Books: 2000 - 2001

Nationalism and African Intellectuals

by Toyin Falola 

This book is about how African intellectuals, influenced primarily by nationalism, have addressed the inter-related issues of power, identity politics, self-assertion and autonomy for themselves and their continent, from the mid-nineteenth century onward. Their major goal was to create a 'better Africa' by connecting nationalism to knowledge. The results have been mixed, from the glorious euphoria of the success of anti-colonial movements to the depressing circumstances of the African condition as we enter a new millennium. As the intellectual elite is a creation of the Western formal school system, the ideas it generated are also connected to the larger world of scholarship. This world is, in turn, shaped by European contacts with Africa from the fifteenth century onward, the politics of the Cold War, and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union. In essence, Africa and its elite cannot be fully understood without also considering the West and changing global politics. Neither can the academic and media contributions by non-Africans be ignored, as these also affect the ways that Africans think about themselves and their continent. Nationalism and African Intellectuals examines intellectuals' ambivalent relationships with the colonial apparatus and subsequent nation-state formations; the contradictions manifested within pan-Africanism and nationalism; and the relation of academic institutions and intellectual production to the state during the nationalism period and beyond.

Culture and Customs of Nigeria

by Toyin Falola 

Nigeria, one of the largest and most important countries in Africa, is rich in traditions and customs, both indigenous and modern. This is the only concise, authoritative, and up-to-date discussion of Nigerian culture that introduces to a Western audience the complexity of its society and the emerging lifestyles among its various peoples. Students and other interested readers will learn about all major aspects of Nigerian culture and customs, including the land, peoples, and brief historical overview; religion and worldview; literature and media; art and architecture/housing; cuisine and traditional dress; gender, marriage, and family; social customs and lifestyles; and music and dance. Nigerians are proud of their diverse culture comprising more than 250 ethnic groups. Important changes in their economy and political system are helping them cope with challenges in the modern world. Culture and Customs of Nigeria illuminates a dynamic society—how Nigerians today live, work, worship, interact, relax, and express themselves. Numerous photos, a chronology, and a glossary complement the text.

Yoruba Warlords of the Nineteenth Century

by Toyin Falola and G. O. Oguntomisin

This pioneering book on the Yoruba military generals of the 19th century covers their individual careers, military alliances and the consequences of their actions on the society. This book is divided into two parts. The first examines the life histories of the most distinguished among the Yoruba warriors. In the second section, the authors examine the Yoruba warlords' diplomatic strategies and the enduring consequences of their action.

Yoruba Gurus: Indigenous Production of Knowledge in Africa

by Toyin Falola 

In the quest to promote "universal knowledge" and create Western institutions in Africa, the intellectual contributions of Africans without university certificates or connections to the academy have been maligned, ignored or slighted. Yet, as this book points out, there are African scholars and thinkers without academic credentials who have made profound contributions. Here is a book that shows that intellectual work and influence need not be divorced from the concerns of local communities or deliberately promote narrative inequality and distance. The primary focus here is the intellectual production of the prominent Yoruba intelligentsia outside of the academy. This book analyzes the broad themes of the chroniclers who wrote in Yoruba and English and the contribution of the gurus among them, along with selected primary texts.

Tradition and Change in Africa: The Essays of J.F. Ade Ajayi

edited by Toyin Falola 

Dr. J. F. Ade Ajayi, emeritus professor of History, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, is a pioneer Africanist, known worldwide for his contribution to the development of African studies and Nigerian history. He was vice-chancellor of the Unviersity of Lagos and received his country's highest honor, the Nigerian National Merit Award; he also served as a member of the Group of Eminent Persons established by the Organization of African Unity. This book brings together a selection of his leading essays written over a forty-year period, 1958-1998, many of them hitherto unpublished, around the following themes: the relevance of the past in understanding the present; the relevance of 19th-century mission history to contemporary issues; colonialism; the national question as viewed from a historical perspecitve; the development and legacy of slavery in Africa; and a review of nationalist historiography. The essays constitute an appeal to reason for racial justice and purposeful amelioration of the painful legacies of slavery and colonial rule.

Africa 2: African Cultures and Societies Before 1885

edited by Toyin Falola 

Volume 2: African Cultures and Societies before 1885, provides a broad view of precolonial experiences and expressions in Africa. The book focuses on culture as a means of understanding both the traditions that thrived throughout Africa and the efforts of modern Africans to reclaim their cultural past in lands that have been divided and exploited by Western imperial powers.

Africa 1: African History Before 1885

edited by Toyin Falola 

Volume 1: African History Before 1885 introduces students to the various precolonial histories of Africa. Instead of generalizing about the continent, the chapters reconstruct the histories of many different societies in various historical periods.