Author ORCID Identifier
Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
PhD
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
History
Committee Chair
Joseph Hodge
Committee Member
Devin Smart
Committee Member
Tamba Mbayo
Committee Member
Kate Staples
Committee Member
Esther O. Ajayi-Lowo
Abstract
Much of the discourse on modernity in Africa is frequently centered around the influence of Western colonialism and education. However, this focus raises questions about what form African modernity might have taken had the continent practiced isolation or entirely rejected foreign influence. Could we have experienced an alternate version of African modernity, one largely unseen but preserved in documents like newspaper articles, private letters, and oral histories? By revisiting these sources, we can attempt to reconstruct and reimagine Africa’s modern story from a fresh perspective.
In the case of Nigeria, this research reveals that an alternate form of modernity was well established, resulting in the creation of a new social class that emerged from the fusion of Western and Indigenous Nigerian cultures. What made this alternative modernity particularly unique and compelling was that it was shaped by the agency of Nigerians themselves. They actively selected, vetted, and integrated foreign influences that aligned with their indigenous values and cultural roots. This process led to the development of a distinct form of partial cosmopolitanism, reflecting both global and local identities.
This alternate modernity permeated everyday life in Nigeria—shaping relationships, religion, and family. It was evident in the rise of industries like indigo dyeing, the creation of at-home celebration clubs, and organizations such as the Abeokuta Ladies Club. Nigerians also crafted a unique fashion that fused traditional clothing with Western styles, producing something entirely original. As a result, a class-conscious middle class emerged, along with a consumer culture that combined local and foreign influences. The consumerist culture that had previously been seen in England was now uniquely replicated and reinterpreted by Nigerians themselves, highlighting the distinctiveness of this process.
Furthermore, while scholars often associate modernity with institutionalized forms that suppress the agency of rural communities and overlook the role of women, this research highlights the significant contributions of informal groups, women, and rural communities. Their involvement was crucial in shaping an alternative modernity, which played a key role in the emergence of a new middle class. Although colonialism influenced ideas and culture, it did not overshadow the Nigerian way of life. Instead, the cultural fusion emphasized “Nigerianness” by integrating Indigenous traditions with selective Western ideas, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of Nigerian culture.
Recommended Citation
Adeojo, Odunayo A., "Uncommon Trends, Common People: Alternative Modernity, Identity Formation, Class, and Gender in Colonial Nigeria 1920-1960" (2024). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 12633.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12633
Included in
Africana Studies Commons, African History Commons, African Languages and Societies Commons, History of Gender Commons, Oral History Commons, Other History Commons, Public History Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Social History Commons, Women's History Commons
