THE REAL HISTORY OF “NIGERIA FLAG” — WHAT THEY NEVER TAUGHT US IN SCHOOL

THE REAL HISTORY OF “NIGERIA FLAG” — WHAT THEY NEVER TAUGHT US IN SCHOOL

🇳🇬 THE REAL HISTORY OF “NIGERIA FLAG” — WHAT THEY NEVER TAUGHT US IN SCHOOL 🇳🇬

From 40+ Independent Kingdoms to Green-White-Green & Biafra Rising Sun (700 AD – 1970)
By Ala Igbo Nile TV | Museum & Archival Research

Did you know? There was NEVER a “Nigeria flag” before British colony — because Nigeria itself did not exist until 1914.

The name “Nigeria” was coined on January 8, 1897 by Flora Shaw (later Lady Lugard) in The Times of London — from Niger River + Area = Niger-Area.

Before Lord Lugard forced amalgamation on January 1, 1914, the land we call Nigeria was over 40+ independent sovereign countries — empires, kingdoms, confederacies and city-states. Each had its OWN flag, army, currency and government.

Here are 12 REAL FLAGS documented in museums, archives and oral traditions, arranged and documented historical date — oldest to newest — 700 AD to 1970. Look at the picture — everything is in chronological order!

---

PART 1: REAL FLAGS BEFORE COLONY — CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER (700 AD – 1891)

1. FLAG OF KANEM EMPIRE — 700 to 1380 AD — THE OLDEST EMPIRE
   Oldest empire in Lake Chad Basin, centre of trans-Saharan trade for 700 years.
   Flag: White field with green palm tree — symbol of oasis and Saharan trade routes.
   Source: Smith, Abdullahi (1971) — History of Kanem-Bornu; Britannica — Kanem Empire.
2. FLAG OF NRI KINGDOM — 948 to 1911 AD — THE SPIRITUAL HEART OF IGBO
   Spiritual empire of Igboland. Eze Nri ruled NOT by force but by spiritual influence — he was like the Pope of Igboland.
   Flag/Symbols: White flag with gold Ofo staff (authority, truth, justice), Sun Anyanwu (divine presence), bronze bells.
   Source: Onwuejeogwu, M. A. (1981) — An Igbo Civilization: Nri Kingdom and Hegemony.
3. FLAG OF KINGDOM OF BENIN — 1180 to 1897 AD — THE GREATEST IN THE SOUTH
   One of Africa’s greatest empires, famous for bronze artworks.
   Flag: Red background with warrior holding sword. Captured 1897 during Benin Punitive Expedition. Today preserved at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London (Object ID: AAA 0273).
   Source: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
4. FLAG OF BORNU EMPIRE — 1380 to 1893 AD — SUCCESSOR TO KANEM
   Successor to Kanem, powerful Islamic empire for 500+ years.
   Flag: Brown field with white crescent moon.
   Source: Palmer, H. R. — History of Bornu.
5. FLAG OF ARO CONFEDERACY — 1640 to 1902 AD — MOST POWERFUL IGBO FLAG
   This is the MAIN Igbo flag before colony. Home of Ibini Ukpabi (Long Juju) oracle. Controlled trade from Igboland to Cameroon.
   Flag: Black background with crossed sword and musket, eagle on top, inscribed OMU ARO-CHUKU. Destroyed by British in Anglo-Aro War 1901-1902.
   Source: Dike & Ekejiuba — The Aro of South-eastern Nigeria 1650-1980.
6. FLAG OF SOKOTO CALIPHATE — 1804 to 1903 AD — THE LARGEST EMPIRE
   Largest empire, founded by Usman Dan Fodio in 1804.
   Flag: White field with red border and red Arabic inscription — La ilaha illallah.
   Source: Johnston — The Fulani Empire of Sokoto.
7. FLAG OF OPOBO / JAJA OF OPOBO — 1869 to 1891 AD — RICHEST AFRICAN
   Niger Delta trading port-state. King Jaja controlled palm oil trade.
   Flag: Blue field with gold star and anchor, inscribed JAJA OPOBO.
   Source: Cookey — King Jaja of the Niger Delta.

---

PART 2: BRITISH COLONIAL FLAGS — WHEN BRITAIN CREATED “NIGERIA” (1900-1960)*

8. FLAG OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PROTECTORATE (1900-1914) — THE BAT FLAG
   Capital: Zungeru.
   Flag: British Blue Ensign — Red disc with black bat, white six-pointed star, Tudor Crown. Motto: “Auspicium Melioris Aevi” — Token of Better Age.
   Source: Flags of the World (FotW) — Northern Nigeria.
9. FLAG OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA PROTECTORATE (1900-1914) — THE ELEPHANT FLAG
   Capital: Calabar, later Lagos.
   Flag: Blue Ensign — Green circle with white elephant before palm tree with Tudor Crown.
   Source: Flags of the World (FotW) — Southern Nigeria.

On January 1, 1914, Lugard amalgamated North and South because North was broke and South was rich!

10. FLAG OF COLONY OF NIGERIA (1914-1960) — THE STAR OF SOLOMON FLAG
    Flag: Blue Ensign — Red disc with green six-pointed star (Seal of Solomon) surrounding Tudor Crown, word “NIGERIA” underneath.
    Source: Flag Institute Archive; Wikipedia — Flag of Nigeria (1914–1960).
11. FLAG OF INDEPENDENT NIGERIA (1960-PRESENT) — GREEN-WHITE-GREEN

Designed by 23-year-old Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi from Ibadan, student in London, for Independence competition 1959. Adopted October 1, 1960.
Flag: Green-White-Green vertical — Green = agriculture/wealth, White = peace/unity.
Source: National Archives, Nigeria — Independence Flag Competition 1959.

---

PART 3: BIAFRA FLAG — THE RISING SUN (1967-1970) — NEW ADDITION AS YOU REQUESTED

12. FLAG OF BIAFRA — 1967 to 1970 — THE RISING SUN FLAG — REPLACED IGBO CULTURAL FLAG

After Nigeria’s Independence collapsed into crisis, Eastern Region declared independence as Republic of Biafra on May 30, 1967 by Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Flag: Three horizontal stripes — Red (top) = blood of those who died, Black (middle) = mourning and the African skin, Green (bottom) = prosperity and the land. In the center of black stripe — Golden Rising Sun with 11 rays — representing the 11 former provinces of Biafra and the dawn of a new nation, hope, and a bright future after darkness. The 11 rays = new beginning.

Coat of Arms: Leopard (Agu) — totem of Igbo people. Leopard skin “Akpukpo Agu” worn by chiefs — symbol of courage, vigilance, enterprise — true Igbo spirit. Biafra coat of arms used rising sun and leopard, palm shoots and Ofo.

Biafra lasted 3 years (1967-1970), ended January 15, 1970. Today the Rising Sun flag remains the cultural symbol of Igbo resilience, hope and self-determination worldwide.

Source: Achebe, Chinua — There Was A Country; Nwankwo, Arthur — Biafra: The Making of a Nation; World Flags — Biafra 1967-1970; Biafran Government Gazette 1967.

---

WHY IGBO HAD NO ONE KING — BUT HAD CONFEDERACY FLAGS

Igbo society was republican — every village autonomous, governed by council of elders (Ama-ala), Ofo holders, and Umunna (kindred). British called us “headless mob” — they could not find one king to sign treaty with!

Our flags were:

• Aro Confederacy = political/military flag — Most Powerful
• Nri Kingdom = spiritual flag
• Biafra Rising Sun = modern survival flag — 1967-1970

DOCUMENTED SOURCES:

1. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich — Benin Flag AAA 0273
2. Flags of the World (FotW) — Northern Nigeria, Southern Nigeria, Colony of Nigeria 1914-1960, Biafra 1967-1970
3. Wikipedia — List of Nigerian Flags; Flag of Nigeria (1914–1960)
4. Onwuejeogwu (1981) — An Igbo Civilization: Nri Kingdom and Hegemony
5. Dike & Ekejiuba (1990) — The Aro of South-eastern Nigeria, 1650-1980
6. Johnston — The Fulani Empire of Sokoto
7. Cookey — King Jaja of the Niger Delta
8. Lugard (1914) — Amalgamation Report
9. Smith (1971) — History of Kanem-Bornu Empire
10. National Archives, Nigeria — Independence Flag Competition 1959 (Taiwo Akinkunmi)
11. Biafran Government Gazette 1967 — Biafra Flag Proclamation; Achebe — There Was A Country (2012)

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Did you know Nigeria had a BAT flag, ELEPHANT flag and STAR OF SOLOMON flag before Green-White-Green and Biafra Rising Sun?

Which flag surprised you most?