Zikism and the Nigerian adoption of Gandhi's discourse of colonial resistance
Date
2004
Authors
Redmond, Matthew Robert
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Abstract
The age of Gandhian resistance left a substantial mark on the landscape of colonial Nigeria. Until the emergence of the Zikist Movement in 1946 Nigerian nationalists were content to talk and write, going no further than superficially criticizing the colonial government. The emergence of the Zikists marked the beginning of "Direct Action," as Nigerian nationalists were pressed to support their words with action. Based on the ideological formulations of Nnamdi Azikiwe and Nwafor Orizu, the Zikists sought effective techniques to actualize their desire for national independence. Following in the footsteps of Gandhi, the Zikist Movement attempted to achieve independence through the use of non-violent civil disobedience, boycotts and politicized strikes. Despite the significant role they played in the Nigerian nationalist movement, the Zikists have been largely overlooked in the extant literature.
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Keywords
Gandhian, Zikist, Azikiwe, Orizu