| Hakeem Ibikunle Tijani | Lane College |
Hakeem began teaching and research in 1988. He taught at the Lagos State University, Nigeria, between 1989 and 1998. He has since 1998 taught in the United States both in colleges and public school. He is a recipient of Academic Staff Commonwealth Scholarship (1994-1997) and Harry S. Truman Institute Research Grant (1996). He has additional training in composite social studies education at Tarleton State University. His area of research is political and urban history, and Anglo-American relation in sub-Saharan Africa. He is completing a book titled: "Development, Politics, and Urbanization In Nigeria: Mushin 1860s to 1990." |
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Inter-group Relation and Politics in an Awori-Yoruba Frontier (Mushin) |
The dominant view about Mushin is that its history is that of patrons and clients; the patrons more often than not dictating politics, and the pace of relationship between the different ethnic groups. This view is also used to explain Mushin's urban transformation and development in contemporary time. While patronage and clientilism are tenable explanation for Mushin's past, it does not adequately explain urban relationship in contemporary Mushin. The paper critique Sandra Barne's analyses and conclude that there is more to the history of Mushin than patrons and power. The paper identify how far Barne's theory is tenable and the need for other form of explanation for multi-ethnic relation in one of the fastest growing community in Nigeria. Mushin is define in its contemporary geographical terms - Local government area as constituted by the Lagos State government. Thus, the paper identifies the multicultural nature of its population in relation to politics and ethnic relations. |