Friday, 17 July 2015

The History of the Early Newspaper Press in Nigeria



The History of the Early Newspaper Press in Nigeria
I intend to trace the origin of the newspaper press in Nigeria, to survey the role which the newspaper played in policy formulation and implementation, to examine some of the influences that gave impetus to the development of newspapers, and how the ideas and attitudes of the newspaper developed in response to changing circumstances and changes in personnel, among other factors. It is our hope that the issues involved would provide useful parameters for the assessment of contemporary newspaper press in the country.
Between 1880 and 1935, a total of fifty-one newspaper were established. These were made up of eleven dailies, thirty-three weekly, three fortnightlies and four monthlies, most of which were located in Lagos. Newspaper did not begin to appear outside Lagos until the early 1920. For example, between 1921 and 1932, with the growth of urban centres, provincial newspapers were established at Onitsha, Aba, Enugu, Calabar, Port-Harcourt, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode and Osogbo.
Coleman (1960:72) attributed this accelerated growth of urban centre outside the Island to internal peace and  security, the growth of commerce, the spread of education, as well as the nation’s transformation from a restricted to a modern economy.
Apart from contributing to inculcating good reading habit in the readers and providing general enlightenment, the provincial newspapers, because of distribution, hardly contributed to the advancement of political ideas or to the resolution of political controversies.
Another important issue in our discussion of the history of the press in Nigeria is the motive of the publisher. Because of their limited resources and their relative accomplishment in spite of these limitations, one can conclude that they were inspired by considerations other than profit-making. Their dedication to the enlightenment and education of their people helped tremendously to create a great tradition of selfless services, sacrifice and philanthropy. The conclusions of the Royal Commission on the British Press to the effect that “the ambitions that inspire those who own newspapers are commonly varied purpose, are seldom single and motives seldom unmixed” provide a backdrop against which to assess the motive for the establishment of early newspapers.
The history of Nigeria’s indigenous press is traced to Robert Campbell who, in 1863, founded the Anglo-African. Though  it was abandoned two years later, it provide the much needed sourced of inspiration foe efforts in newspapering. Campbell’s objection was to explore the growing interest in Western education in Lagos in the 186s by making available to his readers materials which have potentials to educate, inform and entertain them.
          As a weekly, the Anglo-African appears as an assortment of scrapes culled from a variety of sources; books, novels magazines, and overseas newspaper (Omu, 1996:206-212), and sold for three pence. Its literary matter interested only a few subscriber, and since sales hardly exceeded about 30-50 copies a week, the paper eventually died in 1865. Despite is early demise, the establishment of the Anglo-African was no doubt a noteworthy development in the history of Nigeria.
          The real founding of the press occurred fifteen years later when socio-political and economic developments collaborated with local and external sources of inspiration to create conditions favourable to the emergence of popular newspapers.
The first newspaper to be established was Richard Beale Blaize’s Lagos Times and Gold Advertiser on 10 November, 1880. It appeared twice a month and sold for sixpence. Though forced to suspend publication because of financial problems in  November,1883, the newspaper’s initial success stimulated the rise of rival newspaper.
          One of such rival papers was the fortnightly Lagos Observer, established by J. Blackall Benjamin on 4 February, 1882 with the support of his doctor and literary expert friend, DR. N.T. King. When both King and Campbell died in 1884, Benjamin carried on single-handedly until July 1890 when the Lagos Observer eventually died. Going by its short life span, the Observer was adjudged the most successful newspaper in the 19th century, and one which made appreciable contributions to the politics of the time. It emerged as one of the symbols of the intellectual aggression which characterised political development in the 19th century.
          With the death of the observer, stage was set for the birth of other newspapers.
The Eagle and Lagos Critic, a monthly newspaper which sold for seven pennies, was inaugurated on 31st March, 1883 under the editorship of Owen Emerik Macaulay, a grandson of Bishop Crowther and brother of Herbert Macaulay. Even though Owen Macaulay intended his paper to be marked by “the fearlessly and acute observation characteristic of an eagle”, it lacked the attributes of an eagle and the resources of a critic. It was perceived as pro-government in its approach even though Owen Macaulay intended it “to balance opinions when they are in opposition.” The Eagle was partially sustained by government advertisements until 31st October, 1888 when it eventually disappeared.
With its disappearance, a weekly newspaper of two columns called Mirror was introduced by P. Adolphus Marke. Despite Marke’s remark that “small axes cut big trees”, he had modest aims for his newspaper which died with the issue of 24th November, 1888.
The campaign for cultural national typified by the call for newspapers in Nigeria languages would be heeded five years later with the birth of Iwe Irohin Eko and the Lagos Weekly Times between 1888 and 1890. The Eko was a Yoruba language fortnightly founded on 3rd November, 1888 by the printer, Andrew Thomas, to exploit the growing interest in Yoruba language and literature. It was characterised by feature on Yoruba traditions and folklore. It finally expired in 1892.
The Lagos Weekly Times, which was established on 3rd May 1890, was a new version of the defunct Lagos Times revived by John Payne Jackson, a Liberian – born business man. This was made possible by a special arrangement between John Jackson and Balizet. The agreement between the two allowed Jackson to revive the Lagos Times under the new name, enjoy autonomy in the management of the sales of the newspaper, advertisement and job – printing business and provide a statement of account at the end of three month to enable them determine Blaize’s share of the revenue which was fixed provisionally at five pounds (5) a month.   
    GARBA UAMAN
  KUW/U14/MCM/2016

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