Cultural diplomacy in Nigeria: Analysis of the British Council, 1943 – 2003

Abstract

This article examines the principles and processes that underpin European cultural diplomacy in Nigeria. Since 1943 when the British Council opened in the country, a sweeping and highly effective cultural diplomatic initiative, delivered through a range of services in education, technical co-operation, and many others, has characterized the pattern of European cultural engagement with Nigeria. The paper explores the content and pattern of conducting cultural diplomacy by the British Council in Nigeria between 1943 and 2003. It argues that the intensification of cultural diplomacy and the spread of British cultural agencies across Nigeria underscore the ascendency of European cultural values and “soft power” in Nigeria through well-articulated models of cultural engagements.