From the Energy of Despair to the Anger of Despair: The Transition from Social Circulation to Political Consciousness among the Urban Poor in Africa

The econ situation of Nigeria's Ur pop, specifically in the city of Ibadan, has, in the 5-yr period from 1966 to 1971, gone from bad to worse. The military regime which assumed control in 1966 has not ameliorated conditions of unemployment & underemployment among the expanding proletariat. 71 unemployed workers living in Ibadan were interviewed in 1966; of these, 40 were re-interviewed in 1971 in order to determine changes in pol'al consciousness & to begin to understand the ways in which pol'al awareness develops. The survey takes into account actual pol'al activity, which is closely related to pol'al awareness. Transcriptions of selected interviews, originally tape recorded, are presented. Results indicate that pol'al consciouness has increased signif'ly among the Ur Wc; this consciousness has taken shape, generally, in cynicism towards gov & business, as well as in more specific knowledge of nat'l affairs, class structure, & the pol'al realities governing employment & SE advancement. The increased awareness also involves notions of desired change &, in certain cases, violent means of attaining change. As of 1971, no org'ed effort aimed at directed change has evolved due to an absence of effective leadership, among other factors. The immediate cause underlying the growth of pol'al awareness is the frustration experienced by the unemployed during the period of prolonged deprivation. However, econ conditions themselves must be viewed with regard to broader pol'al processes--the neo-colonial relationship between Nigeria & the West--if true changes in conditions are to occur. AA.