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- Chris Ajilo returns from London School of Music to form The Cubanos.
- I. K. Dairo forms the Morning Star Band, later renamed I. K. Dairo and
the Blue Spot.
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- First ‘World Congress of Black Writers and Artists’, Sorbonne,
Paris.
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- Nigerian National Museum is established.
- Black Orpheus, a review of literature and the arts, is launched.
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- The Zaria Art Society is inaugurated at the Nigerian College of Arts,
Science and Technology, Zaria, under leadership of Uche Okeke. Known
as the ‘Zaria Rebels’, the Group develops the theory of ‘natural
synthesis’.
- Chinua Achebe’s first novel Things Fall Apart published
to great acclaim.
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- 1 October, Nigeria gains independence from Britain with Dr Nnamdi
Azikwe as President.
- The ‘Zaria Rebels’ appear in the Nigerian Independence Exhibition.
Olaiya performs with Louis Armstrong at independence celebrations.
- Wole Soyinka returns to Nigeria from Britain, aiming to establish
a Nigerian National Theatre. Launches a troupe called the ‘1960
Masks’.
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- Older members of Zaria Art Society graduate and group disbands.
- The Mbari Writers and Artists Club is formed in Ibadan. Club establishes
a publishing house, art gallery and performance space.
- School of Fine Arts established at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
later to become a centre for the ULI movement.
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- The Mbari-Mbayo Club is formed in Oshogbo. Duro Ladipo starts National
Theatre Company.
- Fela Kuti forms the Koola Lobitos with J. K. Buraimoh.
- Victor Olaiya represents Nigeria at the World Jazz Festival, Prague
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- University School of Drama set up at Ibadan.
- The Mbari Club, Enugu established by Uche Okeke.
- I.K. Dairo receives MBE from the Queen.
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- Members of the disbanded Zaria Art Society come together in the Society
of Nigerian Artists (SNA).
- Wole Soyinka founds the Orisum Repertory Theatre Company.
- Riots break out in Western Nigeria following election irregularities.
Western premier Obafemi Awolowa is jailed. Soyinka attempts to seize
radio station in Ibadan.
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- Commonwealth Festival, London, hosts plays by Wole Soyinka, J.P. Clark
and Duro Ladipo.
- Sierra Leonian pop musician Geraldo Pino brings new sound to Lagos.
- Soyinka’s novel The Interpreters in published.
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- Chinua Achebe’s novel A Man of the People is published.
- 15 January, military officers topple elected government. United Nations
Commander in the Congo, General Aguiyi-Ironsi, is appointed Head of
State.
- ‘World Festival of Black Arts’, Dakar, Senegal. Christopher
Okigbo rejects prize for poetry.
- 29 July, Second millitary coup. Ironsi is murdered. Lt. Col. Gowon
becomes Head of State.
- Eastern Nigerians are massacred in pogroms.
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- Eastern Nigeria secedes as the Republic of Biafra with Lt. Co. Chukwuemeka
Ojukwu as Head of State. Civil war ensues.
- The University of Nigeria becomes the The University of Biafra. Achebe
and other Eastern artists and writers leave Lagos to join war effort.
Christopher Okigbo is killed in battle.
- Soyinka becomes Director of the School of Drama, University of Ibadan.
Soyinka is jailed by the Nigerian Government for condemning war against
Biafra.
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- ‘Festival of the Arts’, University of Ife, Ile-Ife.
- Civil War calculated to have killed over two million.
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- Fela Kuti introduces a politicised form of Afro-Beat and renames his
band ‘Africa 70’. Marks the end of the great Highlife era.
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