What is Nigeria? Unsettling the Myth of Exceptionalism

Abstract

This article explores perceptions and representations of Nigeria and Nigerians in the popular global imaginary. It analyses selected popular media narratives in order to foreground contradictions and paradoxes in the ways in which the country and people of Nigeria are discursively constructed. By doing so, it interrogates stereotypes of corruption and criminality as well as myths of exceptionalism about Nigeria and Nigerians originating from both within and outside the country. The analysis reveals that the generalised portrayal of Nigeria and Nigerians as exceptional social subjects is characterised by contradictions and inaccuracies in dominant representational practices and cannot be justified by the verifiable empirical information available on the country and its people.

Critiquing Ndlovu's (2014) theorisation of South Africa's ‘exceptionalism’ and ‘xenophobia’ in minister Fikile Mbalula’s speech: an essay

“…Having gone through President Nyerere's sentiments, one can tell that these resembled the sentiments Ndlovu (2014) articulated on in his article. Beyond Nyerere's fore-warning, already there is evidence pointing to some discomfort of many in Africa who had expressed Nyerere's sentiments that South Africa has become an 'exceptional' state in its own opinion (Akpome, 2015;Baloyi, 2018;Mathers & Landau, 2007;Ndlovu, 2014;Mafukata, 2021;Jearey-Graham & Bohmkea, 2013). The post-apartheid state has demonstrated "a siege mentality and attitudes of uniqueness and superiority towards the rest of Africa" (Jearey-Graham & Bohmkea, 2013) with some arguing that South Africa and South Africans have considered themselves "not African" (Baloyi, 2018;Mathers & Landau, 2007;Ndlovu, 2014;Mafukata, 2021).…”

Keeping up appearance? Nigeria’s anti-corruption crusade and image dilemma in the global arena

“…It has been established that even in the morass of high-level corruption in Nigeria, the masses feel not only uncomfortable but actually angry, dismayed and betrayed. As Akpome (2015, p. 69) puts it, “among Nigerians themselves, there is a strong sense of disaffection with the state of the nation, especially in regard to political leadership, poor governance and economic crimes”.…”

“…Nigeria’s serial classification as one of the world’s most corrupt states constitutes the country’s identity and contributes to the perception of the global community. To change the stereotypical negative narratives about Nigeria, successive governments flagged national rebranding initiatives, namely, “rebranding Nigeria project” in 2008 and “Change Begins with Me” campaign in 2016 (Akpome, 2015; Obia, 2016). The rebranding Nigeria project and Change Begins with Me campaign had the re-orientation of Nigerians as their basic strategy.…”

“…The idea was to re-orientate and transform Nigerians as a mechanism to changing the negative perception of the country in the global arena. One of the major factors that attracts negative image to Nigeria has been the brazen looting of its national treasury by political elites (Akpome, 2015). Corruption tends to be a major factor obstructing Nigeria’s quest for sustainable development as well as undermining investors’ confidence in the country’s economy.…”

When they see us: racial criminalization, racial stigma, and identity in a Midwest college town

“…Within the larger web of xenophobic discourses, Nigerians and Nigeria as a whole has been framed and stereotyped on the international stage as uniquely corrupt and prone to criminal activity, especially scams (Akpome, 2015). Because Black-Americans are disproportionately more likely to be stopped, arrested, or incarcerated, this means that Black immigrants may be more likely to be profiled or even deported.…”