Hometown Association, Local Nationalism and Community Development in Ogbomoso, Southwestern Nigeria, 1922–1951

Abstract

 In Yorubaland, southwestern Nigeria, the emergence of hometown associations dates back to the pre-colonial period. The Yoruba people have a rich communal associational life with various social organizations, generally known as egbe. This egbe cuts across the Yoruba social, economic, and political affairs. In the colonial period, these associations became dominant actors in the colonial administration process in the 1930s. These associations emerged under various nomenclatures, such as town unions, progressive unions, descendant unions, and
improvement unions. They are saddled with various responsibilities: upholding town identity, serving as local civil society, town representative, and actors in growth and development. The case of Ogbomoso is not different. Hometown association in Ogbomoso performed the abovementioned roles, especially in the colonial and post-colonial periods. Since 1922, when this organization appeared in Ogbomoso as a response to colonial economic policies, they have focused on providing substantial support for local nationalism and socioeconomic development. Within this premise, this article examines the activities of these associations between 1922 and 1951. The article focuses on these association activities, involvement in politics and contributions to development, especially
during the colonial and post-colonial periods. The article adopts a historical
reconstruction approach and relies on primary and secondary data sources.