Nigerian Federal House of Representatives at the capital, Lagos, (1956)

This photo from 1956 at the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives at the capital, Lagos, during Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit, The photo would be a powerful reflection of the racial hierarchy imposed during British colonial rule in Nigeria.

The written record

The arrangement of Europeans, notably Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, positioned above African representatives in a formal setting, symbolizes the imposed power dynamics where the British ruled, while Africans were relegated to subordinate roles. Even though by the 1950s, there were already Nigerian representatives in the Federal House, their influence was limited within the larger colonial structure.

Historical context

The image encapsulates the visual representation of colonial authority—an era when political control was in the hands of the British, while Nigerians were mostly in advisory or consultative roles, setting the stage for the eventual push toward independence just a few years later.