Many Nigerians, particularly those from the western Yoruba and eastern Igbo regions, often lack a deep understanding of ancient empires. There is a prevailing misconception that the size of modern ethnic populations or the prevalence of a shared language among ethnic groups mirrors the structure of ancient empires, but this is far from accurate.
Consider Rome as a prime example. Rome began as a city on the Italian peninsula but evolved into a vast empire that stretched across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Despite the diversity of languages spoken within the empire, Rome established governance systems across various territories, with taxes flowing back to the central authority. This exemplifies the essence of empire-building.
Similarly, many other ancient empires, which now manifest as small countries, once ruled expansive territories without imposing a single language. They focused on consolidating power and establishing governance structures rather than forcibly altering linguistic or cultural identities.
In Nigeria's historical context, numerous ethnic groups and states were once part of the Benin Empire. Despite linguistic diversity, the Benin Empire exercised authority through established governance systems, with taxes collected from the various territories. Unlike the Arab Crusaders, who enforced language, culture, and religion, ancient empires like the Benin Kingdom and the Roman Empire did not engage in such practices.
The notion of language imposition and cultural colonialism emerged later, influenced by the Catholic Crusaders and later adopted by European powers during the Berlin Conference of 1884. Therefore, claims by some Yoruba and Igbo individuals that the abundance of their populations in the past warranted the existence of empires should be scrutinized. The Benin Empire, for instance, stands as a well-documented historical reality, affirmed by European accounts dating back centuries.
It is essential to distinguish between historical truths supported by evidence, such as the Benin Empire, and contemporary narratives devoid of historical accuracy. Rhetoric based on social media trends lacks the substance of authentic historical records and should not overshadow documented historical realities.
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