Yorùbá Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria investigates the dynamics and challenges of ethnicity and elite politics in Nigeria, Africa's largest democracy. Wale Adebanwi demonstrates how the corporate agency of the elite transformed the modern history and politics of one of Africa's largest ethnic groups, the Yorùbá. The argument is organized around the ideas and cultural representations of Ọbáfemi Awólowo, the central signifier of modern Yorùbá culture. Through the narration and analysis of material, non-material and interactional phenomena - such as political party and ethnic group organization, cultural politics, democratic struggle, personal ambitions, group solidarity, death, memory and commemoration - this book examines the foundations of the legitimacy of the Yorùbá political elite. Using historical sociology and ethnographic research, Adebanwi takes readers into the hitherto unexplored undercurrents of one of the most powerful and progressive elite groups in Africa, tracing its internal and external struggles for power.

Yorùbá Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria investigates the dynamics and challenges of ethnicity and elite politics in Nigeria, Africa's largest democracy. Wale Adebanwi demonstrates how the corporate agency of the elite transformed the modern history and politics of one of Africa's largest ethnic groups, the Yorùbá. The argument is organized around the ideas and cultural representations of Ọbáfemi Awólowo, the central signifier of modern Yorùbá culture. Through the narration and analysis of material, non-material and interactional phenomena - such as political party and ethnic group organization, cultural politics, democratic struggle, personal ambitions, group solidarity, death, memory and commemoration - this book examines the foundations of the legitimacy of the Yorùbá political elite. Using historical sociology and ethnographic research, Adebanwi takes readers into the hitherto unexplored undercurrents of one of the most powerful and progressive elite groups in Africa, tracing its internal and external struggles for power.

In this unique exploration of the mysteries of the human brain, Roger Bartra shows that consciousness is a phenomenon that occurs not only in the mind but also in an external network, a symbolic system. He argues that the symbolic systems created by humans in art, language, in cooking or in dress, are the key to understanding human consciousness. Placing culture at the centre of his analysis, Bartra brings together findings from anthropology and cognitive science and offers an original vision of the continuity between the brain and its symbolic environment. The book is essential reading for neurologists, cognitive scientists and anthropologists alike.

This book investigates the dynamics and challenges of ethnicity and elite politics in Nigeria.

Essay in the subject History - Africa, University of Bayreuth, language: English, abstract: This paper delves into the complexities of Yoruba nationalism and ethnic politics, exploring how Yoruba identity has shaped Nigeria's past and present political landscape. Understanding the dynamics of Yoruba nationalism is crucial for comprehending the broader socio-political dynamics within Nigeria. Nigeria, with its vast population, abundant natural resources, and diverse ethnic landscape, faces significant challenges in navigating its complex socio-political terrain. The country's ambition to assert itself as a dominant political force is particularly influenced by its three largest ethnic groups: the predominantly Muslim Hausa-Fulani in the north, the predominantly Christian Igbo in the southeast, and the partially Muslim and Christian Yoruba in the southwest. The Yoruba, comprising about 21% of Nigeria's population, are known for their cultural, political, and religious dynamism, with significant presence in states like Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, and beyond. The Yoruba people, although not a homogeneous group, share a common language, culture, and historical heritage, tracing their origins to the mythological realm of Odua. Historically, the Yoruba have endured challenges such as civil wars, the slave trade, and colonial rule, yet they have remained influential in Nigerian politics and society.

Badru examines the class dimension of the Nigerian political crisis since 1960, when this culturally diverse nation became independent. He claims that the ruling elite, whether constituted in the military or the civil society, consistently used ethnicity to secure its own class domination in the absence of a coherent class ideology.