The Nigerian Scam
The Nigerian Scam examines politics, history, and culture from class and ideological perspectives. It asks whether the talakawa (common people) can sorosoke (speak out). The podcast offers critical analysis of Nigerian society.
Episodes
68. Growth Without Development: The Real Achievements of Nigerian Neo-liberalism
In this episode we are joined by Omole Ibukun who is a socialist activist based in Abuja, Nigeria. In the spirit of charity we go on to discuss possible achievements that Nigerian neoliberalism may lay claim to. We place ourselves in the seats of neoliberalism's praise singers, trying on their goggles and poking at the fruits of their harvest. From relatively mundane gifts like a new economic voca
67. Mark of the Hawk: Hollywood, Propaganda, and the Battle for African Independence
Did you know that Sydney Poitier once starred as a Nigerian anti-colonial leftist? Can an obviously anti-communist film also be entertaining, commendable, and even (somewhat) accurate? In this episode we present our reactions to the 1957 film: The Mark of the Hawk, arguably the best reactionary film every made about Nigeria. Starring Sidney Poitier and Eartha Kitt and shot in Enugu, this film expl
66. Feeding Bottle Billionaire Club (FBBC): Origins of Nigerian Oligarchs Episode One
Nigeria is the world’s poverty capital. But while acknowledging this poverty, rarely do we in the same breadth discuss the other toxic byproduct of Nigerian capitalism: billionaires. The 2025 Oxfam report indicates a surge in billionaire wealth in Nigeria. In this episode, we examine a few of the figures with the largest chunks of the pie.The first part of the episode explores the origins of our m
65. Assuming NDC is "Re-registered”
In the light of Peter Obi and Kwankwaso leaving the promising but still born ADC (African Democratic Congress) to join the NDC (Nigeria Democratic Congress), we track the latest developments regarding the 2027 presidential election. We discuss the ongoing fragmentation and soldering of the opposition to the incumbent government. We also probe the likelihood of the weaponisation of the question of
64. Insecurity, Protests and The Nigerian Left
In this episode, we examine the Nigerian protest culture, why it has not fundamentally transformed the political terrain while delineating theoretical and practical strategies. In the face of heightened insecurity in Nigeria, we also probe the dynamics and evolution of crime from the urban, peri urban and rural areas. We juxtaposed these with the State's security architecture and why it has proven
63. OAU and Nigeria's Millennial Left
In this episode which we recorded a day after the passing of Professor Biodun Jeyifo (the founding president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)), we host Juwon Sanyaolu. Juwon is a co-host of the "Voice of Workers" podcast, the national coordinator of the TakeItBack movement, and a member of the "Ogba mafia". Juwon is also a writer, literary critic, activist and
62. State of the Nation: Nigeria in 2026
We start this episode discussing the latest international and local developments in the last few months. We begin with the massive display of wealth in the midst of growing inequality in the South East by Igbo bigwigs during the festive period. We use this as an entry point to discuss poverty and wealth gaps in Nigeria.We also reflect on what has been taking place in Nigeria namely the airstrike i
61. Confessions of an Ex-APC Marxist
In this episode, we pick the brains of an ex-APC insider Tabia Princewill (@TabiaPrincewill) , a former editor of The Guardian. She runs us through her journey as a returning diasporan, her entry into Nigerian politics in 2011, her awakening as a leftist and her experiences within the Nigerian government. With the unique perspective of a Marxist who worked within Buhari's government and Lagos Stat
60. Oblee Economy: Class, Gender Wars, and the Case against Detty December ft. P0liticalbaby (@Mao_0k)
In our latest episode, we host the the amazing PoliticalBaby (@Mao_0k), a cultural theorist, video essayist and scholar of contemporary Nigerian anthropology. We start off discussing the constraints of social media as a space for education, politics, interrogation and digital activism. We define her works as a living archive and an effort to preserve collective memory in the playground of Elon Mus
59. Trump's Real Interests in Nigeria
As the talks of an American invasion pick up speed, and Nicki Minaj takes centre stage in manufacturing consent, we check the temperature of the proceedings. With the knowledge that a US armed intervention has never left a region better than it was, we interrogate internal support for the American boots on Nigerian soil. We evaluate the dynamics of the Tinubu-Trump relationship, the underutilisati
58. Anti-Immigrant Sentiment and the 2027 Elections
We start off this episode discussing immigrants in the UK, in light of ultranationalism and right-wing anti-immigrant sentiment that is sweeping across Europe. Beginning with the creation of the welfare state from exploitation of the global south, through the place of developing countries in the global economy, to the aging population of the UK, and the fracturing of labour power by neoliberalism,
57. Christian Genocide in Nigeria
We decided to go 'guns-a-blazing' on the subject of the purported persecution of Christians in Nigeria. The idea that Nigeria is being overrun by a hidden Islamisation/jihad agenda was a talking point restricted to more conspiratorial circles — until recently. That none other than the president of the United States has embraced the idea— promising to rise in defence of Nigerian Christians — sugges
56. Lagos Stinks!!!
After a long rainy season break, we reflect on the latest changes in the recent past in Nigeria and beyond. We assess the deafening but underlying hum of tribalism and its outlets in material reality. We dissect its possible triggers, usefulness and beneficiaries in Nigerian society. From fire outbreaks and flash floods to mass layoffs at the Dangote refinery, we sift through national current affa
55. Economic Crisis, Status Consciousness, and the Nigerian Middle Class
Some weeks ago, Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola announced his new book titled "Making it Big" which was intended to reveal lessons about overcoming challenges and building successful businesses as an underdog. Rapid fire online responses were quick to point out his (and other success stories) silver spoon and challenged his capacity to give us any useful underdog advice. This spilled i
54. Dawn of the ADC
This episode judges the murmurs of a new coalition on the horizon of Nigeria's electoral politics. We wade deep into the horse race (aided by many more mixed metaphors) to evaluate the chances of victory of the various Presidential/VP pairings come 2027. The usual conversation about regional balances and comparisons of what each player might bring to the table follows. Is there victory for any
Scam Hall of Fame Ep 4: Structural Adjustment Programs
After years of beating around the bush, we bring you our latest Scam Hall of Fame episode focused on the infamous Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs). In the episode we argue that the SAPS were one of the central — if not the defining— scam(s) of the post-colonial period. To do this, we spend some time defining SAPs; talking through the rabbit and hat process by which SAPs were formally implemen
53. Bala Blu or Lee Kwan Yew?
After a health break, we return in this episode to consider the Nigerian president's report card halfway through his term. Is he the bold liberalising force Nigeria, nay Africa, has been waiting for? What can be said of the achievements and limitations of Tinubu’s domestic and foreign policy direction, two years into his tenure? We discuss his efforts in comparison to his predecessor and in th
52. Let The Chips Fall Where They May
In our latest current affairs episode we analyze the state of the APC and early rumblings of a mainstream opposition coalition ahead of 2027. Is the APC losing or simply reconstituting its elite base in the north? What is the strength of the ruling coalition? What might its fissures in the north and new ‘transfers’ in the south indicate about what might happen in the 2027 presidential elections? W
51. Let’s Talk About Sex-ism
Through a reflection on recent occurrences we dissect sexism and patriarchy in Nigeria along with our guest, comrade Haleesa, from the Out of The Box podcast. Focusing on electoral politics, employment rates, ownership and education, we discuss the challenges facing women in Nigeria. We examine the strength of a feminist counter movement and the strength of representation in challenging the status
50. Why Are We Calling Her “Natasha”?
Days after the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in light of the sexual harrassment allegations she tabled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, we discuss the socio-cultural ripple effects of her defiance against the rotten political institution. What, if anything, might her actions might mean for women in lower economic strata of society?We also examine the consequences of strat
49. 16 Billion Problems and A Book ain't One
In this episode, we use the homage paid to the ex-President Babangida in light of his book launch as a springboard to discuss the influence his regime had and continues to have on Nigeria's economic direction. Combing through the adulation, we examine the love and generosity doled out to the evil genius by different shades and stripes of Nigeria's elite and business class. Why did he decid
48. The Internet is the Opium
This news round up episode revisits Nigerian online conservatism, running through recent responses to the early executive orders of Trump 2.0. We also discuss Kemi Badenoch's constant reference to Nigeria and the chances that she is being a wily tactician. Does her commentary do anything for her polling numbers? Is there anything to read into in the notoriety she gains from Nigerians online wh
47. The Dialectics of Detty December
We start the year with a crossover episode featuring the Out of The Box podcast & guest hosted by our friend Commander Matrix. The episode discusses the annual influx of tourists, celebrities and disaporans who come to celebrate the festive season in Lagos and the economic effects of that inflow. We also examine the sociocultural phenomena that arise from the interaction between locals and tou
46. Tax Reform, #FreeDeleFarotimi, 2024 round up
In this episode, we tackle the thorny 2024 tax bill. Is “the North’s” reaction valid? Are there progressive components in the tax bill? We also prod the case of *alleged* defamation made against Mr Dele Farotimi, his arrest and the response from the general population and some sections of the left. Does this warrant protest? Stick around to the end to find out what our most popular 2024 episodes w
45. Presidential Amnesia in the Information Age
As we all delve deeper into the neoliberal vortex, a common coping mechanism is the tendency to look back nostalgically at the “good old days" — wishing for a return of bygone eras when more ‘competent’, ‘kind hearted’ or ‘decisive’ leaders held the reins.
While romanticizing past presidents appears to be a global phenomenon, there is a particular version in Nigeria that is especially sickening —
44. Why Trump (would have) won in Nigeria -- aka Tropical Trumpism
We explore the widespread support for the Republican president elect among Nigerians (men, yes, but also women). We discuss possible reasons for his popularity in parts of the developing world, assessing whether or not there is a meaningful economic self interest expressed in Tropical Trumpism. We probe assumptions and projections about his administration with relation to foreign policy, trade rel
43. Exclusive Interview with Momodou Taal
In this episode, our friend Ayoola Babalola converses with Momodou Taal in light of his suspension due to his activism for the Palestinian cause. They cycle through the sequence of events, the punishment meted out, the ways he has tried to appeal his case and the support he has received so far.
They also discuss how one can spread awareness about the ongoing genocide of Palestinians and the ways y
42. Don't Blame the IMF
As the Tinubu-era austerity bites harder and state repression becomes more commonplace, we examine the reactions of the general populace to the neoliberal policies usually prescribed and lauded by the IMF and World Bank. We also look at possible reasons for the reluctance of the previous administration regarding the implementation of these policies as compared to the eagerness of the current admin
41. Reflections on the Edo State Elections, Mass Protests and Aliko's Antics
Hello there! The crew got together a few weeks ago to react to the Edo state elections and its outcomes, the aftermath of the #EndBadGovernance protests and the lead up to the #FearlessInOctober protests and Dangote's antics with regards to fuel pricing and logistics.
In this current affairs episode, we delved deeper into the politics of vote buying, the intricacies of the electoral process, and
40. Northern Radicalism Reborn?
In this episode we are joined by Ibrahim Wali and Comrade Hamza of Ranters HQ @rantitoutspace to talk about the birth of the platform, its evolution and the objectives of the #RANTitOut movement. This bleeds into a conversation on the rise of anti-establishment sentiment and radicalism in Northern Nigeria.
We also share perspectives on the newer class of Northern technocrats, comparisons with the
39. Our Exclusive Interview with ‘wanted Briton’ Drew Povey
Prior to his having been declared ‘wanted’ by the Nigerian authorities, we converse with the Iva Valley bookshop owner, Drew Povey on 31st August 2024, about the #EndBadGovernance protests and the invasion of his bookshop and the NLC headquarters. We talk about the terrorism and espionage charges, details of the case with regards to his wife, comrade Yomi, the assets that have been seized or ransa
38. Feminism and Class in Colonial Nigeria - A Review of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (2024)
In another film club special, Commander Matrix @_missward and Comrade Pedro @pedro_omolola join us in reviewing Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti's biopic. What were the general reactions to the film? Does Bolanle Austen-Peters do justice in her take on the life of the Lioness of Lisabi? What is the place of class within feminism? How did colonialism contribute to the misogyny that permeates Nigerian soc
37. #EndBadGovernance: Some Preliminary Notes
In the heat of the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests across the country we voice our early observations and assess the response of the Tinubu administration so far.
While discussing possible fissures and tendencies in the political elite as well as the masses, we also ask what strategies the current administration has employed to deal with the protests, what demographics are represented in the cu
36. Sahel-exit, NLC betrayal, and #RutoMustGo
In this episode we discuss a few recent political developments across Africa, their budding effects and their possible outcomes.
How might we assess the fate of ECOWAS and West Africa’s international relations in light of the rise of the Alliance for Sahelian States (AES— or ASS depending who you ask)? What do we know about the recent #FinanceBill and #RutoMustGo protests in Kenya? What have they
35. From Military misadventures to Tinubu tragedy: Neoliberal reforms and the Nigerian Left ft. Baba Aye
In our first of many conversations with Baba Aye (@BabaAye), a revolutionary trade unionist, historian, and theorist, we discuss the origins of neoliberalism in Nigeria and how it shaped and was in turn influenced by the development of the Nigerian Left. To what extent did resistance to Structural Adjustment allow the Left to reconstitute itself in the 1980s? How is the Left responding to the deep
What's Left of the Nigerian Left Ep 2: Movement for African Emancipation
In this episode, we sit down to talk to Comrades Fatai and Sango of the Movement for African Emancipation (MAE). Amongst other things, we get a feel of its organisational mission as it builds on the work of Late Comrade Baba Omojola. Also, as part of our What is Left of the Left series, we discuss the bolt and joints and other mechanics of the ongoing project of digitizing the Baba Omojola Memoria
34. On Comedy and the African Revolution ft. Dexmond the Comedian
Nigerian politics is certainly more and more comedic - but can Nigerian comedy be more political?
In this episode, we spoke to Dexmond, a budding act in the Nigerian comedy scene. We briefly discussed his entry into comedy, the evolution of the industry, and its peculiarities in the social media era.
Naturally, we also examined the status and role of comedy in the context of Nigerian politics. Is
What's Left of the Nigerian Left Ep 1: The Socialist Library and Archive (SOLAR) Calabar ft. Chido Onumah
Hello there. We've been on a health break. But we are still here. We still pod. We've got a new episode for you.
In our latest episode and the first of a new and exciting mini-series (henceforth WLNL) on the actually-existing Nigerian Left, we have a chat with Comrade Chido Onumah, a journalist and archivist, about the Socialist Library and Archive (SOLAR) Calabar, and its ongoing digiti
33. #EndHunger Protests : From Economic Crisis to Political Crisis?
In light of the recent #EndHunger Protests around the country, we talked to one of the organisers and director of the #TakeItBack Movement ( @AyowoleSanyaolu ) to assess the politico-economic conditions leading up to the mass action, historic (in)actions of the Unions and its effects on the citizenry.
We also discussed possible actions that could reinvigorate mass consciousness and deepen on-the-g
32. A Nigerian Communist in Vietnam
In our latest episode, we examine the Vietnamese socialist project in a lighthearted conversation with Taofeek ( @afolxbi ), a young Nigerian communist who visited recently. Amongst the many things we looked to learn, we were curious to know if and/or how, decades after their protracted civil war, a 'unified' Vietnam is moving on. We also covered issues around attitudes towards (economic)
31. Eco was, Ecowars, Ecoworse
Back from the January Hiatus, we discuss recent developments in the ongoing Ecowas crisis. Why is Ecowas in crisis? Were the junta run countries of the Sahel right to (ecow)exit the regional body? What is Ecowas actually good for? Should the body even exist?
Also, if you stay till the end of the show, you'll hear about our exciting new partnership (not with Wagner group, but...)
Photo credit
30. Was national liberation the scam?
As a year end bonus, we decided to release this slightly controversial, somewhat theoretical debate we had about the pitfalls of 'independence' and the possibility that the very notion of a post-colonial nation-state -- i.e. national liberation -- was the foundational scam.
Is there anything to be said about the argument that independence was, in some cases, premature? Was there ever a ch
Scam Hall of Fame Ep 3: Agricultural marketing boards in colonial and 'independent' Nigeria
In our final recording of the year, we consider a little-remembered institution that laid the foundation for many state-led scams to come: the colonial and post-independence era agricultural produce marketing boards.
We discussed why they were founded by the colonial state, why they became indispensable to the post-independence regional governments, how they (sort of) ended, and whether they are
29. Why we struck
We discuss the short-lived general strike -- possibly Nigeria's first in a decade -- to understand it's links to the ongoing economic crisis. What caused the strike and why did it end so quickly? What led to the assault on Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC president? Did the strike contribute to rebuilding Labour's waning public legitimacy, or to further undermining it?
28. Precolonial Capitalism to the First Republic ft. @iyi_bobby
You might already know: we've been running a reading group on Nigerian Political Economy. This episode reviews some highlights from our first three sessions which covered the development of capitalism in pre-colonial, colonial, and pre-civil war Nigeria.
Spanning over a millennia of West-African history, the discussion was, to say the least, ambitious. But we were greatly aided by Bobby (@iyi
27. Mohbad protests, celebrities and social (non-)movements
We discussed the protests that accompanied the passing of the Afrobeatz recording artist, Mohbad, as well as the dark side of the Nigerian music industry (and discovered how this intersects with the origin story of @OAG).
Was there ever a pseudo-anarchist character to Naira Marley, as some observers (see references) proposed? Amid the current economic crisis, could one argue that 'the youths
26. 'Is Nigeria's fuel subsidy still worth fighting for?' ft. Camilla Houeland
We explore the origins of Nigeria's fuel subsidy and popular resistance to its removal, aided by sociologist Camilla Houeland (@CamillaHoueland) -- a researcher at the Fafo, Norway, and associate professor in Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Oslo. Have Nigeria's Labour Unions given up on resisting the removal of the subsidy? What should we make of environmentalist critici
25. Subsidy removal and popular resistance pt. 1
We review the state of debate about the removal of Nigeria's fuel subsidy. Our own debate quickly turns to examining whether the Tinubu administration's sudden 'Subsidy ti lo' approach to announcing the subsidy removal on his inauguration day was either a 'gaffe' or an effective ploy to impose austerity and enrich the ruling-class while demobilizing popular forces -- i.e. &
24. Niger coup, Ecowas idiocy, and Left military vanguardism
In this episode, we try to think through the unfolding regional crisis brought about by the (latest) coup in Niger. What do we know about the coup so far? Why is Ecowas beating the drums of war? Should these recent coups give us hope for the future of popular sovereignty and socialism in West Africa?
Some readings:
Alex Thurston on domestic dynamics of the coup in Niger: https://sahelblog.wor
23. Afro-Marxism in Nollywood? - A review of Saworoide (1999)
"The parable of the drum as the voice of the people"
Another one for the film heads -- our review of Tunde Kelani's classic Saworoide (1999). Is this the first (and only) Nollywood film to advocate for popular resistance to capitalist environmental degredation? Is the 'traditional' aesthetic of the film distracting or inspiring? Does the film ultimately succeed as an effecti
22. Did the Left learn anything from the Obidient Wave? Part 1
This is the first of a two-part episode examining what the Nigerian Left learned from the Obidients. To tackle this, we review a series of articles about the Labour Party and Peter Obi that were written by Nigerian Left essayists and organization both before and after the elections.
Check out our Patreon page to listen to the extended conversation.
The "before" pieces:
https://social
21. "Buhari walked so that Tinubu could run": From right wing-statism to the Lagos Model
In this episode, we put @SaeeduH on the hot-seat to discuss his recent article for @Africaisacountry on the ideological and economic legacies of the Buhari administration (we also challenge @SLASHER_OAG on whether Buharism and the Lagos Model suggest that the ruling classes have adopted a more complex mode of legitimation than the classic you chop, I chop model).
Is there a perspective from whic
Scam Hall of Fame Ep 2: The Time Nigeria Imported White Zimbabwean Farmers
In the second volume of our 'scam hall of fame' mini-series, we explore a classic Nigerian haux that might not have been the most daring or expensive, but was certainly the weirdest: the time Kwara State came up with the ingenious idea of importing white Zimbabwean farmers (along with tons of cows and machinery) ostensibly to set up commercial farms in the state.
Now a decade after the farms wer
20. Marxism vs Obi-ism pt.2: A Socialist Labour Party candidate in the National Assembly? ft. Ayo Ademiluyi
We are joined once again by Ayo Ademiluyi (@ComAdemiluyi), the disputed Labour Party House of Reps candidate for Eti-Osa, Lagos, to discuss the LPs victory in his constituency. Having won the LP primaries for the position ahead of party's election victory in Eti-Osa, Ayo is now engaged in a legal battle against the 'substitution candidate' (@_JtAttah) imposed after the primaries. What
19. Election Post-mortem: class, ideology, and consciousness
In which we attempt to assess last weekend's governorship elections from the point of view of our regular thematic pre-occupations.
18. Was it rigged?
In which we discuss the (s)election of a new president - not of the NLC, that's for later - but of our glorious federal republic. In addition to offering various takes on the titular question, we also attempt to assess the reasons behind the historically low turnout of voters as well as how the Nigerian left should respond to plans by the main opposition parties to challenge the result in co
17. 2023 -- Naira Scarcity, Elections, and Elite Roforofo
Coming back from our harmattan hiatus, we round out the presidential campaign banter with a discussion about the naira scarcity: whether it really is engineered by 'the cabal' (per El Rufai's claim); how it might affect the election; and how an organized left would have responded to this moment.
16. Taking a shower with Babangida - A review of "Badamasi (Portrait of a General)"
@dvmilola joined us for our second film review, this time about an authorized biopic centered on Nigeria's wannabe Pinochet and so called "evil genius", Ibrahim Badamisi Babangida. We disagree about whether the emerging sub-genre of historically-based Nollywood films should strive to be objective, but ultimately agree that IBB is one of the greatest scam artists in Nigerian history. We watched it
Scam Hall of Fame Ep 1: The Cement Armada Scandal 1974 - ?
In this episode, we revisit the Cement Armada Scandal, which we consider one of the foundational scams of the Nigerian political economy. The scandal saw the newly oil-rich post-civil war Nigerian government bumble into ordering half of the world's concrete supply, by some estimates. The arrival of hundred of cement laden ships effectively shut down the ports in Lagos for over a year, forcin
15. Of Bandits, Warlords, and Terrorists: A Recap
This episode draws out the key debates that came out of James Barnett's (@jh_barnett) reflections in our previous episode, centered on the findings of his in-person interviews with bandits in Zamfara.
The full episode containing our earlier interview with James, which was free-to-listen for a limited time , is now accessible via our Patreon — which you should check out.
As usual, praise, rev
14. From Ballot to Revolution: AAC and the 2023 elections ft. Kunle Wizeman Ajayi
This week, we spoke with Kunle Wizeman Ajayi (@AjayiWizeman), former Lagos chair of the African Action Congress (AAC), about the AAC's ideology, 'structures', and electoral prospects.
We also talked through some of the possible limitations of the AAC's strategy as well as the party's plans to respond not only to the 'obidient wave', but also to the more established obstacles: APC and PDP.&nb
13. On ASUU strikes and boiling Indomie ft. Maberu Fagunwa
In this episode, we spoke to radical ASUU member Temitope 'Maberu' Fagunwa (@RealMaberu), who is also an afrobeat musician, a pan-africanist and a history Lecturer at the University of Osun State, UNIOSUN.
We discussed the NLC solidarity protest and student support for the ASUU strike, the conditions of life for lectureres amidst such strikes, the possible elitism of ASUU's demands, and whe
12. Unlocked: Audience Appreciation Episode
(by popular demand, now liiberated for the masses)
Did Atiku shout us out?
We review some of the best (real) feedback we've received so far, and hint at future directions/collaborations.
Subscribe to our patreon for upcoming and previous bonus and premium episodes.
12. Teaser - Audience directed struggle session
This is a teaser for the full episode in which we review some of our favorite feedback on the show so far.
Listen to the full episode on our newly introduced patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/join/nigerianscam).
We hope to use the patreon to keep up audience engagement with tailored episodes and content -- as well as to raise funds!
Subscribe for access to all premium and bonus
11. Marxism vs Obi-ism: Leftist entryists and the struggle for the Nigerian Labour Party ft. Ayo Ademiluyi
We spoke with marxist public interest lawyer and #EndSARS activist Ayo Ademiluyi (@AYOADEMILUYI) about his campaign for House of Representatives under the Nigerian Labour Party.
How is the Nigerian left responding to the Peter Obi moment? Does the Labour Party now represent a genuine working class force? Does the left have any leverage in the LP now that Obi has been given the party's presidentia
10. 100 million boys v.s people's industrialization
Our tenth episode (!) considers electoral and economic questions as APC delegates arrive in Abuja:
Are the ruling party primaries of significant to the Left?
Should we put much stock in the Gen X 'progressives' now that the baby-boomer generals are dying out?
Should a people's government pursue forms of industrialization in the face of climate change?
etc, etc. Enjoy respons
09. A leftist case for secession? ft. Comrade Offiong Aqua
In this far-reaching and sometimes tense discussion, we interviewed Offiong Aqua, one of the leaders of the historic 1978 Ali-Must-Go student protests (which we will come back to, don't worry) about his background in radical student politics in the military era, his sojourn in the Soviet Union, his perspective on the Russia/Ukraine (/NATO) conflict, and his more recent advocacy for independence an
08. Africrapitalism ft. Immaculata Abba
In this episode with Immaculate Abba (@thisNneoma on twitter), we interrogate the claim that Africapitalism is an attempt to develop a genuinely productive national bourgeoisie. But is it Elumelu's $100m gamble or gambit?
What Does Africapitalism Actually Mean? by Immaculate Abba
Subscribe to our Patreon for exclusive content.
07. Happy New Election Year 🎉
A year away from the general and presidential elections and the race is already heating up. Let’s speculate!
Subscribe to our Patreon for exclusive content.
06. Rethinking #EndSARS: A Revolution Postponed?
In this episode, we discuss the class and economic forces that shaped EndSARS, grapple with lingering questions hounding the movements future and investigate Emeka’s looting proclivities. And of course there was so much to talk about, we had to break the episode in two.
Check out our Patreon for a bonus episode on the generational divide plaguing #EndSARS.
04. (un)happy independence
OAG and Sa’eed spend the intro berating the ethnic/religious secessionist movements for being bad at history and geography and even worse at redistributive politics. Then Emeka joins in during the heart of the episode, where we offer some initial reflections on why the idea of the scam seemed an apt description for our show — and for our country (and the nation-state model more generally).
W
05. Anti-Communist Coups and Military Wives: A Review of '76
Part 1 of The 70's Series
In this review of the Nollywood film "'76", we discover (to no ones surprise) that Rita Dominic is one of the greatest actresses of her generation, that geriatrics are infiltrating our ranks and, that Murtala Muhammed was not a communist. There's also some other stuff about the influence of military wives in national politics and the unheralded impact of radic
03. Twitter Ban or Scam
In our much-anticipated comeback episode, we discuss the limitations of online politics, the (probably) now expanded surveillance capacities of our ruling elite, and why you shouldn't trust Jack Dorsey.
Additional Reading:
NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, licensed to governments around the globe, can infect phones without a click
Subscribe to our Patreon for exclusive content.
02. Don't #DefendLagos
In this episode, recorded mid-week, we discuss #OccupyLekkiTollGate, #DefendLagos, the violent eviction of residents of Ashanti settlement, and the non-existence of class analysis in Nigeria. How should the nascent left respond to the redux of spontaneous protests? Are we jumping from hashtag to hashtag? What is our minimum program for engaging the toiling masses? Is class analysis Eurocentric? et
01. Proletarian 'Herdsmen'
The scam has resumed at long last... In our first official episode (though still very much a working experiment), we briefly consider the so called 'Fulani herdsmen' crisis from a class perspective, before reflecting on the meaning of the 'Nigerian Scam' and its relevance to the history of the Nigerian left... Are yahoo boys fighting for reparations? Isn't the nation state, more fundamentally, a s
0.5. Hijacked by 'hoodlums' feat. Dami Adebayo
In our second test recording, we spoke with Dami (@dvmilola) about his participation in Alausa #EndSARS, the role of capital and ideology in the protest, and about the possibility of increased and organised political engagement between the Left and the so called 'hoodlums'.
Music credits (in order of 'appearance'):
KyenKyen Bi Adi M'awu - K. Frimpong and his Cubano Fiestas
#Letter to C
00. Claim no easy victories; On EndSARS
We attempted a first episode on the historical significance of the revolt, the absence of a general strike (unlike in #Occupy2012), the revolutionary duties of artists and celebrities, the pitfalls of leaderless organising, and on what the Nigerian Left can learn from #EndSARS.
(forgive the poor audio quality - we are yet to acquire professional production!)
Music credits (in order of 'appe
