RADICAL NATIONALISM IN NIGERIA, 1945-1960

Abstract

This study explores the emergence and trajectory of radical nationalism in Nigeria between 1945 and 1960, a period marked by intense anticolonial agitation and sociopolitical transformation. Drawing on archival records, a theoretical framework which allows for a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political dynamics that shaped Nigerian nationalism during this period, party manifestos, and contemporary accounts, the study traces how a new generation of nationalist leaders—including Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and Aminu Kano—challenged both colonial authority and earlier, more moderate nationalist strategies. The research argues that radical nationalist organizations and labour unions, influenced by global currents of decolonization and leftist thought, pressed for immediate self-government and mass political participation. It examines pivotal moments such as the 1945 general strike, the Zikist Movement’s radical activism, and the formation of regionally rooted parties driven by the principle of self-determination. By situating Nigerian radical nationalism within broader pan-African and Cold War contexts, the study shows how internal debates about ethnicity, class, and political strategy shaped the road to independence in 1960. Ultimately, the study contends that while radical nationalists played a central role in ending colonial rule, their vision and practice left complex legacies for postcolonial Nigerian politics.