Social Darwinism is the theory that human groups and races are subject to the same laws of natural selection as Charles Darwin perceived in plants and animals in nature.
According to the theory, which was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the weak were diminished and their cultures delimited while the strong grew in power and cultural influence over the weak.
In Nigeria, Igbos inhabit an area referred to as Igboland, divided into two sections along the lower River Niger. They live in most or all parts of five states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, and minor parts of Delta, Rivers and Benue states. Small Igbo communities are also found in parts of Cameroon and Equitorial Guinea.
Igbo men
As a result of the transatlantic slave trade, Igbos have migrated to other countries, including Jamaica, Cuba, Barbados, Belize, the United States, among others.
The Yoruba people are an ethnic group that inhabits western Africa, mainly Nigeria, Benin, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leon and Togo. The Yoruba constitute around 30 million people in Africa. They make up 13.9% of the country’s population, making them one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa.
Yoruba men
Both the Yorubas and Igbos have a strong historical presence and culture. During the Nigerian Civil War of 1967–1970, the Igbo territories seceded as the short-lived Republic of Biafra.
After the civil war, the Igbos and Yorubas were not at the best of terms, especially due to a rife report that Awolowo (Yoruba) cowardly backed out of an “understanding” to declare the Oduduwa Republic when Ojukwu declared Biafra.
The unsubstantiated report claimed that Awolowo seduced Igbos into going to war and then backed down and left Igbos to fight the war alone.
Over the years, the Yorubas has keyed into businesses and industries, with Lagos rising to be the most prominent city and a centre of economic activity.
Lagos
Lagos is the most populous city in Nigeria, with a total population of about 21.3 million. It is also a major financial centre for all of Africa and houses one of the largest and busiest seaports.
The Igbos are performing exceedingly well in trade and commerce all over the country and beyond. They dominate all the major markets in Nigeria and control trade in various sectors of the economy.
At the center of this trade lies Onitsha. It is a city located on the eastern bank of the Niger River in Nigeria’s Anambra State. It is known for its river port and an economic hub for commerce, industry, and education. It hosts the Onitsha Main Market, the largest market in Africa in terms of geographical size and volume of goods.
Onitsha
Both the Yorubas and Igbos have constantly pulled their weight in different sectors of the economy, be it entertainment, telecommunications or oil and gas e.t.c
While there have been calls for secession by certain individuals of both tribes, the general population works together for a better Nigeria!!.
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REFERENCES:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onitsha
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Philosophy-of-the-Yoruba-2006354
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-Darwinism
- https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/08/echoes-of-1966-some-igbo-are-lying-over-awolowo-civil-war-role-adebanjo/
