ISS 330A Spring 2025 Midterm Study Guide

Keim and Somerville

Authors discussing the implications of the term 'tribe' in North American context regarding African peoples and politics.

Táíwò

An author who critiques the concept of 'the precolonial' by questioning its validity in contemporary discourse.

Development episteme

A framework or body of knowledge that supports and informs development practices and policies.

King Leopold II

Belgian king known for his exploitative rule over the Congo Free State.

Berlin Conference

A meeting in 1884-1885 where European powers divided Africa without African input.

Walter Rodney

Historian and political activist who argued that Europe's actions caused Africa's underdevelopment.

Kanadu's Narrative

A reference to Equiano's work which highlights West African experiences of slavery.

General Act of the Berlin Conference

Document outlining the rules for the partition of Africa among European powers.

Boahen

An author who explores the reasons behind the partition of Africa and its consequences.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself; critical for African nations post-World War II.

Pan-Africanism

A movement aimed at strengthening bonds among people of African descent globally, especially post-WWII.

Ken Saro-Wiwa

Nigerian writer and activist known for his opposition to the exploitation of Ogoniland by oil companies.

MOSOP

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, founded by Ken Saro-Wiwa to advocate for the rights of the Ogoni people.

Genocide

The deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, ethnic or national group, which Saro-Wiwa applied to the situation in Ogoniland.

Oil drilling in Niger Delta

An activity that led to significant environmental and social issues for the Ogoni people after 1958.

Nigerian Civil War

A conflict fought between 1967-70, primarily over issues of ethnicity and resource control in Nigeria.

Ogoni Bill of Rights

A document drafted by MOSOP outlining the demands and rights of the Ogoni people regarding oil exploitation.

Colonial System

Refers to the structures and practices instituted by colonial powers to control and exploit colonized regions.

Ironsi and Gowon

Key figures in Nigerian politics during and after the Civil War, playing significant roles in military governance.

Ogoni 9

The group of activists, including Ken Saro-Wiwa, executed for their opposition to the environmental degradation caused by oil exploitation.

Nnamdi Azikiwe

A prominent Nigerian nationalist who denounced imperialism in his speeches and writings.