Becoming Igbo in Nigeria and the Diaspora:
A History of Ethnic Identity Formation and Negotiation 

The Igbo-speaking people of southeastern Nigeria constitute one of the largest ethno-linguistic groups in the country with an estimated population of over 37 million. The word “Igbo” refers to both the people and their language. The purpose of the research is to trace the history of Igbo ethnic identity formation, negotiation, and integration in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, and to explore the challenges, complexities, and dynamics of maintaining a collective Igbo identity in a pluralistic Nigerian society under increased globalization.

Sponsored by the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; the Center for Social Science Scholarship, the Dresher Center for the Humanities; and the Department of Africana Studies.

Photo courtesy of G. Chuku.