JAMB Recommended Textbooks for History 2026/2027

Studying History for the JAMB UTME can be exciting and rewarding when you use the right textbooks. History is not just about memorizing dates or names, it is about understanding the stories behind events, how societies evolved, and the connections between past and present. With a clear study plan and the right resources, you can prepare confidently and score high in the exam.

These books give you clear explanations, practice materials, and the confidence to face the exam. Study consistently, understand the context of events, and use past questions to sharpen your skills.

JAMB 2026/2027 Recommended History Textbooks

1. The Politics of Mallam Aminu Kano

• Author (Year): Abba, A. (2006)
• Description: Detailed political biography and analysis of Aminu Kano’s ideology and mass politics in Northern Nigeria; useful for leadership and nationalist themes.

2. The Making of Modern Africa: The Twentieth Century, Vol. 2

• Author (Year): Ayandele, A. E. et al. (1986)
• Description: Multi-author survey of 20th-century African political, economic and social transformation; good for continental contexts and comparative questions.

3. History of West Africa, Vol. I

• Author (Year): Ajayi & Crowther (1971)
• Description: Foundational coverage of pre-colonial West African societies, kingdoms and institutions; essential for background on early African polities.

4. History of West Africa, Vol. II

• Author (Year): Ajayi & Crowther (1974)
• Description: Continuation into the colonial and early post-colonial era; explains European expansion, trade and institutional changes.

5. Emergent African States: Topics in Twentieth Century African History

• Author (Year): Akinloye, S. A. (1976)
• Description: Short studies on state formation, nationalism and independence movements in 20th-century Africa; helpful for independence-era questions.

6. Nigeria since Independence: The First 25 Years (International Relations), Vol. X

• Author (Year): Akinyemi, A. B., Agbi, S. O., Otunbanjo, A. O. (eds) (1989)
• Description: Edited volume on Nigeria’s external relations after independence; useful for foreign policy and diplomatic history topics.

7. Africa in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries

• Author (Year): Anene, J. C. & Brown, G. (1966)
• Description: Historical survey of Africa across 19th–20th centuries; provides thematic chapters on colonialism and resistance.

8. Southern Nigeria in Transition, 1885–1906

• Author (Year): Anene, J. C. (1966)
• Description: Focused monograph on colonial expansion and administrative change in Southern Nigeria during transition to colonial rule.

9. African in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries: A Handbook for Teachers and Students

• Author (Year): Anene, J. C. & Brown, G. (eds) (1972)
• Description: Teacher-friendly compendium of essays and sources covering major African historical themes for classroom use.

10. Tarikh 25: Grassroots Leadership in Colonial West Africa, Vol. 7

• Author (Year): Ashiwaju, A. I., Croder, M., Denzer, I. R. (eds) (date n/a)
• Description: Essays on local leadership and collaboration under colonial rule; useful for questions on indirect rule and local politics.

11. Nigeria since Independence: The First Years — Religion, Vol. I

• Author (Year): Atanda, J. A., Ashiwaju, G., Abubakar, Y. (eds) (1989)
• Description: Explores religion’s role in Nigeria’s early post-independence period; helpful for social and cultural history questions.

12. Africa and the Wider World, Vol. 1

• Author (Year): Barkindo, B. et al. (1989)
• Description: Studies Africa’s interactions with global forces; useful for international context and economic linkages.

13. African and the Wider World, Vols. 2 & 3

• Author (Year): Barkindo, B. et al. (1996)
• Description: Continued exploration of Africa’s global relations including trade, diplomacy and culture.

14. The Revolutionary Years: Africa since 1800

• Author (Year): Boahen, A. (1969)
• Description: Broad narrative of major political and social changes in Africa from 1800; good for long-run structural questions.

15. The Revolutionary Years: West Africa since 1800

• Author (Year): Boahen, A. (1969)
• Description: Regional focus on West Africa’s transformations under internal dynamics and European impact.

16. Sokoto Caliphate: History and Legacies, 1804–2004 (Vols. I & II)

• Author (Year): Various editors, Arewa House (2004)
• Description: Multi-volume collection on Sokoto’s political, religious and social history and its modern legacies.

17. Nigeria: Background to Nationalism

• Author (Year): Celeman, J. S. (1986)
• Description: Examination of forces that produced Nigerian nationalist movements and key pre-independence developments.

18. Right Honourable Gentleman: The Life and Times of Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

• Author (Year): Clerk, T. A. (1991)
• Description: Biography of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister covering political career and nation-building.

19. Political Economy of Africa: Selected Readings

• Author (Year): Cohen, D. I. & Daniel, J. (eds) (1981)
• Description: Reader of essays on Africa’s economic structures, dependency and development challenges.

20. West Africa: An Introduction to its History

• Author (Year): Crowther, M. (1977)
• Description: Introductory textbook on West African historical developments; student-friendly overview.

21. Nigeria: An Introduction to its History

• Author (Year): Crowther, M. (1979)
• Description: General history of Nigeria from pre-colonial times to modern era; useful for syllabus breadth.

22. Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta

• Author (Year): Dike, K. O. (1956)
• Description: Classic study of commerce, social change and political relations in the Niger Delta; important for regional economic history.

23. Nigeria since Independence: The First 25 Years — Culture, Vol. VII

• Author (Year): Ekeh, P. P. & Ashiwaju, G. (eds) (1989)
• Description: Essays on post-independence cultural change and identity formation in Nigeria.

24. History of Nigeria, Vol. I

• Author (Year): Falola, T. et al. (1989)
• Description: Scholarly multi-author work covering foundational periods of Nigerian history up to colonialism.

25. History of Nigeria, Vols. 2 & 3

• Author (Year): Falola, T. et al. (1989)
• Description: Continued analysis of colonialism, nationalism and post-colonial developments in Nigeria.

26. Nigeria since Independence: The First 25 Years — Public Administration, Vol. III

• Author (Year): Gboyega, A., Abubakar, Y., Aliyu, Y. (eds) (1989)
• Description: Studies on governance, bureaucracy and administrative challenges in early independent Nigeria.

27. Africa since 1875

• Author (Year): Hallet, R. (1975)
• Description: Survey of critical political and economic developments in Africa from late 19th century onward.

28. An Economic History of West Africa

• Author (Year): Hopkins, A. G. (1973)
• Description: Analytical account of West African economic change, trade patterns and colonial economic policies.

29. Tarikh: Independence Movement in Africa (Part I), Vol. 3, No. 4

• Author (Year): Ikime, O. & Osoba, S. O. (eds) (date n/a)
• Description: Collected essays on nationalist movements and decolonization processes across Africa.

30. Tarikh: Government in Pre-Colonial Africa, Vol. 4, No. 2

• Author (Year): Ikime, O. & Osoba, S. O. (eds) (date n/a)
• Description: Essays exploring governance structures and political institutions before colonial rule.

31. Peoples and Kingdoms of West Africa in the Pre-Colonial Period, Vol. 5, No. 1

• Author (Year): Ikime, O. & Osoba, S. O. (eds) (date n/a)
• Description: Focus on social and political organisation of pre-colonial West African states.

32. Tarikh: European Conquest and African Resistance (Part 2), Vol. 4

• Author (Year): Ikime, O. & Osoba, S. O. (eds) (date n/a)
• Description: Collection of studies on African responses to European imperialism and conquest.

33. The Fall of Nigeria: The British Conquest

• Author (Year): Ikime, O. (1977)
• Description: Examination of phases and methods of British conquest in Nigeria and its regional consequences.

34. Leadership in 19th Century Africa: Essays from Tarikh

• Author (Year): Ikime, O. (ed.) (1974)
• Description: Scholarly essays on leadership, state formation and elite politics in 19th-century Africa.

35. Merchant Prince of the Niger Delta

• Author (Year): Ikime, O. (1968)
• Description: Case study of mercantile elites and their role in commerce and social change in the Niger Delta.

36. Groundwork of Nigerian History

• Author (Year): Ikime, O. (ed.) (1980)
• Description: Comprehensive introductory text on major themes in Nigerian historical development.

37. A History of Nigeria

• Author (Year): Iseihei, E. (1983)
• Description: General narrative history for students, covering political, social and economic aspects.

38. The Nigeria Civil War

• Author (Year): Jorre, J. D. (1972)
• Description: Detailed account of causes, conduct and consequences of the 1967–1970 conflict.

39. A State and Society in the Sokoto Caliphate (Series I)

• Author (Year): Kani, A. M. & Gandi, K. (1990)
• Description: Regional study of Sokoto’s state institutions, social structure and political economy.

40. Nigeria: The State of the Nation and the Way Forward

• Author (Year): Mahdi, A., Kwanashei, G. A., Yakubu, M. (eds) (1994)
• Description: Essays reflecting on Nigeria’s post-independence challenges and reform proposals.

41. Africa (Third Edition)

• Author (Year): Martin, P. M. & Omera, P. (eds) (1995)
• Description: Broad anthology covering African regional histories and themes for classroom use.

42. Africa and Non-Alignment: A Study in the Foreign Relations of New Nations

• Author (Year): Mohammed, B. (1982)
• Description: Analysis of newly independent African states’ foreign policy choices during the Cold War era.

43. Nigeria and the Reform of the United Nations

• Author (Year): Mohammed A. S. & Adamu, S. (eds) (2005)
• Description: Essays on Nigeria’s role in global governance and proposals for UN reform.

44. Forced Labour in Colonial Africa

• Author (Year): Nzula, A. T., Potekhin & Zusmanovich (1979)
• Description: Comparative study of coerced labour systems and their economic and social impacts.

45. Imperialism and Dependency: Obstacles to Development

• Author (Year): Offiong, D. A. (1980)
• Description: Theoretical and empirical analysis of imperialism’s long-term effects on African development.

46. Shehu Shagari: The Biography of Nigeria’s First Executive President

• Author (Year): Ojigbo, O. (1982)
• Description: Political biography focusing on Shagari’s presidency and Nigeria’s Second Republic.

47. History for Senior Secondary Schools

• Author (Year): Okafor, I. (1989)
• Description: Secondary school textbook covering national and West African history topics aligned to school syllabuses.

48. Africa since 1880 (Fourth Edition)

• Author (Year): Oliver, T. & Afmore, A. (1996)
• Description: Wide-ranging survey of African history from colonial conquest to late 20th-century changes.

49. The Second World War and Politics in Nigeria, 1939–1953

• Author (Year): Olusanya, G. O. (1973)
• Description: Study of wartime mobilization and political developments that shaped Nigeria’s path to nationalism.

50. The Zulu Aftermath: A Nineteenth-Century Revolution in Bantu Africa

• Author (Year): Omar, O. (1966)
• Description: Regional study of Zulu power, conflicts and their broader impact in southern Africa.

51. Certificate History of Nigeria

• Author (Year): Omolewa, M. (1986)
• Description: Concise, exam-focused history of Nigeria suitable for certificate-level candidates.

52. Peace-keeping and International Security in a Changing World

• Author (Year): Onoja, I. (1998)
• Description: Contemporary analysis of peacekeeping operations and international security challenges.

53. School Certificate History of West Africa

• Author (Year): Onwubiko, K. (1983)
• Description: Secondary-level textbook covering essential West African historical topics for exams.

54. Nigeria since Independence: The First 25 Years, Vol. III

• Author (Year): Tamuno, T. N. & Atanda, A. (eds) (1989)
• Description: Part of the multi-volume series addressing governance and political developments in Nigeria.

55. Nigeria since Independence: The First 25 Years (Government and Public Policy), Vol. IV

• Author (Year): Tamuno, T. N. & Atanda, J. A. M. (eds) (1989)
• Description: Essays on policy-making, state institutions and public administration post-independence.

56. Nigeria since Independence: The First 25 Years (The Civil War Years), Vol. IV

• Author (Year): Tamuno, T. N. & Ukpabi, S. C. (eds) (1989)
• Description: Focused analysis of the civil war period and its political, social and economic aftermath.

57. History of South Africa

• Author (Year): Thompson, L. A. (2000)
• Description: Modern scholarly account of South Africa’s political history including apartheid and liberation movements.

58. Studies in the History of Sokoto Caliphate

• Author (Year): Usman, Y. B. (ed.) (1979)
• Description: Collected studies on Sokoto’s institutions, leadership, and socio-religious history.

59. The Transformation of Katsina, 1400–1883

• Author (Year): Usman, Y. B. (ed.) (1981)
• Description: Regional history tracing political and social change in Katsina over several centuries.

60. Studies in the History of Pre-Colonial Borno

• Author (Year): Usman, Y. B. (ed.) & Alkali, M. N. (1983)
• Description: Scholarly essays on Borno’s pre-colonial political and cultural institutions.

61. Inside Nigeria History 1950–1970: Events, Issues and Sources

• Author (Year): Usman, Y. B. & Kwanashei, G. A. (eds) (date n/a)
• Description: Collection from a presidential panel examining key national events and sources from 1950–1970.

62. Nigeria since Independence: The First 25 Years — The Society Vol. I

• Author (Year): Usman, Y. B. (ed.) (1989)
• Description: Studies on social changes, institutions and civil society in Nigeria’s early decades of independence.

63. Election Violence in Nigeria: The Terrible Experience, 1952–2002

• Author (Year): Usman, Y. B. (2002)
• Description: Detailed documentation and analysis of electoral violence and its political implications.

64. Tarikh: Early African Christianity, Vol. 2, No. 1

• Author (Year): Webster, J. B. & Ikime, O. (eds) (date n/a)
• Description: Essays on the history and spread of Christianity in Africa’s early modern period.

65. Apartheid and African Liberation: The Grief and the Hope

• Author (Year): Wilmot, P. F. (1980)
• Description: Study of apartheid’s impact and the regional liberation movements that opposed it.

66. Northern Nigeria: A Century of Transformation, 1903–2003

• Author (Year): Yakubu, A. M., Jumare, I., Saeed, A. G. (eds) (2005)
• Description: Multi-essay volume charting socio-political changes in northern Nigeria across a century.

67. Emirs and Politicians: Reform, Reactions and Recrimination in Northern Nigeria, 1950–1966

• Author (Year): Yakubu, A. M. (2006)
• Description: In-depth study of northern political elite dynamics, reform movements and post-colonial tensions.

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