Cultural Modernity in a Colonized World
Cultural Modernity in a Colonized World is a book about the intellectual life and times of Chief Isaac Oluwole Delano; a cultural icon who significantly shaped Yoruba Studies. It examines the contributions of Chief Delano through a careful interrogation of his many records, letters, documents and over a dozen publications, spanning from 1937 through to 1973. He covered biographies, history and religion, all under the rubric of what may be referred to as Historical-Anthropology. A prominent author, Chief Delano bequeathed several chronicles of events in Nigeria, and accounts depicting the realities of Nigeria’s period of transition into modernity.
Cultural Modernity in a Colonized World
Aside from being the first Administrative Secretary of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, a cultural organization that became a political party in Nigeria; Delano was one of the pioneers of Linguistics Studies in West Africa. His activities in this respect led to the second phase of his publications and collections; which cover areas of language and language usage in Yoruba. Born in 1904, he worked as a clerk in the colonial government before venturing into writing and later becoming a full academic. His career trajectory ensured a robust relationship with many of the leading intellectual communities of the time; both within and outside Africa. His records and publications offer accounts of how Nigeria got to its current decayed state; and also gives critical insights into how it could escape the quagmire.
AUTHOR: Toyin Falola
