Identity capital and Biafra activism in Southeast Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Identity capital entails the use of identity as an asset in achieving a set goal. It demonstrates a wider in-group identity spurred by social resource mobilization, identity cohesion, and social development. This article queries why identity is used as a capital to advance Biafra activism in Southeast Nigeria. Identity capital theorizes the adoption of Biafra identity as an asset to create in-group identification to foster social cohesion for the advancement of Biafra agitation. Using a secondary source of data collection and content analysis, this study reveals that Biafra identity is used to sustain Biafra activism among the Igbo in Nigeria.

KEYWORDS:

• Identity capital
• Biafra activism
• Igbo people
• Biafra identity
• Southeast Nigeria

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Biafra comprised the then Eastern Region of Nigeria.

2 The people located outside the Eastern Central region, they were mostly Cross River and Rivers state indigenes.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Scholastica Ngozi Atata

Scholastica Ngozi Atata holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Her PhD research was on Biafra Renaissance among the Igbo of South-East, Nigeria. Scholastica's research interest includes, conflict, identity, development, gender, ethnic and cultural studies. She is a lecturer in the Department of Communication and General Studies at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria where she teaches Sociology; and Social problems and Culture. Dr Atata is a recipient of Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa: Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Fellowship from Social Science Research Council (SSRC) and an alumna, Brown International Advanced Research Institutes (BIARI)-Ethnicity, Conflict and Inequality institute, Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University, Providence USA-2014. Dr Atata, has published papers in reputable journals and book chapters.

Ayokunle Olumuyiwa Omobowale

Ayokunle Olumuyiwa Omobowale (PhD) is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Ibadan. Dr Omobowale studies Development in Context. He has won the University of Ibadan Postgraduate School Award for scholarly publication, 2007, Institut Français de Recherche en Afrique Research Fellowship 2009, American Council of Learned Societies-African Humanities Programme Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2010 and African Studies Association (USA) Presidential Award 2014. Dr Omobowale was also a Visiting Scholar at the Centre for African Studies, Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA in November 2014. His works have appeared in peer review journals and edited volumes locally and internationally. He served on the Board of Editors of the International encyclopedia of revolution and protest (2009) and he is the author of The tokunbo phenomenon and the second-hand economy in Nigeria (2013). Dr Omobowale is the Editor of Ibadan Journal of Sociology and he is also an International Partner and Participant in the International Network on Women on the Move COST Action (CA19112) 2020-2022 https://www.cost.eu/cost-action/women-on-the-move/#tabs|Name:overview ([email protected]).