Agendas in Encountering Citizens in the Nigerian Context.
Abstract
This article examines the question of citizenship and the different ways in which this may determine rights and privileges in Nigeria. While the Nigerian constitution establishes citizens' rights and duties, in practice Nigerian citizenship is determined by other factors, particularly place of birth, ethnicity, gender and religion. Current practices and perceptions of citizenship can in part be traced back to the colonialist merging of disparate ethno-linguistic groups into a single nation, with unequal power distribution between ethnic groups. A major challenge in Nigeria today is to overcome the practice of excluding Nigerians who are working in a state that is not their ancestral one, from the status and benefits enjoyed by those who are \"bona fide\" owners of the state. The authors propose a participatory methodology for developing more inclusive understandings of citizenship, identity and rights, based on Boal's forum theatre.
Citation
IDS Bulletin - Vol 33 No 2, pp. 24-30 [DOI: 10.1111/j.1759-5436.2002.tb00023.x]
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