DOCSLIB.ORG

Ecocriticism and the Oil Encounter: Readings from the Niger Delta

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ecocriticism and the Oil Encounter: Readings from the Niger Delta Ecocriticism and the Oil Encounter: Readings from the Niger Delta Philip Onoriode Aghoghovwia Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Dr Louise Green Co-supervisor: Dr Nwabisa Bangeni Department of English April 2014 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Signature…………………….. Date………………….. Copyright © 2014 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved i Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Dedication In affectionate salutation to Onajite: one shy of a score since you first took the dough and began to knead... That the bread may never run out! ii Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract The study seeks to understand the ways that environmental concerns and the phenomenon of oil production in the Niger Delta are captured in contemporary literary representations. In the thesis, I enlist several works, five poetry collections and a Nollywood video film, produced between 1998 and 2010, to investigate and analyse the different ways they engage with the effects of oil extraction as a form of violence that is not immediately apparent. Amitav Ghosh argues that representing something of such magnitude as oil modernity can only be done adequately through narratives of epic quality such as realist fiction or the historical novel. I move away from Ghosh’s assumptions to argue that the texts, poetry and video film have adequately captured the oil encounter, but not on a grand scale or through realist fiction. I situate Niger Delta representations of the oil encounter within the intellectual frame of petrocultures, a recent field of global study which explores the representational and critical domain within which oil is framed and imagined in culture. In their signification of what I call the “oil ontology”, that is, the very nature and existence of oil in the Delta, lived- experience in its actual quotidian specificity, takes precedence in the imagination of the writers that I study. I propose that the texts, in very different ways, articulate these experiences by concatenating social and environmental concerns with representations of the oil encounter to produce a petro-literary form which inflects and critiques the ways in which oil extraction, in all its social and environmental manifestations, inscribes a form of violence upon the landscape and human population in the oil sites of the Delta. I suggest that the texts articulate a place-based, place-specific form of petroculture. They emphasis the notion that the oil encounter in the Delta is not the official encounter at the point of extraction but rather the unofficial encounter with the side-effects of the oil extraction. The texts, in very different ways address similar concerns of violence as an intricate feature in the Delta, both as a physical, spectacular phenomenon and as a subtle, unseen category. They conceive of iii Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za violence as a consequence of the various forms of intrusion and disruption that the logic of oil extraction instigates in the Niger Delta. I suggest that the form of eco-poetics that is articulated gives expression to environmental concerns which are marked off by an oily topos in the Delta. I maintain that in projecting an artistic vision that is sensitive to environmental and sociocultural questions, the writings that we encounter from this region also make critical commentary on the ontology of oil. The texts conceive the Niger Delta as one that provides the spatial and material template for envisioning the oil encounter and staging a critique of the essentially globalised space that is the site of oil production. iv Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Opsomming Hierdie studie ondersoek die maniere waarop omgewingsbelange en die instellings van olieproduksie in die Delta van die Niger-rivier vasgevang word in kontemporêre letterkundige voorstellings. In my tesis gebruik ek verskeie werke – vyf versamelings van gedigte en ‘n Nollywood [Nigeriese] video, almal geskep tussen 1998 en 2010 – om die verskillende wyses waarop hierdie tekste omgaan met die gevolge van olie-ontginning, as ‘n vorm van geweld wat nie onmiddellik opvallend is nie, na te vors en te analiseer. Amitav Ghosh argumenteer dat, om ‘n fenomeen van sulke geweldige omvang soos olie-moderniteit uit te beeld, slegs na behore uitgevoer kan word in narratiewe van epiese dimensies; byvoorbeeld realistiese fiksie of die historiese roman. Ek beweeg weg van Ghosh se aannames deur te argumenteer dat die tekste (gedigte en ‘n video-film) wel die olie-ervaring behoorlik vasvang, maar nie op groot skaal soos in realistiese fiksie nie. Ek plaas die Niger- Delta uitbeeldings van die olie-ervaring binne die groter raamwerk van Petro-kulture: ‘n nuwe studiegebied wat die voorstellings- en kritiese domein waarbinne olie gekonseptualiseer en kultureel verbeel(d) word, ondersoek. In hul voorstellings van die olie-ontologie van die Delta neem die ervaringswêreld in sy daaglikse werklikhede (in die gekose skrywers se uitbeelding daarvan) ‘n sentrale plek in. Ek konstateer dat die tekste, hoewel op heel uiteenlopende maniere, hierdie ervarings artikuleer deur sosiale en omgewings-oorwegings byeen te bring met uitbeeldings van die olie-ervaring ten einde ‘n petro-literêre vorm te skep wat die maniere waarop olie-ontginning, in al die sosiale en omgewings-effekte daarvan, ‘n vorm van geweld op die landskap en die menslike bevolking van die olie-ontginningsgebiede van die Delta inskryf, inflekteer en krities analiseer. Ek stel dit dat die tekste ‘n plek-gebaseerde en gebieds-spesifieke vorm van Petrokultuur artikuleer. Hulle benadruk die feit dat die olie-ervaring in die Delta nie die offisiële ontmoeting by die ontginningspunt is nie, maar eerder die onoffisiële ondervinding van die newe-effekte van die olie-ontginningsproses. Op hul verskillende wyses spreek die v Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za tekste ‘n ooreenstemmende besorgdheid uit aangaande die ingewikkelde rol wat geweld in die Delta speel – beide as ‘n fisiese, ooglopende fenomeen en as ‘n subtiele, ongesiene kategorie. Die tekste konseptualiseer geweld as seinde die gevolg van die verskeie vorme van ingryping en versteuring wat deur die logika van die olie-ontginningsproses in die Niger- Delta meegebring word. Ek suggereer dat die vorm van eko-poëtika wat hier geartikuleer word, uitdrukking gee aan omgewings-oorwegings wat in die Delta deur ‘n olie(rige) topos omgrens word. Ek maak die stelling dat, deur middle van ‘n artistieke visie wat gevoelig is vir omgewings-en sosiale vrae, die tekste wat in hierdie gebied ontstaan, kritiese kommentaar bied op die ontologie van olie. Die tekste verbeel die Niger-Delta as ‘n gebied wat die ruimtelike en materiële templaat voorsien om die olie-ervaring te visualiseer en te konseptualiseer, om sodoende ‘n kritiek te skep van die geglobaliseerde ruimte van olie- produksie. vi Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Acknowledgments Eternal debt is owed to my supervisor Dr Louise Green whose guidance, professionalism and patience resulted in the fruition of this thesis. Her extremely sharp eye for vagueness and ambiguities made all the difference. I also want to thank the co-supervisor Dr Nwabisa Bangeni for her effort and patience in reading my drafts at various stages of the thesis. Because of you two, this is! The road to Stellenbosch was paved and enabled by my previous teachers in Nigeria under whose tutelage I have also enjoyed the privilege of friendship. Notable among these are Professors Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, James Tsaaior and Dumbi Osani. I would also like to thank Professors Harry Garuba and Akin Adesokan, and Drs Ogaga Okuyade and Senayon Olaoluwa with whom I have shared my thoughts and ideas at various stages of this work. Their unwavering belief in me has been a foundational source of inspiration throughout these formative years. The weekly seminars and monthly African Intellectual Tradition (AIT) Reading Group Meetings of the English Department at Stellenbosch University have been instrumental in ‘firing the forge’ so that we (my colleagues and I) might be moulded into “tomorrow’s” explicators and critics of African literature. Grateful regards are extended to the entire members of the department for providing the invaluable collegial atmosphere and moral support which made productive work possible. In this regard, mention must be made of the following: Professors Shuan Viljeon, Meg Samuelson, Sarah Nuttall, Tina Steiner, Achille Mbembe and Rita Barnard and Drs Daniel Roux, Dawid de Villiers and Megan Jones, for the interests and encouragements. Grateful regard is proffered to Professor Annie Gagiano who helped with the Afrikaans translation of my abstract and also gave important advice throughout the years. Professor Grace Musila gave invaluable suggestions at various stages of my drafts (and manuscript extracts) at our writing group meetings. Dr Mathilda Slabbert has been particularly generous in inviting me at various times to her undergraduate and postgraduate
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Ecreee Energy and Energy Efficiency
    ECOWAS CENTRE FOR RENEWABLE ECREEE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY www.ecreee.org – no 7 – July 2013 highlights ECREEE RECEIVES AWARD AT MessaGE FROM THE ED P. 2 VIENNA ENERGY FORUM The ECOWAS region is now very well positioned to make the most of major developments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. ECREEE AS MODEL FOR OTHER ENERGY CENTRES P. 5 ECREEE’s activities and achievements in the sustainable energy sector have proved a success story for other sub-re- gions on the continent to emulate. HIGH LEVEL GERMAN DELEGATION VISITS ECREEE P. 9 The Vice- Minister President and Minister of Economy, Energy, Climate Protection and Territorial Planning of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, Ms Eveline Lemke ECREEE PARTICIPATES IN CWEE7 IN SHANGHAI 9 ecowas validates regional action plan Framework on clean COOKING The conference also provided a platform Besides validating the action plan framework, this regional workshop provided for the exchange of information between valuable insight into the latest on best practice and information exchange developed and developing regions on wind energy focused on issues such as the challenges regarding the proliferation of clean cooking technologies and services, ways of addressing these challenges from ECOWAS President Visits the a regional and international perspective, as well as and policy and planning ECREEE Secretariat tools that promote clean, safe and efficient cooking as a driver for economic growth and improvement of environmental and social conditions. AUSTRIA DEEPENS PARTNERSHIP WITH ECREEE The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) reinforced its existing collaboration with ECREEE, with the award of a further 2m EUR to support the implementation of the centre’s second operational phase in line with its Business Plan which ends in 2016.
    [Show full text]
  • TEMPERED LIKE STEEL the Economic Community of West African States Celebrated Its 30Th Anniversary in May, 2005
    ECOWAS 30th anniversary and roughly for the same reasons: economic cooperation among of the 15 members have met the economic convergence criteria. member states and collective bargaining strength on a global level. However, it is an instrument whose time has come and it seems cer- Ecowas was an acknowledgement that despite all their differ- tain that the Eco will make its appearance in the near future. ences, the member states were essentially the same in terms of needs, One of Ecowas’ successes has been in allowing relatively free resources and aspirations. It was also an acknowledgement that the movement of people across borders. Passports or national identity integration of their relative small markets into a large regional one documents are still required but not visas. Senegal and Benin issue was essential to accelerate economic activity and therefore growth. Ecowas passports to their citizens. The founders of the organisation were just as convinced that artifi- The Ecowas Secretariat in Abuja is working on modalities to allow cial national barriers, created on old colonial maps, were cutting across document-free movement of people and goods. This might take time, ancient trade routes and patterns and that these barriers had to go. as other regulations, such as residence and establishment rights have However, this came about at a time when sub-regional organisa- to be put in place first. tions were looked on with a degree of suspicion and African coun- One of the organisation's most vital arms is Ecomog, its peace- tries, encouraged by Cold War politics, had become inward-looking keeping force.
    [Show full text]
  • What's in a Name? Transnational Corporations As Bystanders Under International Law
    St. John's Law Review Volume 85 Number 1 Volume 85, Winter 2011, Number 1 Article 1 What's in a Name? Transnational Corporations as Bystanders Under International Law Jena Martin Amerson Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/lawreview This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at St. John's Law Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in St. John's Law Review by an authorized editor of St. John's Law Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CP_Amerson (Do Not Delete) 7/14/2011 4:06 PM ARTICLES WHAT’S IN A NAME? TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS AS BYSTANDERS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW JENA MARTIN AMERSON† INTRODUCTION “You said we were Namers. I still don’t know: what is a Namer?” “I’ve told you. A Namer has to know who people are, and who they are meant to be.”1 The concept of naming is a powerful one. By naming a thing, the namer provides it with a sense of belonging, a characterization. By giving something that had previously been unidentified a name, the namer immediately imbues it with a set of characteristics. The name has powerful connotations: It can provide people with instant recognition based on a shared understanding. But there is also a danger in the act. If, instead of naming, the would-be namer labels—that is, imbues it with a quickly formulated, thoughtless identifier—then it does not provide people with a sound understanding of the thing, be it person or concept, that the labeler is trying to contextualize.
    [Show full text]
  • How Feasible Is the ECO Currency? a Study of ECOWAS Business Cycles Synchronicity
    RESEARCH PAPER April 2020 How Feasible Is the ECO Currency? A Study of ECOWAS Business Cycles Synchronicity Youssef EL JAI RP-20/05 About Policy Center for the New South Policy Center for the New South, formerly OCP Policy Center, is a Moroccan policy- oriented think tank based in Rabat, Morocco, striving to promote knowledge sharing and to contribute to an enriched reflection on key economic and international relations issues. By offering a southern perspective on major regional and global strategic challenges facing developing and emerging countries, the Policy Center for the New South aims to provide a meaningful policy-making contribution through its four research programs: Agriculture, Environment and Food Security, Economic and Social Development, Commodity Economics and Finance, Geopolitics and International Relations. On this basis, we are actively engaged in public policy analysis and consultation while promoting international cooperation for the development of countries in the southern hemisphere. In this regard, Policy Center for the New South aims to be an incubator of ideas and a source of forward thinking for proposed actions on public policies within emerging economies, and more broadly for all stakeholders engaged in the national and regional growth and development process. For this purpose, the Think Tank relies on independent research and a solid network of internal and external leading research fellows. One of the objectives of Policy Center for the New South is to support and sustain the emergence of wider Atlantic Dialogues and cooperation on strategic regional and global issues. Aware that achieving these goals also require the development and improvement of Human capital, we are committed through our Policy School to effectively participate in strengthening national and continental capacities, and to enhance the understanding of topics from related research areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecowas Common Currency: How Prepared Are Its Members?
    ECOWAS COMMON CURRENCY: HOW PREPARED ARE ITS MEMBERS? Sagiru Mati Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of the Near East University (Cyprus) Irfan Civcir Faculty of Political Science of the Ankara University (Turkey) Corresponding author: [email protected] Hüseyin Ozdeser Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of the Near East University (Cyprus) Received October 13, 2018. Accepted February 7, 2019. ABSTRACT This study operationalizes the Optimum Currency Area (oca) to investigate the preparedness of Economic Community of West African States (ecowas) members to form a Monetary Union (mu). Inflation and output models are estimated, with the sample 1988:01 to 2017:12 for the former and 1967 to 2016 for the latter. Analyses of ecowas convergence criteria, impulse responses, variance de- compositions and correlations of shocks of these two models, reveal that the shocks across the ecowas members are asymmetric. The conclusion is that ecowas members as a whole are not well-prepared and therefore a full-fledged pan-ecowas mu is not advisable. It is also found that members of the European Monetary Union (emu) tend to be a better fit for oca than the ecowas members. The study recommends various courses of action such as fostering coordination among Central Banks of ecowas members, and providing a fund to serve as an incentive for countries that may incur cost rather than benefit if the single currency is created. Key words: Optimal Currency Area, ecowas, emu, structural var, Blanchard-Quah decomposition. jel Classification: C13, E31, E52, E58, F33, F42. http://dx.doi.org/10.22201/fe.01851667p.2019.308.69625 © 2019 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Facultad de Economía.
    [Show full text]
  • The Demobilization of the Ogoni Protest Campaign in the Niger Delta Tijen Demirel-Pegg Scott Pe
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by IUPUIScholarWorks Razed, repressed and bought off: The demobilization of the Ogoni protest campaign in the Niger Delta Tijen Demirel-Pegg Scott Pegg Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Abstract: This study examines the demobilization of the Ogoni protest campaign in the oil producing Niger Delta region of Nigeria in the mid-1990s. The contentious politics literature suggest that protest campaigns demobilize as a consequence of the polarization between radical and moderate protesters. In this study, we offer a different causal mechanism and argue that protest campaigns can demobilize before such indiscriminate repression. Moreover, states can prevent the subsequent radicalization of a protest campaign followed by harsh repression by coopting the radicals and the remaining moderate elites while continuing to use repression to prevent collective action. Our conclusion assesses how relations between extractive industry firms and their local host communities have or have not changed in the twenty years since the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa in 1995. Published in Extractive Industries and Society This is the authors’ manuscript of the article published in final edited form at: Demirel-Pegg, Tijen, and Scott Pegg (2015), “Razed, Repressed, and Bought Off: The Demobilization of the Ogoni Protest Campaign in the Niger Delta,” in Extractive Industries and Society, Vol.2, pp. 654-663. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214790X15001343 Introduction On January 4, 1993, around 300,000 Ogoni people in Rivers State, Nigeria peacefully protested against the environmental devastation of their land caused by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), the Nigerian subsidiary of Royal Dutch/Shell (hereafter, Shell).
    [Show full text]
  • United States District Court Southern District of New York ------X
    Case 1:96-cv-08386-KMW-HBP Document 199 Filed 09/12/2006 Page 1 of 21 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK -----------------------------------X KEN WIWA, et al., : Plaintifs, : -against- : 96 Civ. 8386 (KMW)(HBP) ROYAL DUTCH PETROLEUM COMPANY; : SHELL TRANSPORT AND TRADING COMPANY, p.l.c., : Defendants. : -----------------------------------X KEN WIWA, et al., : Plaintiffs, : -against- : 01 Civ. 1909 (KMW)(HBP) BRIAN ANDERSON, : MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Defendant. : -----------------------------------X PITMAN, United States Magistrate Judge: I. Introduction By notice of motion dated April 2, 2004 (Docket Item 131) defendants seek an Order pursuant to Rules 26(g) and 37(b)(2)(B) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure striking plaintiffs' interrogatory answers in their entirety and preclud- ing plainitffs from identifying any new individuals that purport to have personal knowledge of the allegations that are the subject matter of defendants' interrogatories. Plaintiffs oppose Case 1:96-cv-08386-KMW-HBP Document 199 Filed 09/12/2006 Page 2 of 21 the motion and seek an award of their attorney's fees pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 37(a)(4)(B). For the reasons set forth below, defendants' motion is denied in all respects and plaintiffs' application for attorney's fees is granted. II. Facts A. Alleged Facts Underlying These Actions This action arises out of alleged human rights viola- tions in Nigeria during the period from 1990 through 1995. As set forth in the pending complaints, plaintiffs and their decedents were active in protesting oil exploration and development activity by defendants in the Ogoni region of Nige- ria; according to plaintiffs, these activities have had pro- foundly damaging ecological effects in the region (Second Amended Complaint 01 Civ.
    [Show full text]
  • West Africa from Franco CFA to Eco: Economic Issues
    ISSN: 2278-3369 International Journal of Advances in Management and Economics Available online at: www.managementjournal.info REVIEW ARTICLE West Africa from Franco CFA to Eco: Economic Issues Palumbo Vincenzo*, Villani Chiara Universita’ di Napoli Federico II Italy. *Corresponding Author Email: [email protected] Abstract: Born 73 years ago, exactly on December 26, 1945, the day France ratified the Bretton Woods agreements, the CFA franc is the currency adopted by 14 African states and for years the subject of controversy at the local level as well as in France itself. For some months the debate has become international and now this often criticized currency will give way to a new common currency called Eco. Keywords: West Africa, Economic issue, Franco CFA. Article Received: 01 Jan 2021 Revised: 24 Jan 2021 Accepted: 15 Feb. 2021 Introduction First of all, we need to take a big step back in single and independent currency it finally time: It was December 1945 when a decree appears to them as a concrete step in the signed by General Charles de Gaulle actually instituted a currency. Thus was born the direction of real autonomy. But the reality is CFA franc, which at the time when Paris more complex and beyond ideological and ratified the Bretton Woods accords meant political positions there is an objective way in Franco of the French colonies of Africa. which it is possible to approach the issue: economic science. Thus a monetary union was born. The 14 nations that are part of it today are in fact CFA: Economic Technicisms between divided into the Economic and Monetary Advantages and Disadvantages Union of West Africa (UEMOA) and the Substantially, the Economic Technical Economic and Monetary Community of Characteristics on Which the CFA Central Africa (CEMAC).
    [Show full text]
  • In Girton Varsity Exclusively Reveals Allegations of Student Attack During the Early Hours of March 17Th
    GENERAL ELECTION 2005 - Varsity meets all your parliamentary candidates -PAGES 4 & 5 - Your Vote: Comment & Analysis -PAGES 5, 10, 18 - Howard Flight, Tessa Jowell & Lord McNally -PAGES 4 & 5 No. 619 The Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947 Friday April 29, 2005 Six undergraduates arrested over “serious sexual assault” in Girton Varsity exclusively reveals allegations of student attack during the early hours of March 17th Varsity News Reporter end-of-term bop with the title morning of the 17th and have crime scene. been careful to keep the inci- tioned by the police. They of “Rumble in the Jungle”, now been released on bail. The incident is alleged to dent discreet. No announce- have since been released on organised on March 16th by The individuals accused have occured during the early ment of the event has yet been bail pending further question- POLICE OFFICERS are the Girton College JCR. were seen returning to Girton hours in central Girton made to Girton students. ing at a later date.” investigating a report of a very Varsity has chosen not to dis- during the early hours of the College accommodation. Cambridge University Press The six male individuals serious sexual assault alleged close the names of the under- 17th wearing police overalls, Neighbouring students were Office confirmed that have been bailed to return to to have taken place in Girton graduate victim or those of his creating speculation that their particularly shocked at the “Cambridgeshire police were Parkside Police Station on College during the early hours six alleged male attackers. clothes had been confiscated fact that the event is said to called to an alleged incident at Thursday May 5th.
    [Show full text]
  • Economic Community of Communnaute Economique
    ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF COMMUNAUTE ECONOMIQUE WEST AFRICAN STATES DES ETATS DE L’AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Washington, D.C., October 19, 2007 Lecture On “The Role of the Economic Community of West African States in Achieving the Economic Integration of West Africa” By H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas President, ECOWAS Commission I. INTRODUCTION Director of the Wilson Center, Esteemed Scholars, Researchers, Fellows and Students of Woodrow Wilson Center, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, President Woodrow Wilson was a remarkable President of the United States whose internalisation was to set a high benchmark for multilateral diplomacy. As an accomplished scholar, Woodrow Wilson emphasized policy-oriented research and saw academia in a mutually reinforcing partnership with policy making in the common enterprise to forge a government that delivers “justice, liberty and peace”. As a President, he was a champion of national reconciliation whose anti-corruption and anti-trust crusade in favour of the poor made this country more just and caring. A thorough pacifist and renowned world statesman, his reluctant entry into World War I had one goal – to end the war and launch world peace based on collective security, a task he brilliantly accomplished. I therefore feel humbled, greatly honoured and privileged to be at this famous Center, a living reminder and symbol of the ideals that Woodrow Wilson stood for, to share my thoughts Lecture by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas 1 President of the ECOWAS Commission At the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars with you on the role of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in achieving the economic integration of West Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • In the Niger Country
    mm ^ X >;{;:/' - THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES J2-f7 4^-/c' ^^".-4''>^/-:^ IN THE NIGER COUNTEY MAP OF THE NIGER COUNTRY IN THE NIGER COUNTRY BY HAROLD BINDLOSS WITH TWO MAPS WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON MDCCCXCVIII All Rights reserved —— B5I CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. IN EARLY DAYS. PAGE General characteristics of the Niger region and its inhabitants The fever belt—Moslem influence—The Sahara—Early eastern explorers—The advent of the European—Mungo Park, his successors . forerunners and . .1 CHAPTER II. ON THE WAY TO THE NIGER TENERIFFE AND SIERRA LEONE. Santa Cruz, Teneriffe—Repulse of Nelson—N.E. trades—Young factory assistants — Freetown, Sierra Leone — Influence of missionaries—Types of population . .15 CHAPTER III. THE BATTLE OP WEIMA. Emir Samadu—Konno and Sofa raiders—March of the West Indias—Attack on Weima—Fatal mistake—Defeat of the raiders ........ 29 CHAPTER IV. LIBERIA AND THE BEACHES OF THE KROO COUNTRY. A tornado — Monrovia — The black republic — Kroo labourers Kroo villages—Means of transport—Want of harbours . 41 ^ ^ /» /-» r-> ,^ r> — VI . CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. THE GOLD COAST COLONT AND DAHOMEY. Early settlements—Fantis and Shantis—Haussa constabulary Elinina and Cape Coast Castle, Accra—African surf—The French in . Dahomey . .54 CHAPTEE VI. LAGOS AND THE NIGER MOUTHS. Lagos roads and town—Colour-caste—Trade of Lagos, and its bar —First glimpse of Niger delta—Crossing the bar—Early traders and establishment of Koyal Niger Company . 66 CHAPTER VII. AKASSA. General aspect of Akassa—Salt and gin—Arab traders—European dwelling—The Chartered Company . .78 CHAPTER VIII.
    [Show full text]
  • An Assessment of Recent Changes in the Niger Delta Coastline Using Satellite Imagery Jimmy O
    www.ccsenet.org/jsd Journal of Sustainable Development Vol. 3, No. 4; Decmber 2010 An Assessment of Recent Changes in the Niger Delta Coastline Using Satellite Imagery Jimmy O. Adegoke Department of Geosciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, MO 64110, USA E-mail: [email protected] Mofoluso Fageja, Godstime James & Ganiyu Agbaje National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria Temi E. Ologunorisa Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria E-mail: [email protected] Abstract In Nigeria, there is dearth of studies on recent changes on accelerated marine processes along the national coastlines despite their importance as ports for navigation and marine commerce as well as a bridge for aquatic and terrestrial life. This study, which deals with a time series analysis of recent changes in the Niger Delta Coastline using Satellite Imagery is an attempt at filling this gap. Landsat TM images of 1986 and Landsat ETM+ of 2003 both covering the Niger Delta area of Nigeria were used for this study and the images were processed using Erdas Imagine Version 8.7 and Arc Info 9.1 for the GIS operations. The results of the analyses show among other things that coastline erosion was dominant over accretion of sediment deposition. Also that the total area of observed changes along the coastlines was 46.535sq.km. Of this, 27.65sq.km (59.43%) constitutes eroded area, and 40.57% representing 18.88sq.km of the area showed coastal sediment accretion. Keywords: Coastal processes, Marine erosion, Niger Delta, Satellite imagery, Accretion 1.
    [Show full text]