Playing at nationalism: Nigeria, a nation of 'ringers'

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Periodical article

Title:	Playing at nationalism: Nigeria, a nation of 'ringers'
Author:	Salamone, F.A.
Year:	1992
Periodical:	Genève-Afrique: acta africana
Volume:	30
Issue:	1
Pages:	55-75
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Nigeria
Subjects:	nationalism ethnicity
Abstract:	A 'ringer' is someone who plays a game under false pretences, someone who pretends to an identity that is not his/hers by right. Thus, a person who boxes at a wrong weight or a horse that races under a lesser horse's name is said to be a ringer. This paper argues that in the game of modern nationalism in Nigeria those claiming to be Nigerians are ringers, for they are pretending to possess an identity that they do not truly have. In reality, the presence of strong competing ethnic identities, much stronger than the national identity, leads to cultural strain, often expressed in aggressive behaviour. Nigerians have creatively responded to the challenges posed by their socioeconomic environment by playing with their identities. In order to illustrate the 'play' involved in the transformation of identities, the author examines two cases, the development of the Hausa-Fulani identity and that of the Yoruba. He argues that all identities are situational and layered one on top of another. Moreover, even ethnic identities are relatively recent in Nigeria and are a result of the colonial situation. Bibliogr., sum. also in French and German.