Literature

Nigerian literature was influenced by different sources; western influences began affecting Nigerian literature as early as the eighth century when Arabic ideas and culture were introduced to Africa. During the fourteenth century, written and spoken Arabic flourished in northern Nigeria and by the seventeenth century, some Hausa literature had been translated into Arabic. Christian missionaries accelerated the importation of western education into Nigeria during the nineteenth century.
 

Nigerian literature was in its infancy orally and through contact with other cultures such as Muslims, Spanish and Portuguese, who were the first Europeans who traded with them, his writing took contributions from each of these cultures. Nigerian literature is well consolidated and is recognized worldwide as he speaks of his own history and because over time has not stopped side roots, beliefs and values. General Nigerian writing stands very much for the reality of his stories, truth with which exemplifies its suffering and its development as a society.

One of the most important exponent of lieterature was Wole Soyinka was the first Nigerian writer to get the Noble Prize. In 1967, is arrested during the civil war for having written an article calling for an armistice. Charged with conspiracy, is locked up for 20 months and only at the end of 1969 is released.