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savanna

(Encyclopedia)savanna or savannah both: səvănˈə [key], tropical or subtropical grassland lying on the margin of the trade wind belts. The climate of a savanna is characterized by a rainy period during the summe...

Yar'Adua, Umaru Musa

(Encyclopedia)Yar'Adua, Umaru Musa o͞omäˈro͞o mo͞oˈsä yär ädo͞oˈä [key], 1951–2010, Nigerian politician, president of Nigeria (2007–10). Born into a family active in Nigerian political and military ...

descent

(Encyclopedia)descent, in anthropology, method of classifying individuals in terms of their various kinship connections. Matrilineal and patrilineal descent refer to the mother's or father's sib (or other group), r...

Ado

(Encyclopedia)Ado äˈdō [key], city (1987 est. pop. 287,000), SW Nigeria. Located in a region where rice, corn, cassava, and yams are grown. Traditionally an important cotton-weaving town, Ado also manufactures b...

Gowon, Yakubu

(Encyclopedia)Gowon, Yakubu yäko͞oˈbo͞o gôˈwŏn [key], 1934–, Nigerian head of state. After entering the Nigerian army in 1954, he advanced (1966) to battalion commander. After Nigeria's second bloody coup ...

Al Ubayyid

(Encyclopedia)Al Ubayyid ĕl ōbādˈ [key], city (2021 metropolitan area pop. 495,000), S central Sudan. It is a rail terminus, a road and camel caravan junction, and the end of a pilg...

Balewa, Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa

(Encyclopedia)Balewa, Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa älhäˈjē äbo͞oˈbäkärˌ täfäˈwä bälāˈwä [key], 1912–66, Nigerian political leader. He was born Mallam Abubakar. After studying to become a teacher, ...

Barth, Heinrich

(Encyclopedia)Barth, Heinrich hīnˈrĭkh bärt [key], 1821–65, German explorer in British service. After traveling (1845–47) through the Levant and N Africa, he entered the service of the British government. H...

Ijebu-Ode

(Encyclopedia)Ijebu-Ode ējābo͞oˈ-ōdāˈ [key], town (1991 est. pop. 138,000), SW Nigeria. It is a commercial town and a collection point for cacao, kola nuts, and palm products. Manufactures include textiles, ...

Ilesha

(Encyclopedia)Ilesha ēlāˈshä [key], city (1991 est. pop. 334,000), SW Nigeria. Formerly a caravan trade center, Ilesha is today an agricultural and commercial city. Cacao, kola nuts, palm oil, and yams are ship...