COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, WORLD NEWS: The return to civilian rule in Nigeria 10 months ago is a work in progress. The country is still struggling for economic stability, and Nigerian officials have had to deal with a fair amount of ethnic violence as well. CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh has more.</s>ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sounds of celebration. Descendants of Nigerian slaves celebrate their culture and their history. But it is also a history of military takeovers and instability. With democracy finally a part of Nigeria's future, historians and archeologists don't want Nigerians to forget their past. In fact, one of the most significant archeological discoveries on the continent is just an hour's drive away from capital city Lagos. Archeologist Patrick Darling.</s>PATRICK DARLING, ARCHEOLOGIST: Well, in terms of size, this is the largest single monument in Africa. There is more material moved here than for the largest Egyptian pyramid.</s>VAN MARSH: It's a moat stretching 160 kilometers, built, experts say, more than 1,000 years ago by Yoruba tribes to protect their kingdom.</s>DARLING: This is the earliest proof that we have of kingdom formation within the African rainforest. It takes it back to the same dates as we get for the earliest savannah kingdoms. So the savannah and the forests were being - state formation was taking place equally in them both.</s>VAN MARSH: Officials hope these lessons of the past might address current animosities amongst a nation of 250 different tribes and ethnicities, where religious violence has left hundreds dead. But even more effective - modern media. This film about an ancient Nigerian tribal ruler called "Sango" has been a surprise hit. It's one of many history-based films approved by Nigerian officials. From the small screen to the forests to the streets, understanding Nigeria's diverse past, historians say, may be key to building unity in a country too accustomed to violence and instability. Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN.
Nigeria's History May Be Key To Building Unity Now