Title:
ZIKIST MOVEMENT: THE TRUEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE NIGERIAN NATIONALIST ORGANISATION

Authors:
Richard Adewale Elewomawu

Volume:1 Issue: 11

Abstract:
Since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, the Zikist Movement was arguably the most dreaded organisation by the British colonialists. Yet this group of brave young men who led the most belligerent struggle for Nigeria's independence are rarely recognised in Nigeria's nationalists discuss. This research looked at the impact of the Zikist Movement, a group of young Nigerians, in exterminating colonialism in Nigeria. The study focussed on the years between 1945 and 1951 when the Movement existed. It was a radical movement of young people, aggressively antiimperialist, who took inspiration from Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, the foremost Nigerian nationalist popularly called 'Zik of Africa'.it took the name Zikist and engaged in various acts of colonial disobedience. At that time Zik took pride in the movement that bore his name and endorsed it. By 1950, however, the Zikist movement was outlawed and the British government began offering a mild form of self-government to Nigerians based on the principle of federalism. Zik then radically alters his rhetoric by condemning and denouncing the Zikist movement. However, through primary sources, this study finds out that this group of young Nigerians who are marginalised in Nigerian nationalist discuss, were the most impactful group in the later stage of Nigerian struggle for independence from the British.

Citation:

[Lewomawu, Richard Adewale. "ZIKIST MOVEMENT: THE TRUEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE NIGERIAN NATIONALIST ORGANISATION." IJAH, vol. 1, no. 11, 2017, pp. 1004-1025. December.]