Indigeneity, Belonging and the Question of National Unity in Nigeria
Abstract:
Indigeneity as a concept is problematic; yet it has become an important
factor in today’s Nigerian politics. Discourses on the indigene-settler
question in Nigeria have become more prominent in recent years due
largely to population and agricultural expansion as well as climate change
and migration.The argument about the rights and protection of indigenous
peoples all over the world hinges chiefly on the notion that indigenous
peoples across the globe have persistently been dominated, marginalised
and dispossessed of their land and natural resources. Interestingly, the
notion of indigeneity is rather complex and stretches beyond access to land
natural resources.This paper demonstrates how different ethnic groups and
communities in Nigeria position themselves as indigenous peoples and
appropriate indigenous rights in certain localities and circumstances. The
paper argues that the notion of indigeneity might also be used as a tool of
empowerment by oppressed groups that require special rights.
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