Cultural hegemony and ethnic minority struggles in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study explores the plight of ethnic minorities and marginals and their increasing quest to obliterate their subordinate status and attempts by the dominant groups to maintain the status quo in Nigeria. Such interactions have induced resistance and increasingly stimulated questions of insecurity. Extant explanations of ethnic hegemony have mainly focused on describing and analysing the phenomenon with the attendant socio-political, economic, and environmental issues. This approach has neglected the interaction between hegemony and resistance in majority/minority relations. This brings to the fore the need to interrogate this missing link. Drawing from interviews, institutional reports, and other secondary sources and relying on the cultural hegemony thesis, we argue that questions of cultural hegemony and instances of resistance, counter-resistance, and reverse influences have had significant consequences for contemporary Nigeria’s politics. This trend stimulated bitterness, suspicion, and violence in the socio-political life of the country and manifested in voting patterns and political violence.

KEYWORDS:

• Ethnic minority struggles
• majority/Minority relations and resistance
• cultural hegemony
• citizenship crisis
• Nigeria’s federalism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Interview with Mallam Sani Bello, local historian, Yola, August 3, 2021.

2. Interview with Bashar Mudi, Jos, February 8, 2016.

3. Interview with Emuabo Ogboru, Asaba, August 6, 2018.

4. Ibid.

5. Interview with Dominic Nwuguru, Owerri, December 30, 2021.

6. Interview with Godspower Edet, Lagos, July 7, 2021.

7. Interview with ThankGod Jaja, Portharcourt, June 22, 2018.

8. Interview, Darlington Azum, Lagos, July 7, 2021.

9. Interview in Jos with Yakubu Dokotiri.

10. Interview with Shedrack Gad, Jos, March 15, 2016.

11. Interview with Musa Dangana-Dangiwa, retired soldier.

12. Interview with Mr Jonathan Tarvarshima.

13. Interviewees in Jos and Kaduna claimed that the current pattern of dressing by non-Muslim chiefs in Northern Nigeria was majorly influenced by Fulani and Islamic cultures.

14. Interview with Bitrus Gizo, Jos, July 18, 2019.

15. Interviews in Plateau State between 2016 and 2018 indicated that this was the case.

16. Authors’ observation in the field suggests this the situation on ground.

17. Telephone Interview with Damian Ovude, October 2021.

18. Interview with Damian Ovude, October 2021.

19. Interview with Mazi Okechukwu Amuta, November 20, 2021.

20. Interview with Mr Kingsley Anosike, October 22, 2021.

21. Interview with Mr. Bazil James, Uyo, May 13, 2017.

22. Interview, Mr Bazil James.

23. Interview with Solomon Preye, Portharcourt, June 8, 2018.

24. Interview with Uchenna Onuegbu, Port Harcourt, August 27, 2018.

25. Interview with Jonathan Bob, Portharcourt, June 24, 2018.

26. Interview with Chris Isaac, Lagos, October 20, 2021.

27. Interview with Patrick Stephen, phone interview, November 18, 2021.

28. This was phone conversation with an academic of Tiv origin and resident in Benue, December 15, 2021.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Notes on contributors

Onyekachi E. Nnabuihe

Onyekachi E. Nnabuihe is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Criminology, Security, Peace and Conflict Studies, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, Nigeria, and Fellow, FAR-LeaF, University of Pretoria. This research and publication were made possible in part by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The statements made and views expressed are solely the responsibility of the author(s).

Ifeanyi Onwuzuruigbo

Ifeanyi Onwuzuruigbo holds a doctorate in Sociology. He teaches Sociology in the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. His research engages the nexus of politics, development, and society.

Martin Ayankaa Ihembe

Martin Ayankaa Ihembe is a doctoral candidate at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He was a Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation fellow (2019-2020). His research interests straddle democratisation in Africa, governance and development, comparative electoral reforms, political theory, and judicial politics. He can be contacted via [email protected].