British Colonial Enterprise and the Evolution of Cosmopolitan Towns in Nigeria: The Case of Kafanchan, 1926-1960

Abstract

This paper interrogates the role of the British colonial enterprise in the evolution and development of Kafanchan town. The research employs content analysis of both primary and secondary sources in order to reconstruct the history of the town. Findings from the study trace the evolution and development of Kafanchan town to the construction of the railway line from Southern to Northern Nigeria that culminated in a station at an unsettled area of land: Kafanchan. The town evolved in response to the temporary sheds erected as quarters for construction workers and staff of the Nigerian Railways who belonged to diverse ethnic groups. Due to the strategic nature of this railway station, the population grew. This triggered the emergence of a settlement that was cosmopolitan right from its foundation.

Keywords

• British colonial enterprise
• railway
• cosmopolitan towns
• Kafanchan
• Nigeria