The heirs of Rhodes and Lugard
This is an edited extract from 'The Eagle and the Springbok: Essays on Nigeria and South Africa' by Adekeye Adebajo
South Africa and Nigeria account for about a third of Africa's economy. Though Nigeria is the continent's largest economy, South Africa is its most industrialised state. Both account respectively for over 60% of their subregional economies, and the success of regional integration in Southern and West Africa depends heavily on the vision and leadership of both countries. To understand this indispensable relationship, it is important to position the debate on Africa's two regional hegemons in a historical context. Two British imperialists left enduring legacies in South Africa and Nigeria. Both were devout prophets and proponents of Pax Britannica, seeking to annex as much African real estate as possible to spread British rule, influence and values. Cecil Rhodes attempted to establish a Southern African federation built around South Africa. While Rhodes pursued federalism for the sake of imperial expansion, the Governor-General of Nigeria, Frederick Lugard, did so for the sake of admi...
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