Impact of COVID-19 on Culture in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The chapter portrays the mysteries and paradoxes of COVID-19 and the lockdown responses on the community and entire society in the most populated black nation of the world. Traditionally, the majority of Nigerians are mobile and spend many days and months away from home engaging in trades, hawking and working on casual jobs in cities and towns in different parts of the country--a seasonal migration pattern popularly known as Cin Rani. As a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, people were forced to return to their origins. The government-imposed lockdown that restricted movement was popularly known as a stay-at-home phenomenon. The contact time between couples multiplied from less than 10 hours per day prior to the lockdown to 24 hours a day for weeks and months. Fertility rises were evident in prenatal records in various clinics, with increases as much as 200% over and above the normal numbers. Both personal and collective economies dwindled where domestic needs were not satisfactorily met. Religious congregations suffered from social distancing and closure of places of worship. Social activities like weddings and engagements increased since schools and institutions were closed for months showing that the social alignment triggered differences between genders. This chapter further elucidates the transformation of Nigerian culture as a result of the pandemic as well as the future challenges it may pose to the society overall. Social gatherings such as naming and wedding ceremonies as well as congregational activities were fewer and void of economic transactions. Poverty, inequality and segregation appeared to be the end results of COVID-19 to the society and its antecedent cultures. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.