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For the Liberation of Nigeria
₦7,000I wish I knew Yusufu Bala Usman better. His stuff is so good; the best kind of lucid, outspoken, demystifying, vigorous, witty, radical writing. Whom among radical pamphleteers does he remind me of? Tom Paine? William Morris? Jamal Al-Din Al Afghani? Ho Chi Minh? Franz Fanon? Something of all of them. He certainly belonged to that honourable and honest tradition. When I first met him, several years ago at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, I was impressed by the depth and range of his historical understanding (he corrected some of my errors in regard to the history of Katsina, helpfully and politely). I did not then sufficiently realize that he was also a perceptive and critical Marxist, a splendid deflater of academic pomposities, a courageous opponent and analyst of the neo-colonial Nigerian state and its ruling class’. Professor Thomas Hodgkins renowned Africanist historian, reviewing For the Liberation of Nigeria, in Race and Class, Spring, 1980.
‘Usman’s method is always bold and serious. He seeks to unearth the roots of the profound crisis of structure and direction facing Africa today. His purpose is to fashion tools for total liberation. ‘Usman searchingly examines among others these questions: petroleum, the state of the nation, hospital fees, national unity, the manipulation of religion, transnational companies, trading-post agents, intermediaries, subservience to America, the constitution and minority report, foreign policy, intellectual robots, Arab-Israeli conflict, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the struggle against racist South Africa. For Usman the future lies with the people, their consciousness and their struggle.’ – John La Rose, Founder of New Beacon Books and the George Padmore Institute, London.
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The Historian And Society: Selected Historial Writings Of Yusufu Bala Usman
₦9,000The Historian and Society: Selected Historical Writings of Yusufu Bala Usman compiles some of the most influential and thought-provoking writings of Yusufu Bala Usman, one of Nigeria’s preeminent historians and scholars. This collection provides a comprehensive look at Usman’s scholarly contributions, highlighting his unique perspectives on Nigerian history and his critical approach to historical analysis.
Usman’s work is renowned for its rigorous examination of historical events and its focus on the socio-economic and political dimensions of history. This volume showcases his commitment to uncovering the complexities of Nigeria’s past and offers insights into the broader implications of historical developments on contemporary society.
Key themes covered in the book include:
Historical Methodology: Usman’s approach to historiography and his innovative methods for analyzing historical sources and contexts.
Colonial and Post-Colonial History: Analysis of Nigeria’s colonial legacy and its impact on the post-colonial state, including socio-economic and political changes.
Political Economy: Examination of the economic and political structures of Nigerian societies and how they have evolved over time.
Social Structures: Exploration of traditional and contemporary social structures and their role in shaping historical narratives.
Critical Perspectives: Usman’s critiques of mainstream historical interpretations and his contributions to alternative historical perspectives.
The Historian and Society serves as an essential resource for historians, scholars, and students interested in Nigerian history and historiography. It reflects Yusufu Bala Usman’s profound influence on the field of history and his enduring legacy as a critical thinker and historian.