Layers of Nationalism: The Dialectics of Nationhood and Ethnic Consciousness in Dul Johnson’s Deeper into the Night

Abstract

This paper examines different perspectives on the phenomenon of nationalism, which has been a scarce commodity in Nigeria. The paper suggests that the pursuit of ethnic nationality interests may well be a means of fostering nationalism at the different and higher levels of social arrangements in the nation state. It argues that this can be achieved through the proper management of ethnic diversities and conflicts, which the novel identifies as arising from socio-political and economic marginalization. We do this through the analysis of the causes and nature of the conflicts and the consequences for the larger national interest, and conclude that only by recognizing and harnessing these units of consciousness will Nigeria become a true nation.