Introducing "Collective Memory"

Is Nigeria still suffering from decades of colonial and military rule? This episode, Tunji, Dr. Scott, Amanda and Dami explore the impact that Nigeria's turbulent past has had on its political and economic institutions, and a possible path forward for the country’s political sphere and economy. Links 3:18 — A Man of the People book by Chinua Achebe: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37772.A_Man_of_the_People;  https://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/1720/the-art-of-fiction-no-139-chinua-achebe  4:09 — China’s Belt and Road Initiative: https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/chinas-massive-belt-and-road-initiative; https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/african-nations-mend-make-do-china-tightens-belt-road-2021-11-22/  7:10 — APC 2015 presidential victory: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nigeria-2015-election-apc-declares-victory-for-muhammadu-buhari-10146740.html 10:07 — Shell oil spill fines: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/aug/12/shell-to-pay-111m-over-decades-old-oil-spills-in-nigeria; https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/afr440362012en.pdf  10:25 — Resource curse: https://resourcegovernance.org/sites/default/files/nrgi_Resource-Curse.pdf; https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/cid/publications/faculty-working-papers/natural-resource-curse

What really happened during one of the most bloody civil wars in post-colonial African history? This episode, Dr. Scott, Amanda, Dami and Korede dissect the Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War, as well as the culture of silence and misinformation around it. Amanda and Korede also reveal their families’ own experiences of the War and its enduring impact. Links 2:35 — Declaration of Biafra: https://www.historians.org/teaching-and-learning/teaching-resources-for-historians/teaching-and-learning-in-the-digital-age/through-the-lens-of-history-biafra-nigeria-the-west-and-the-world/the-republic-of-biafra/biafran-declaration-of-independence  4:54 — Use of child soldiers during the War: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60849931-biafra; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0983738432/ref=x_gr_bb_amazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_bb_amazon-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0983738432&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2; https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18707808; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO19kz1IoU0   10:12 — Dogs of War book by Frederick Forsyth: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/460717; https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/21/buried-50-years-britain-shamesful-role-biafran-war-frederick-forsyth 

Is entertainment Nigeria’s most valuable industry? This episode, Dami, Ayowande, Korede, and Tunji go into all things culture with a focus on Nigerian film and music before exploring ways for entertainers to build their brands and capitalize on increased demand for Nigerian entertainment globally. Links 2:32 — Omo Ghetto: The Saga movie: https://www.netflix.com/title/81435736; https://guardian.ng/life/what-does-nollywoods-highest-grossing-film-list-say-about-us/  2:48 — The Wedding Party movie: https://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Party-Ali-Baba-Akporobome/dp/B07GKDRQWH; https://variety.com/2017/film/global/wedding-party-fuels-record-nigerian-box-office-despite-ailing-economy-1201977878/  2:53 — Lionheart movie: www.netflix.com/title/81030789; https://www.essence.com/celebrity/pretty-dope/nigeria-genevieve-nnaji-history-lionheart-netflix/  4:08 — Living in Bondage: Breaking Free movie: https://www.netflix.com/title/81270668; https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/living-in-bondage-how-1992-classic-changed-nollywoods-story/d77fhl4  9:00 — Korede’s Okay Africa article: https://www.okayafrica.com/afrobeats-genre-name-stop-op-ed/  17:36 — Ghana Year of Return: https://www.yearofreturn.com/; https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-51191409; https://www.theafricareport.com/178482/ghana-did-the-year-of-return-manage-to-import-the-capital-skills-and-diaspora-it-promised/

How do you unify a society with an estimated 371 tribal groups? This episode, Ayowande, Amanda and Tunji discuss the people of Nigeria, the stereotypes that exist and the impact that shared experiences have had on different generations. Links  3:27 — Isaac Adaka Boro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVRx3RhN3XE; https://www.thehistoryville.com/isaac-adaka-boro/  4:18 — Discovery of oil at Oloibiri: https://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/about_us/167.htm; https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/disasters-conflicts/where-we-work/nigeria/ogonilands-oil-history#:~:text=In%20Nigeria%2C%20oil%20was%20reportedly,largest%20producer%20of%20crude%20oil Follow us @thememoriespod on ⁠⁠IG⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter.⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠[email protected]

When you think about Nigeria, what city comes to mind? This episode, Ayowande, Amanda and Korede discuss their experiences in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria, and reflect on the varying levels of development across the country. Links 6:33 — Yoruba culture: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yoruba; https://hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/TeachingKit_YorubaArtAndCulture.pdf  16:00 — Royal Palace of the Oba of Benin: https://archive.artic.edu/benin/palace/; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUsjmh0ktno  16:04 — Queen Amina’s Wall in Zaria: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81450071; https://www.ukplatinumservices.com/blog/platinum-black-history-month-the-queen-of-zaria-nigeria-amina  16:06 — Ogbunike Caves in Anambra: https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5174/; https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/ogbunike-caves-is-one-of-nigerias-most-impressive-natural-wonders-hiding-in-anambra/6kzd2c7  Follow us @thememoriespod on IG and Twitter. Email us at [email protected]

How exactly were present-day African countries like Nigeria created? This episode, Dr. Eric and Amanda delve into Nigeria's history and explore the nation's complex relationship with colonialism along with its struggle to adjust to a new reality. Links 3:58 — Racial theories: https://library.harvard.edu/confronting-anti-black-racism/scientific-racism; https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-brief-history-of-the-enduring-phony-science-that-perpetuates-white-supremacy/2019/04/29/20e6aef0-5aeb-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html  6:08 — Dr. William Balfour Baikie: https://joliba-africa.com/2013/04/27/william-balfour-baikie-1825-1864/; https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Balfour-Baikie  8:21 — Hutus & Tutsis in Rwanda: https://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/rwanda/Geno1-3-09.htm https://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide/rwanda/historical-background.shtml Follow us @thememoriespod on ⁠IG⁠ and ⁠Twitter.⁠ Email us at ⁠[email protected]

The story of Nigeria has long been told by outsiders. Through the Collective Memory podcast, we retell this story with the help of those on the inside. Join us on this journey as we uncover the nation’s true identity.