How to Become a Big Man in Africa by Wale Adebanwi PAPERBACK 9780253070364

Indiana University Press

How to Become a Big Man in AfricaSubalternity, Elites, and Ethnic Politics in Contemporary Nigeria\nAuthor(s): Wale Adebanwi\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: Indiana University Press, United States\nImprint: Indiana University Press\nISBN-13: 9780253070364, 978-0253070364\nSynopsis\nCan subalterns transform themselves into members of the elite, and what does it take to do so? And how do those efforts reveal the nature of ethnic politics in postcolonial Africa?\n How to Become a Big Man in Africa: Subalternity, Elites, and Ethnic Politics in Contemporary Nigeriaexamines these questions by revealing how, through ethno-regional conflict, violence and cultural activities, an artisan, Gani Adams, transformed himself into the holder of the most prestigious chieftaincy title among the Yoruba. Addressing persistent gaps in anthropological studies of the subaltern and of \""big men\"" in politics through in-depth biography and rich social history, Wale Adebanwi follows Adams and other major figur.