Guns and Society in Colonial Nigeria Firearms, Culture, and Public Order [Hardcover]

Guns are an enduring symbol of imperialism, whether they are used to impose social order, create ceremonial spectacle, incite panic, or to inspire confidence. In Guns and Society, Saheed Aderinto considers the social, political, and economic history of these weapons in colonial Nigeria. As he transcends traditional notions of warfare and militarization, Aderinto reveals surprising insights into how colonialism changed access to firearms after the 19th century. In doing so, he explores the unusual ways in which guns were used in response to changes in the Nigerian cultural landscape. More Nigerians used firearms for pastime and professional hunting in the colonial period than at any other time. The boom and smoke of gunfire even became necessary elements in ceremonies and political events. Aderinto argues that firearms in the Nigerian context are not simply commodities but are also objects of material culture. Considering guns in this larger context provides a clearer understanding of the ways in which they transformed a colonized society.

Aderinto has written a solid history. . . . the book is clearly written and contextualized while addressing sophisticated ideas and an array of specific examples.

Saheed Aderinto is Associate Professor of History at Western Carolina University and the author ofWhen Sex Threatened the State: Illicit Sexuality, Nationalism, and Politics in Colonial Nigeria, 1900-1958.

Aderinto has written a very persuasive book: not only did the omnipresence of weapons influence Nigerian colonial culture but it also created a gun society. This convincing argument reminds us that American political debates on firearm regulation and policing deserve to be historicized.

Aderintos book makes an important contribution to the history of firearms in the twentieth century. . . . the meticulous study of the way in which guns gradually permeated everyday life is exemplary, pointing far beyond the Nigerian case.

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