From his book, The Dual Mandates, come these excerpts: "In character and temperament, the typical African of this race-type is a happy, thriftless, excitable person, lacking in self-control, discipline, and foresight. Naturally courageous, and naturally courteous and polite, full of personal vanity, with little sense of veracity, fond of music and loving weapons as an oriental loves jewellery. His thoughts are concentrated on the events and feelings of the moment, and he suffers little from the apprehension for the future or grief for the past. His mind is far nearer to the animal world than that of the European or Asiatic, and exhibits something of the animals' placidity and want of desire to rise beyond the state he has reached.
"Through the ages, the African appears to have evolved no organised religious creed, and though some tribes appear to believe in a deity, the religious sense seldom rises above pantheistic animalism and seems more often to take the form of a vague dread of the supernatural. He lacks the power of organisation, and is conspicuously deficient in the management and control alike of men or business. He loves the display of power, but fails to realize its responsibility - he will work hard with a less incentive than most races. He has the courage of the fighting animal, an instinct rather than a moral virtue. In brief, the virtues and defects of his race -type are those of attractive children, whose confidence when it is won is given ungrudgingly as to an older and wiser superior and without envy. Perhaps, the two traits which have impressed me as those most characteristic of the African native are his lack of apprehension and his lack of ability to visualize the future"
Guys lets discuss the thoughts of Lord Lugard. he had a supremacist view obviously. But is he right in the way he describes Nigerians and Africans in general? How many of the issues that he raises are valid?
Letz get some responses

We may argue all we want. But the truth is, he was correct about the African of that time. The people of this continent were scarcely developed and hadn't caught up in awareness with Europeans or Asians. It's only fair to see it at it is.

Nowadays, things have changed a bit. The same can't be said of Africans without argument, though we must admit the vestiges of earlier African societies still stay with us today.

No point naming Lugard a supremacist. He probably wasn't. If he was, then FDR, Churchill and a host of leaders who came even many more years after the British Lord will also qualify as supremacists in their own way.

We are moving forward. Lugard is in the past. As nairalanders will say " who em matter epp"

Sad but true.folks, being black isn't ordinary.

gustalnov:
We may argue all we want. But the truth is, he was correct about the African of that time. The people of this continent were scarcely developed and hadn't caught up in awareness with Europeans or Asians. It's only fair to see it at it is.

Nowadays, things have changed a bit. The same can't be said of Africans without argument, though we must admit the vestiges of earlier African societies still stay with us today.

No point naming Lugard a supremacist. He probably wasn't. If he was, then FDR, Churchill and a host of leaders who came even many more years after the British Lord will also qualify as supremacists in their own way.

The point you raised of africa being scarcely developed which is in line with wath Lugard said about africa not being able to visaulize the future and her lack of apprehension on what the future holds still prevails. The feats the europeans and their counterpart accomplished both scientifically and politically in the seventeeth century africa can't accomplish it in this modern age. The modern age we are living now with is modern characteristics and civilization are courtesy of the europeans. Remove such now, africa will be back to the medevial age. Another interesting point raised by Lugard is that an african man loves power but doesn't know its responsiblity. Such can be seen in the leadership styles of african leaders. In summary the points raised by Lugard is why Africa is still poor and grossly underdeveloped.

He was definitely not referring to my part of Africa.

EazyMoh:
He was definitely not referring to my part of Africa.

which part may I ask?

dmz1:

which part may I ask?

The Sokoto Caliphate!