Njidda
Performing Authenticities and Nation Building in Nigeria
ISBN 978-3-487-16013-9
englischAfter the devastating civil war which lasted over 30 months (July 1967 – January 1970), the then Head of State and commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon initiated a National Festival for the main purposes of reintegration and reconciliation between ethnic nationalities that fought on the opposing sides during the war. It was an opportunity to use culture to heal the wounds of the war by uniting the people but as time went by, it became a forum for creativity, talent hunt and cultural promotion. The thrust of this publication is to examine the festival from the perspectives of performing Authenticity, Cultural Nationalism, Nation Building and National Identification which was continued to be shaped by prevailing socio-political as well as economic condition. After the devastating civil war which lasted over 30 months (July 1967 – January 1970), the then head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon initiated a national festival for the main purposes of reintegration and reconciliation between ethnic nationalities that fought on the opposing sides during the war. It was an opportunity to use culture to heal the wounds of the war by uniting the people but as time went by, it became a forum for creativity, talent hunt and cultural promotion. The thrust of this publication is to examine the festival from the perspectives of performing authenticity, cultural nationalism, nation building and national identification which was continued to be shaped by prevailing socio-political as well as economic conditions.
Nach dem verheerenden Bürgerkrieg, der über 30 Monate dauerte (Juli 1967 - Januar 1970), initiierte der damalige Staatschef und Oberbefehlshaber der Streitkräfte der Bundesrepublik Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon, ein nationales Festival, das in erster Linie der Wiedereingliederung und Versöhnung zwischen den ethnischen Nationalitäten dienen sollte, die während des Krieges auf den gegnerischen Seiten gekämpft hatten. Es war eine Gelegenheit, die Kultur zu nutzen, um die Wunden des Krieges zu heilen und die Menschen zu vereinen, doch im Laufe der Zeit wurde es zu einem Forum für Kreativität, Talentsuche und Kulturförderung.
In dieser Publikation soll das Festival unter den Gesichtspunkten der Authentizität der Darbietung, des kulturellen Nationalismus, der Nationenbildung und der nationalen Identifikation untersucht werden, die weiterhin von den vorherrschenden soziopolitischen und wirtschaftlichen Bedingungen geprägt wurden.
