Much of present-day Nigeria is divided long…

Much of present-day Nigeria is divided long before 1500 into states, which can be identified with the modern ethnic groups that trace their history to the origins of these states.

These early states include the Yoruba kingdoms, the Edo kingdom of Benin, the Hausa cities, and Nupe.

In addition, numerous small states to the west and south of Lake Chad are absorbed or displaced in the course of the expansion of Kanem, which is centered to the northeast of Lake Chad.

Borno, initially the western province of Kanem, will become independent in the late fourteenth century.

Other states probably exist as well, but oral traditions and the absence of archaeological data do not permit an accurate dating of their antiquity.