Conclusion

Summary

The concluding chapter returns to the main themes and highlights the issues analyzed in this book. The entanglements of grassroots action with the world of European colonialism, politics, and economics during the Second World War forced rural and urban classes alike to seek a role in shaping both the economic and political worlds of which they were a part. The demand for agricultural products drew a sizable portion of the population directly into the politics of war production and the ideological debates upon which the Allied fought against Germany and Nazism. By supplying needed manpower, producing essential goods, and participating in the vigorous intellectual debates of the period, Nigerians generated new discourses about self-determination and equal rights and experimented with postwar reforms. Situating Nigeria’s participation in a global conflict through the lens of colonialism and ties to the British Empire, this chapter demonstrates the significance of Nigeria in one of the greatest moments of historical significance that shaped the world in the twentieth century. The conclusion draws attention to the entangled webs of relationships and connections between the metropole and the colony and how the war ultimately created opportunities for self-determination during the turbulent years of its aftermath.