Toyin Falola – författare

African Politics: An Introduction is an engaging, broad‑ranging guide to the politics of African states, reflecting on contemporary patterns and trends, whilst also situating them in their historical context. Viewed from the outside, African politics are often said to be too complex and multifarious to understand properly, leading to widespread misunderstandings and stereotypes. This book challenges these assumptions, providing an accessible, reader‑friendly guide. Starting with an introduction to the historical roots of African politics right back to the precolonial era, this book goes on to discuss colonialism and the independence movement, before diving into the postcolonial state and the challenges of governance, development, and conflict which many states have struggled with. This book looks in detail at the various actors involved, from religious groups, to political parties, youth politics, women, social movements, and different social classes. At the end of each chapter, a classwork box provides students with a particular example of an African state or event to investigate in more detail, encouraging them to consider the specific and to resist generalizations. African Politics: An Introduction is perfect for an undergraduate student starting out in their studies of African politics, but it would also be a welcome read for any reader who wants to learn a bit more about the governance of Africa.

Since its independence from Britain in 1960, Nigeria has emerged as Africa's second largest economy and one of the biggest producers of oil in the world. Despite its economic success, however, there are deep divisions among its two hundred and fifty ethnic groups. Centered around three of the dominant themes of Nigeria's post-colonial narrative - ethnicity, democracy and governance, this is an accessible and comprehensive introduction to the history and events that have shaped these three areas. World-renowned expert in Nigerian history, Toyin Falola shows us how the British laid the foundations of modern Nigeria, with colonialism breading competition for resources and power and the widening cleavages between the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo ethnic groups that had been forced together under British rule, the choice of federalism as a political system, and the religious and political pluralism that have shaped its institutions and practices. Using an examination of the outcomes of this history, manifested in hunger, violence, poverty, human rights violations, threats of secession and corruption, where power and resources are used to reproduce underdevelopment, Falola offers insights and recommendations for the future of policy and the potential for intervention in the country.

The Oxford Handbook of Nigerian History provides a comprehensive history of Africa's most populous and most rapidly developing country. Rather than centering the rise of the nation-state, the Handbook reads the narrative of national politics alongside deeper histories of political and social organization, as well as in relation to competing influences on modern identity formation and inter-group relationships, such as ethnic and religious communities, economic partnerships, and immigrant and diasporic cultures. Consisting of 36 chapters, the Handbook is separated into five major sections, starting with the historiography of Nigeria--namely, the systems of knowledge handed down by the indigenous, Christian, Islamic, colonial, and post-colonial traditions. From that foundation, the chapters cover the development of nomadic and agricultural societies, the colonial era, the emergence of a modern Nigeria, and the impact of Nigerians outside of the country's borders. This transnational approach incorporates the most important ideas from the new scholarship emerging in the 21st century, creating a forward-looking volume appropriate for a dynamic, diverse, and swiftly changing Nigeria.

Written by two senior scholars, A History of Africa introduces students to the history of the world's second largest continent. While it is not possible to discuss every event that ever happened in African history, the book comprises an historical narrative emphasizing key trends and processes illustrated by detailed examples. It represents a chronological and empirical history based on scholarly research and reconstructions of Africa's past. As a continental history, it seeks to cover all regions of Africa including North Africa, a region often seen as culturally and historically distinct. Furthermore, the narrative summarizes changing views and academic debates concerning aspects of African history. Richly illustrated with numerous maps and photographs, A History of Africa is the most comprehensive story of the place all humans call home.A History of Africa is available in a combined print or eBook volume, or in split eBook volumes (Volume One: to 1880 and Volume Two: since 1870).

The Yoruba people today number more than 30 million strong, with significant numbers in the United States, Nigeria, Europe, and Brazil. This landmark reference work emphasizes Yoruba history, geography and demography, language and linguistics, literature, philosophy, religion, and art. The 285 entries include biographies of prominent Yoruba figures, artists, and authors; the histories of political institutions; and the impact of technology and media, urban living, and contemporary culture on Yoruba people worldwide. Written by Yoruba experts on all continents, this encyclopedia provides comprehensive background to the global Yoruba and their distinctive and vibrant history and culture.

The Yoruba people today number more than 30 million strong, with significant numbers in the United States, Nigeria, Europe, and Brazil. This landmark reference work emphasizes Yoruba history, geography and demography, language and linguistics, literature, philosophy, religion, and art. The 285 entries include biographies of prominent Yoruba figures, artists, and authors; the histories of political institutions; and the impact of technology and media, urban living, and contemporary culture on Yoruba people worldwide. Written by Yoruba experts on all continents, this encyclopedia provides comprehensive background to the global Yoruba and their distinctive and vibrant history and culture.

The Igbo are one of the most populous ethnic groups in Nigeria and are perhaps best known and celebrated in the work of Chinua Achebe. In this landmark collection on Igbo society and arts, Toyin Falola and Raphael Chijioke Njoku have compiled a detailed and innovative examination of the Igbo experience in Africa and in the diaspora. Focusing on institutions and cultural practices, the volume covers the enslavement, middle passage, and American experience of the Igbo as well as their return to Africa and aspects of Igbo language, society, and cultural arts. By employing a variety of disciplinary perspectives, this volume presents a comprehensive view of how the Igbo were integrated into the Atlantic world through the slave trade and slavery, the transformations of Igbo identities and culture, and the strategies for resistance employed by the Igbo in the New World. Moving beyond descriptions of generic African experiences, this collection includes 21 essays by prominent scholars throughout the world.

African Refugees is a comprehensive overview of the context, causes, and consequences of refugee lives, discussing issues, policies, and solutions for African refugees around the world. It covers overarching topics such as human rights, policy frameworks, refugee protection, and durable solutions, as well as less-studied topics such as refugee youths, refugee camps, LGBTQ refugees, urban refugees, and refugee women. It also takes on rare but emergent topics such as citizenship and the creativity of African refugees.Toyin Falola and Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso showcase the voices and experiences of individual refugees through the sweep of history to tell the African refugee story from the historical past through current developments, covering the full range of experience from the causes of flight to living in exile, all while maintaining a persistent focus on the complicated search for solutions.African Refugees recognizes African agency and contributions in pursuit of solutions for African refugees over time but avoids the pitfalls of the colonial gaze—where refugees are perpetually pathologized and Africa is always the sole cause of its own problems—seeking to complicate these narratives by recognizing African refugee issues within exploitative global, colonial, and neo-colonial systems of power.

In Global Yorùbá, renowned scholar Toyin Falola covers the history, people, traditions, environment, religion, spirituality, cosmology, culture, and philosophy of one of Africa's largest cultural groups, the Yorùbá, all while considering the people's relationship with their immediate and distant neighbors. Falola examines how the Yorùbán people have adapted to their environment and tapped it to (re)invent their civilization, shape their culture and traditions, and inform their socioeconomic relations with their neighbors. These interactions have guided the Yorùbá philosophy that developed over time, expressing their conviction regarding society's evolution and the place that humans occupy within it. This web of knowledge can present a more coherent account than any other text yet produced regarding Yorùbá civilization. This volume demonstrates how global dynamics have been adopted in the creation of a Yorùbá community across different times and spaces.

In Global Yorùbá, renowned scholar Toyin Falola covers the history, people, traditions, environment, religion, spirituality, cosmology, culture, and philosophy of one of Africa's largest cultural groups, the Yorùbá, all while considering the people's relationship with their immediate and distant neighbors. Falola examines how the Yorùbán people have adapted to their environment and tapped it to (re)invent their civilization, shape their culture and traditions, and inform their socioeconomic relations with their neighbors. These interactions have guided the Yorùbá philosophy that developed over time, expressing their conviction regarding society's evolution and the place that humans occupy within it. This web of knowledge can present a more coherent account than any other text yet produced regarding Yorùbá civilization. This volume demonstrates how global dynamics have been adopted in the creation of a Yorùbá community across different times and spaces.

Where present-day media has depicted violent conditions in Africa as a spectacle born out of political instability, postcolonial scholars have discussed violence as a dialectic of law and disorder, a regime structured by the biopolitical state, or as a performative tool used to challenge ethical and political norms. While the latter approaches rely on historical trajectories of violence, popular and academic discourse's shared emphasis on the state often loses sight of Africans' social histories and lived experiences of violence.Violence in the Postcolony expands this discussion, presenting a set of microhistories, ethnographic accounts, and analyses of cultural forms to reflect on the postcolonial condition of Africa. Ambitious and expansive in its scope and scale, it brings together original contributions from a group of eminent scholars and includes case studies from North, West, and Southern Africa, as well as the African Great Lakes region. Through multidisciplinary frameworks, the contributors offer new lenses for examining entangled histories of violence, revealing the social and everyday processes that inform manifestations of violence and critiquing African subjectivities and lifeworlds produced through experiences of violence. Excavating histories of collective memory, the violence of belonging, colonial onomacide, the interplay between violence and sacredness, the everyday struggle for space, political violence, population displacement, xenophobia, and the lifeworld of génocidaires, this collection unfolds layered meanings of human suffering. Through careful examination of the dynamics and logics of violence in its different forms, Violence in the Postcolony is an essential and timely invitation to embrace new avenues of inquiry into Africa's past and present.

Where present-day media has depicted violent conditions in Africa as a spectacle born out of political instability, postcolonial scholars have discussed violence as a dialectic of law and disorder, a regime structured by the biopolitical state, or as a performative tool used to challenge ethical and political norms. While the latter approaches rely on historical trajectories of violence, popular and academic discourse's shared emphasis on the state often loses sight of Africans' social histories and lived experiences of violence.Violence in the Postcolony expands this discussion, presenting a set of microhistories, ethnographic accounts, and analyses of cultural forms to reflect on the postcolonial condition of Africa. Ambitious and expansive in its scope and scale, it brings together original contributions from a group of eminent scholars and includes case studies from North, West, and Southern Africa, as well as the African Great Lakes region. Through multidisciplinary frameworks, the contributors offer new lenses for examining entangled histories of violence, revealing the social and everyday processes that inform manifestations of violence and critiquing African subjectivities and lifeworlds produced through experiences of violence. Excavating histories of collective memory, the violence of belonging, colonial onomacide, the interplay between violence and sacredness, the everyday struggle for space, political violence, population displacement, xenophobia, and the lifeworld of génocidaires, this collection unfolds layered meanings of human suffering. Through careful examination of the dynamics and logics of violence in its different forms, Violence in the Postcolony is an essential and timely invitation to embrace new avenues of inquiry into Africa's past and present.

This innovative anthology focuses on the enslavement, middle passage, American experience, and return to Africa of a single cultural group, the Yoruba. Moving beyond descriptions of generic African experiences, this anthology will allow students to trace the experiences of one cultural group throughout the cycle of the slave experience in the Americas. The 19 essays, employing a variety of disciplinary perspectives, provide a detailed study of how the Yoruba were integrated into the Atlantic world through the slave trade and slavery, the transformations of Yoruba identities and culture, and the strategies for resistance employed by the Yoruba in the New World.The contributors are Augustine H. Agwuele, Christine Ayorinde, Matt D. Childs, Gibril R. Cole, David Eltis, Toyin Falola, C. Magbaily Fyle, Rosalyn Howard, Robin Law, Babatunde Lawal, Russell Lohse, Paul E. Lovejoy, Beatriz G. Mamigonian, Robin Moore, Ann O'Hear, Luis Nicolau Parés, Michele Reid, João José Reis, Kevin Roberts, and Mariza de Carvalho Soares.Blacks in the Diaspora—Claude A. Clegg III, editorDarlene Clark Hine, David Barry Gaspar, and John McCluskey, founding editors

This ambitious work provides an overview of the Atlantic world, since the 15th century, by exploring the major themes that define the study of this region. Contact with Europeans in Africa and the Americas, the slave trade, gender and race in the early Atlantic world, independence movements in Africa, Caribbean nationalism, and gender and identity in the 20th century are just a few subjects discussed. Moving beyond the micro-histories of the scholarly monograph to connect the fruits of those researches with broader events and processes, this book, in the editors' words, makes "a concerted effort to re-connect elites and non-elites, Old World and New, early modern and modern, and economics and culture." It will be a point of embarkation for a new generation of students of the Atlantic world.

Sàngó in Africa and the African Diaspora is a multidisciplinary, transregional exploration of Sàngó religious traditions in West Africa and beyond. Sàngó—the Yoruba god of thunder and lightning—is a powerful, fearful deity who controls the forces of nature, but has not received the same attention as other Yoruba orishas. This volume considers the spread of polytheistic religious traditions from West Africa, the mythic Sàngó, the historical Sàngó, and syncretic traditions of Sàngó worship. Readers with an interest in the Yoruba and their religious cultures will find a diverse, complex, and comprehensive portrait of Sàngó worship in Africa and the African world.

Colonialism and Violence in Nigeria looks closely at the conditions that created a legacy of violence in Nigeria. Toyin Falola examines violence as a tool of domination and resistance, however unequally applied, to get to the heart of why Nigeria has not built a successful democracy. Falola's analysis centers on two phases of Nigerian history: the last quarter of the 19th century, when linkages between violence and domination were part of the British conquest; and the first half of the 20th century, which was characterized by violent rebellion and the development of a national political consciousness. This important book emphasizes the patterns that have been formed and focuses on how violence and instability have influenced Nigeria today.

This is the first book devoted to the archaeology of African life on both sides of the Atlantic; it highlights the importance of archaeology in completing the historical records of the Atlantic world's Africans. Archaeology of Atlantic Africa and the African Diaspora presents a diverse, richly textured picture of Africans' experiences during the era of the Atlantic slave trade and offers the most comprehensive explanation of how African lives became entangled with the creation of the modern world. Through interdisciplinary approaches to material culture, the dynamics of a comparative transatlantic archaeology is developed.

The petroleum industry is among the most lucrative and most important in the world, and its impact within the realm of international politics is tremendous (although it can be overstated). Taking a well-balanced and objective approach to the complicated web of political and economic threads that make up the fabric of the oil industry, Falola and Genova introduce the most salient aspects in clear language, offering cogent and up-to-date information about the countries, companies, international organizations, and people who shape the contemporary history of the black gold.The relationship of international politics and the global oil industry affects everyone but is understood by few. Taking a well-balanced and objective approach to deconstructing this intricate web for those unfamiliar with the industry, Falola and Genova introduce the major players in the field, offering cogent and up-to-date information about the countries, companies, organizations, and people who shape the contemporary history of oil. They break down the essentials, describing the discovery process, the different types of oil, and the various processes by which oil gets to the market. Then they provide a brief history of the major oil-producing countries, followed by a discussion of OPEC and international efforts to control the price and supply of oil. After setting the stage, they introduce the most salient political issues that are influenced by oil, namely environmental protection, human rights, and economic development. Finally, a look at each of seven major oil exporters—Iraq, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela—demonstrates that the black gold can be both a blessing and a curse for the countries that produce it.Despite the need to learn how to exploit alternative energy sources before the oil runs out, we will continue to be dependent on oil for the foreseeable future. Today's oil demands are not only generated by such obvious activities as gassing up our cars or powering our aircraft, but also from the ubiquitous technological gadgets that have infiltrated our daily lives. From computer monitors to CDs, from cell phones to the petroleum-generated materials used in our shoes and sweaters, our reliance on oil continues to grow. Because price and supply are highly dependent on political events in distant countries, it is essential for American consumers to understand the intricacies of this complex subject. Falola and Genova demystify the industry and invite us to investigate more deeply this vital resource.

Born in 1947, Ifáyẹmí Ọ̀ṣúndàgbonù Ẹlẹ́buìbọn descends from a long line of Yorùbá healers, philosophers, and priests. A fervent disciple of Ifá from age four, Elebuibon grew to become both a living moral exemplar and an internationally recognized face of his religion. The first scholarly work to connect the biography of a devout Ifá practitioner to broader intellectual conversations around pluriversalism and Indigenous knowledge systems, Ifá Priestcraft analyzes the complexities of Yorùbá philosophy and religion and their lasting cultural impact in Nigeria and throughout the diaspora. Toyin Falola, a world-renowned scholar of African studies, employs a phenomenological approach that recognizes and solidifies the voice of the "guru" as an organic and authentic source of knowledge. The result is a wholly original and uniquely interdisciplinary study of Yorùbá spirituality and an extraordinary contribution to the field of ancestral studies.

This succinct, authoritative, and engagingly written history of Nigeria from its earliest beginnings through 1998 provides an excellent introduction to the country's history. Constructed around the two interrelated themes of politics and the economy, it relates the development of the Nigerian people from antiquity through the end of 1998. Following a timeline of events in the history of Nigeria, Professor Falola, a leading historian on Nigeria and a distinguished Africanist, provides a readable, coherent narrative that carefully integrates the past into the present to help the student and general reader understand the forces at play in the development of the country throughout its long history. Biographical sketches of notable Nigerians, maps, and a bibliographical essay will aid the beginning researcher.Falola examines the development of civilization among different Nigerian communities from antiquity, the consequences of the introduction of Islam and Christianity, the decimation of the population from the slave trade, the imposition of colonial rule and its effects, the transfer of power to the Nigerians in 1960, and the subsequent turmoil in the government and economy. The work analyzes the complicated journey of Nigeria to the present day, which is marked by political instability and economic underdevelopment. It is a story of Nigeria's failure to fulfill the expectations of its people while using its oil resources to become a giant.

Nigeria, one of the largest and most important countries in Africa, is rich in traditions and customs, both indigenous and modern. Culture and Customs of Nigeria is the only concise, authoritative, and up-to-date discussion of Nigerian culture that introduces to a Western audience the complexity of its society and the emerging lifestyles among its various peoples. Students and other interested readers will learn about all major aspects of Nigerian culture and customs, including the land, peoples, and brief historical overview; religion and worldview; literature and media; art and architecture/housing; cuisine and traditional dress; gender, marriage, and family; social customs and lifestyles; and music and dance.Nigerians are proud of their diverse culture comprising more than 250 ethnic groups. Important changes in their economy and political system are helping them cope with challenges in the modern world. Culture and Customs of Nigeria illuminates a dynamic society—how Nigerians today live, work, worship, interact, relax, and express themselves. Numerous photos, a chronology, and a glossary complement the text.

The decades of independence in Ghana have strengthened the idea of a national Ghanaian culture. The culture and customs of Ghana today are a product of diversity in traditional forms, influenced by a long history of Islamic and European contact. Culture and Customs of Ghana is the first book to concisely provide an up-to-date narrative on the most significant elements of the established cultural life and institutions as well as the most recent changes in the cultural landscape. Written expressly for students and the general reader, it belongs in every library supporting multicultural and African studies curricula.Ghana seeks to cultivate the philosophy of the African personality, to revive, maintain, and promote Ghanaian ways of life and integrate them into political and social institutions. Ghanaians also recognize their relationship to the rest of the world and continue to develop with the forces of globalization. Culture and Customs of Ghana authoritatively discusses the vibrant and adaptable people, from their religions to music and dance. A chronology, glossary, and numerous photos complement the text.

Thanks to its population growth rate, Africa has one of the highest numbers of teenagers in the world. Africa is a vast continent with 52 countries, thousands of languages and peoples, numerous religions, and a diverse landscape, but the teen life—covered here in 15 representative countries—still has basic commonalities. African teens can go to school, tend animal herds, serve as farm help, or learn a trade; they belong to large family networks and participate in communal activities; they enjoy sports and hanging out with friends; and they mix modern and Western influences, such as fashion, with more traditional values. This book explores the lives, cultures, and opportunities of African teens, offering students and general readers a substantial understanding of this important group._

For the first time, the Middle Passage—the experience of slaves on the trans-Atlantic ships—receives a full reference treatment in an encyclopedia. This A-to-Z reference consists of 226 signed entries arranged alphabetically, exhaustively covering the Middle Passage from a variety of perspectives for student research and browsing. Each essay entry concludes with suggestions for further reading. The encyclopedia includes an introductory overview of the trans-Atlantic slave trade as well as illustrations, bibliography, and chronology.As a handy ready-reference, the Encyclopedia of the Middle Passage is the first of its kind. As schools continue to incorporate slavery in their curriculums, the volume will prove to be an essential reference for high school reports and research in History and Social Studies, as well as for college students and general readers. Its subject is of continuing interest, as evidenced by the extraordinary popularity of the film Amistad and the recent HBO special, The Middle Passage. Sample entries: Abolitionism, Asante, Barracoons, Black Sailors, Cargoes, Christianity, Credit and Finance, Door of No Return, Eric Williams Thesis, Gold Coast, Import Records, Islam and Muslims, Museums, Oral History, Rape and Sexual Abuse, Seasoning, Suicide, Triangular Trade, William Wilberforce, Women

Amid a Sudan's dark history, saturated with conflicts and tragic current events, lies a culture with deep roots, going back as far as 8000 BC. With several hundred ethnic groups and languages, Sudan is one of the world's most diverse countries. Learn how these cultures have blended and collided throughout the centuries, and examine how traditions and customs are kept alive today. Religious beliefs, social customs, arts, literature, and cuisine are among the topics discussed in this volume, which is ideal for high school and undergraduate students.Chapters include coverage on historical background, religions and worldviews, literature and media, art and architecture, cuisine and traditional dress, gender roles, marriage, and family, social customs, and music and dance.A timeline of key events and bibliographical essay including print and nonprint sources supplement the work.

This book provides an extensive examination of the major conflicts in the extremely volatile region of sub-Saharan Africa and their ramifications throughout the continent and beyond.Conflict has been a critical factor in the making of contemporary Africa, and its study is key to understanding the continent's tortuous history. Hot Spot: Sub-Saharan Africa analyzes the area's major, post-independence conflicts intense enough to threaten national, regional, or international security.This work defines conflict broadly to encompass political instability and state failure, ethno-religious tensions, government and political corruption, economic mismanagement and poverty, cult violence, and youth gangsterism. Thematically organized chapters examine the origins and development of explosive hot spots—including Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo—in West Africa, Nigeria, Southern Africa, the Horn of Africa and Central Africa, and the Great Lakes region. The book also explores outside factors that have impacted African conflicts, such as superpower Cold War manipulation and foreign influence and intervention.

Nigeria, one of the largest and most important countries in Africa, is rich in traditions and customs, both indigenous and modern. Culture and Customs of Nigeria is the only concise, authoritative, and up-to-date discussion of Nigerian culture that introduces to a Western audience the complexity of its society and the emerging lifestyles among its various peoples. Students and other interested readers will learn about all major aspects of Nigerian culture and customs, including the land, peoples, and brief historical overview; religion and worldview; literature and media; art and architecture/housing; cuisine and traditional dress; gender, marriage, and family; social customs and lifestyles; and music and dance.Nigerians are proud of their diverse culture comprising more than 250 ethnic groups. Important changes in their economy and political system are helping them cope with challenges in the modern world. Culture and Customs of Nigeria illuminates a dynamic society—how Nigerians today live, work, worship, interact, relax, and express themselves. Numerous photos, a chronology, and a glossary complement the text.

This reference guide to African history provides substantive entries on 36 watershed events that shaped the history of the continent from the prehistoric past to the dawn of the 21st century. Noted African scholar Toyin Falola clearly and articulately chronicles the growth and change of the continent from the agricultural revolution through colonial rule to African independence and the end of apartheid, examining the powerful moments at which Africa became drawn into the global world. Each entry appears in chronological order and consists of a comprehensive essay on the event, its historical, social, and geographic context, and its long-term significance. Many illustrations and maps provide valuable visual tools for the reader. Each entry concludes with suggestions for further reading. A narrative introduction to the history of the continent and a timeline of events place the events in historical and global context.Based on the latest scholarship, this reference work analyzes the major events in African history and their ramifications, and draws connections between the past and the present. Key themes recur throughout: the development of diverse African cultures, Arab and European incursions and influence, and the efforts of African peoples to gain independence in the 20th century. Among the events recounted are the Iron Age, the rise of the Kush, the spread of Islam, the 19th-century outbreak of Islamic Jihad, the Atlantic slave trade, European conquest and the African response, Pan-Africanism, the women's decade of 1965-1975, and environmental and political challenges of the last years of the 20th century. Well written and objective, this work is an essential reference tool for students and an excellent complement to the study of African history.