Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Moderator's Intervention: Afolayan's Ethnic Theory

Thanks for calling our attention to this statement, Professor Falola. This is one is one of those melodic tunes that often get lost in the convoluted "ariwo oja," which cyber-discourses often spur, especially among us, elite Nigerians. At my first reading, I thought Adeshina Afolayan (my olooko)'s observation was an exaggerated metaphor but thinking it over, I came to see it as a well known socio-cultural-cum-political reality in Nigeria, where the fact of nationhood is relegated to the dinning table - he who makes provision at the table dictates my allegiance. In Nigeria, there is no organized formal order that makes that provision, not even at the ethnic base. It is the family - the smallest unit of the social institutions. In fact, the individual becomes the pilot of his/her own fortune within the family unit; no wonder why the Yoruba proudly say "atewo lara" (simply put, your two hands are your closest relatives - being your bread winners). Thus, the allegiance shifts from the global to the local. Should this necessarily be the case? I don't think so. Aren't there countries in the world that fit snugly into the Nigerian paradigm and yet embrace the tenets of patriotism? Certainly there are. Hopefully Professor Olukotun will accept Professor Falola's challenge and help us to further problematize the can of worms that Adeshina Afolayan has opened in our marketplace of reasoning. And by the way, I believe Sara Berry's 1982(?) work, "Fathers Work for Their Sons" underscores this dilemma. Thanks!
Michael O. Afolayan

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From: Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>
To: dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>
Cc: ayo_olukotun-yahoo.com <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2012 6:24 AM
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Moderator's Intervention: Afolayan's Ethnic Theory

Dear all:

My eyes caught a sentence in Mr. Adeshina Afolayan's intervention that,I think, is so profound that it merits serious consideration: it shakes the roots of elite theory of ethnicity, while also making nonsense of class analysis. How can this be? I think Professor Olukotun's influential column in Nigeria should be devoted to this. If it is true, it is also the location of untapped power, the very space to rupture the state. Or am I exaggerating the significance of Afolayan's thesis?

"The informal sector of the economy is the burial ground of patriotism in Nigeria." 

Toyin Falola

Department of History

The University of Texas at Austin

104 Inner Campus Drive

Austin, TX 78712-0220

USA

512 475 7224

512 475 7222 (fax)

http://www.toyinfalola.com 

http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa  

http://groups.google.com/group/yorubaaffairs 

http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue   

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