Is it possible to paint a portrait of an entire generation? Each generation has a million faces and a million voices. Those are the first two sentences of ‘The Younger Generation‘, a Times magazine article written on results of a survey of young Americans, published on the 5th of November, 1951. The term ‘Silent generation’ given to the post-war cohort was famously culled from this same article. The writer goes on to say ‘what the voices say is not necessarily what the generation believes, and what it believes is not necessarily what it will act on. Its motives and desires are often hidden. It is a medley of good and evil, promise and threat, hope and despair. Like a straggling army, it has no clear beginning or end. And yet each generation has some features that are more significant than others; each has a quality as distinctive as a man’s accent, each makes a statement to the future, each leaves behind a picture of itself.’

If you still doubt the role of one’s age during certain windows of opportunity in the life of a society and the impact that can have on history, you probably do not recollect Malcom Gladwell’s rousing analysis of hidden opportunities in the second chapter of Outliers. He analyzed the 75 richest people in human history, a list that included queens, kings and Pharaohs from centuries past as well as present day billionaires like Warren Buffet, and found that an astonishing fourteen (almost 19%) are Americans born within nine years of each other (1831 – 1840). Those individuals were at the right age when the American economy went through its greatest transformation in history, the railroads and Wall street. He explains that there was a narrow nine-year window for coming of age at a time when you could see the potential that the future held and take advantage of it. His analogy also works for the computer revolution of the 1970s with Bill Joy, Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Steve Ballmer, Steve Jobs, Eric Schmidt and the three founders of Sun Microsystem all being born within 3 years of each other in the mid 1950s.

My analysis led me to eight generational cohorts of Nigerians born between 1890 and 1998. Of this eight, six are still quite active. All eight cohorts are listed by their date of births as follows:

Born	Age today (2012)	Designation
1890 – 1910	N/A	Founding Fathers
1911 – 1929	83 – 101	Transitionaries
1930 – 1949	63 – 82	Can-Do Heroes
1950 – 1966	46 – 62	Silent Generation
1967 – 1975	37 – 45	Reactive Generation
1976 – 1981	31 – 36	Conflicted Millennials I
1982 – 1987	25 – 30	Conflicted Millennials II
1988 – 1998	13 – 24	Generation Y

Founding Fathers (1890 – 1910):

Founding fathers were born around the time when the British conquered Northern Nigeria and during the decline of the Aro Confederacy leading to the Anglo-Aro war in Eastern Nigeria in 1901 – 1902. They came of age (that is, turned 16 – 25) during the period of indirect rule and the amalgamation of Nigeria. This cohort was middle aged during the rising political consciousness of the 1940s and the dawn of the Nationalist era. After World War 2 ended in 1945, Europe’s economic resources were destroyed by two global wars and an economic depression. Britain was devastated and no longer had the resources to manage their colonies and America, new ruler of the Western world, opposed European imperialism – making self-rule for many African colonies inevitable. It was three members of this cohort, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo & Ahmadu Bello that negotiated independence from the British. History books provide detailed accounts of the role this generation played during the many demonstrations of the 1940s and 1950s that eventually led to Nigerian independence in 1960, by which time – this cohort were elders in their sixties.

Notable members of this cohort include: Nnamdi Azikiwe (‘04), Obafemi Awolowo (‘09) Ahmadu Bello (‘10), Alvan Ikoku (‘00), Professor Eyo Ita (’04); others are Funmi Ransome Kuti (‘00) and the first Nigerian saint, Blessed. Rev. Fr. Iwene Tansi (’03).

Transitionaries (1911 – 1929):

Transitionaries came of age around when the world was entering the great depression as well as the second world war. This cohort probably constituted most of the 50,000 or so Nigerian soldiers that the British deployed to fight the Japanese in South East Asia after 1943 as part of the British Army’s 81st and 82nd (West Africa) Divisions. Recently, the BBC ran a special on ‘Private African Banana’, a veteran of the war in Burma who was conscripted at the age of 16. On their return, the Colonial government gave some veterans land to begin new lives as farmers while Nigerian soldiers who chose to continue their military careers went on to form the core of independent Nigeria’s national army. This cohort was the most difficult to figure out. I initially called this cohort ‘visionaries’ seeing that they coincide with the ‘Greatest generation’, the western cohort prided for its contribution to the victory of the World War II. However, on looking more closely at the facts, transitionaries seems more fitting seeing that though victory may have been won, it was someone else’s battle. I have Bob Marley’s ‘Buffalo Soldier’ playing in my head as I write this line.

Notable members of this cohort include: Dennis Osadebay Udo Udoma (’17), Shehu Shagari (‘25), Aminu Kano (‘20), Private African Banana (’27). Aguiyi Ironsi (’24) Current population: 0.3% or about 140,000.

Can-Do Heroes (1930 – 1949):

This cohort currently aged between 63 – 82 has had the most impact on Nigeria till date. Because people in this cohort are elders today in an African culture built on respect for the elderly, they are also the most powerful till date. This cohort are the children of the Founding Fathers cohort and came of age during a period of rising Nationalism that led to Nigeria’s independence in 1960. They grew up witnessing the departure of the British and other signs of the colonial government they had known as children. Most notably, this generation ignited and fought the Civil War of 1967 – 1970 as they were young adults when it started. This cohort is probably more appropriately divided into two with the elder members of the cohort being more senior during the war. ‘Should they not be classified with the transitionaries?’ you might ask. Well, the marked difference between this cohort and the one before them is simply the fact that they were young enough to retain power into the new millennium. All Nigerian military rulers, but the first (Aguiyi Ironsi) belong to this cohort. Also, most of the 200 generals retired by IBB’s government by 1989 belong to this cohort. This cohort also includes the god-father generation of Nigeria’s recent political past (or present?), arguably because they were the generation to benefit the most from Nigeria’s economic prosperity of the 1970s and afterwards.

Notable members of this cohort include: Soldiers: Obasanjo(‘37), Ojukwu (‘33), Gowon (‘34), Ibrahim Babangida (‘41), David Mark (‘48), Murtala Mohammed (‘38), Muhammadu Buhari (‘42), Sani Abacha (’43), Abdulsalami Abubakar (’42), Shehu Musa Yar’adua (’43) Politicians: MKO Abiola (’37), Ernest Shonekan (’36), Bamanga Tukur (’35), Joseph Tarka (’32), Arthur Nzeribe (‘38), David West (‘34), Olusola Saraki (’33) Entertainers: Fela, Oliver de coque, IK Dairo, King Sunny Ade (‘46) Activists: Ken Saro Wiwa(‘41), Gani (‘38), Cardinal Francis Arinze (’32). Current Population: 2.7% or about 5 Million.

Silent Generation (1950 – 1966):

There are three reasons for giving this cohort the nomenclature of ‘silent’. First is that they were children during the Civil War of the 1960s which is a factor that, as I will show later on, significantly affects their outlook on life. Second is that due to the firm grip the preceding cohort had on the body politic, this group only recently has come to power. No example captures this more aptly than that of Nigeria’s former president Umaru Yar’adua and his senior brother Maj. Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’adua, who belonged to the previous cohort. Lastly, is that this group was quite quickly pacified in their young adulthood. They were young adults during a time when Nationalism of industries led to an expanding civil service, therefore, they easily got jobs right out of University. I do not have statistics to back this, but the upper echelons of most civil services across the country today are probably filled with this cohort. In other ways, the designation of ‘silent’ does not accurately describe this cohort being that they are constantly in a running tussle for power with members of the previous cohort, making a few of them rather active and vocal during the time of protracted military rule, though some, who were able, emigrated during the 1980s while the rest simply ‘rolled over’ in fear. Further, this cohort were young adults during the spiritual awakening of the 1970s, therefore, will have the strongest recollections of the early MSS or Scripture Union (SU) while in University. This cohort are largely the children of the transitionaries, a feature which will be the basis of my more wild assumptions when I attempt to describe the characteristic of each cohort, subsequently.

Notable members of this cohort include: Umaru Yar’adua (‘51), Goodluck Jonathan (‘57), Okonjo Iweala (‘54), Sanusi (‘61), Ribadu (’60), El Rufai (’60), Ibori (’58), Patrick Obahiagbon (’60) Activists: Femi Falana (‘58), Femi Fani Kayode (‘60), Ben Murray Bruce (‘56), Asari (‘64), Entertainers: RMD (‘61), Kanayo O Kanayo (‘62), Francis Agu (‘65), Onyeka Onwenu (‘61). Current Population: 9.9% or about 17 Million.

Reactive Generation (1967 – 1975):

This cohort, I have named rather controversially but only because I am convinced that they are probably the most radical cohort in modern day Nigeria. They were born from after the Civil War and grew up during the ‘boom’ of the 1970s but came of age to the shock of a military rule between 1984 and 1992, a period which remains one of the worst in the economic history of Nigeria. Further, this cohort were young adults during the aborted third republic, were in University during the explosion of campus cults in the 1990s and witnessed the crumbling of institutions as they graduated to a most bleak future under the iron rule of Sani Abacha. Also, this cohort was born by the Can-do heroes. Searching for examples of members of this cohort was not easy. However, I did find some that almost seemed to justify the nomenclature further – maybe due to priming effects. I would definitely appreciate feedback on this section.

Notable members of this cohort include: Daniel Kanu – Abacha’s million man march coordinator (‘71), Muhammad Yusuf – Boko Haram Founder (‘70), Tompolo -MEND (’69), Festus Keyamo – social crusader (’70) Entertainers: Tuface (‘75) Activists: Omoyele Sowore – Sahara Reporters (’72). Current Population: 9.6% or about 16.5 Million.

Conflicted Millennials I & II (1976 – 1987):

Being a member of this cohort, I don’t believe I need to justify the adjective ‘conflicted’ being that I have a god-given right to self-adjudicate. However, I call this cohort conflicted because they are the most ‘infected’ by Western culture and ideas being that they came of age during the ‘raving 90s’. This cohort is probably the most responsible for rewriting the rules of Nigerian social culture, laying to rest what traditionalism stayed alive in the previous cohort. You can find this cohort filling the front pews of most pentecostal churches, on the dance floors of euro-styled night clubs and on facebook (at least 35% of total number of Nigerians). They are the market for Nollywood and Hollywood, Afro Hip Hop and Hip Hop, etc. My classification divides this cohort into two, right around the middle of this period. CM-1 are aged 31 – 36 today and they came of age during the last days of the Military rule, between 1993 and 1998. CM-2 are aged 25 – 30 today and came of age during the early years of democracy as well as the 911 terrorism attacks on America. CM-1 were old enough to benefit from the expanding economy in the early 2000s including the growing banking sector and deregulated telecoms market. CM-2 were less fortunate, having missed the first wave, but are entering the work force more actively today. This cohort may also be the first wave of poorly educated Nigerians, being that they came of age during a time of crumbling educational institutions.

Notable members of this cohort include: Asa (82), Da Grin (‘86), Agbani Darego (‘82), Mikel John Obi (‘87). Current Population: 14.3% or about 24.3 Million.

Generation Y (1988 – 1998):

This cohort were children during the ‘raving 90s’ also, an age of relative calm and optimism given Nigeria’s nascent democracy. They are currently coming of age in an atmosphere awash with technology and western style interaction patterns. In my mind, this cohort most closely matches with the millennial cohort of western nations.

Current Population: 19.3% or about 33 Million.

This brings me to the end of the third part and first chapter of this cohort series. The next challenge is to attempt to attach descriptions to each of these cohorts based on their life stories and compare them closely with other cohorts across the world. My thanks go to everyone who has dropped feedback via email, please keep the thoughts coming and lets refine this together.

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