Globalisation and (?)Colonial Practice: Insights from Lagos

The annual Fage Lecture organised by the Department of African Studies and Anthropology will be given by Professor Taibat Lawanson of the University of Liverpool. 

• The speaker will give a 50-60 minute lecture followed by 30 minutes of questions. The event will be chaired by Associate Professor Marco Di Nunzio from the Department.
• The event is free to attend and everyone is welcome

Abstract

Urban growth and development in Africa is unprecedented. However, the Africa Rising rhetoric raises questions of whose interests are truly being served. In this talk, I will focus on the conceptual underpinnings of globalisation and the interests at play in making Lagos a ‘world class city’. From urban form to governance and culture, I will unpack how seemingly progressive modernist ideas become a threat to everyday citizenship and urban identity. I will also highlight how certain decolonial practices in Lagos are a form of elite capture. The talk will conclude with reflections on what it means for an African city to retain her identity while participating on the global stage.