Nathaniel Fadipe

**Nathaniel Akinremi Fadipe** (2 October 1893 – 1944) be Nigerian researcher plus pan-African anti-colonial activist. After e study for Nigeria, Britain plus United States, Fadipe come teach economics for Achimota College for early 1930s. Later, e return go Britain, where e finish ein doctorate for anthropology for London School of Economics, on top de sociology of de Yoruba people, den e join anti-imperialist plus anti-colonialist activism.

## Early life
Dem born Nathaniel Akinremi Fadipe on 2 October 1893 insyd Oko-Saje, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Ein poppie, I. O. Fadipe, be Baptist pastor insyd de town's mission den ein mommie dey do trader work.

He attend primary school wey belong to Church Missionary Society (CMS) den he graduate from de CMS Grammar School, Lagos. After ein studies, he work as clerk insyd de colonial government of Nigeria before he turn personal assistant to de manager of Barclays Bank insyd Lagos.

## Move to Britain den America
Insyd 1925, he move go Britain as Nigeria no get educational institute wey dey beyond secondary school insyd dat time. When he reach London, he study insyd London School of Economics for four years. Then, he gain fellowship to study history plus internationalism insyd Quaker Woodbrooke College insyd Selly Oak, Birmingham, where he collect diploma cum laude. One thesis wey he write insyd de college—wey criticize de white-majority governments of Nigeria plus South Africa for de way dem dey detribalize demma indigenous black populations plus deny dem de legal rights den opportunities wey dem dey give de white minority—dem reprint am insyd Woodbrooke's official journal insyd 1930.

Insyd 1930, de Phelps Stokes Fund (wey be philanthropic non-profit organization) give Fadipe money make he study insyd United States. As he move go America, he study insyd Hampton Institute, wey be respected historically black university, before he pursue ein master's insyd sociology insyd Columbia University for New York, where he turn de first Nigerian author wey write academic study of Nigerian city as ein graduate thesis.

## Move to Africa
As he complete ein studies finish, Fadipe start dey teach economics from 1931 insyd Achimota College wey dey Gold Coast colony (wey now be Ghana). Dis thing cause consternation plus de directors of Phelps Stokes Fund, as dem assume say Fadipe go tour anoda universities insyd America, den de fund demand make Fadipe pay back part of de grant money. Dis one be because de money wey he receive suppose cover two-year stint touring America.

As de only African tutor insyd Achimota ein faculty during dat time, Fadipe struggle well den he dey feel isolated insyd ein work, whereupon he criticize de country plus ein government ein economic actions during de Great Depression. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigerian journalist wey later turn first independent president of de country, later talk say Fadipe go "through hell" for de institution "all due to professional jealousy".

Insyd 1933, Fadipe travel go Europe to visit Czechoslovakia, plus funding from Woodbrooke. Insyd 1934, Achimota College no renew Fadipe ein contract den dem erase every trace of ein tenure from de college ein records.

## Back to Britain
Fadipe move back go London insyd end of de 1933–1934 academic year den later enroll insyd London School of Economics to study for doctorate insyd anthropology. Insyd LSE, he study under professors Bronisław Malinowski plus Morris Ginsberg. He get partial funding from International Institute of African Languages plus Cultures for ein studies, but he still dey face financial difficulties during ein time insyd there. Ein doctoral thesis *The Sociology of de Yoruba* be de first sociological study wey black African do. Even though he complete am insyd 1939, den people use am for decades after as reputable resource insyd colonial-era Nigerian history plus Yoruba culture, e still remain unpublished till 1970.

Fadipe spend de rest of ein life insyd London den he involve insyd anti-imperialist plus anti-colonialist activism. He write den work plus West African Students' Union, de League of Coloured Peoples, collaborate plus black activists like George Padmore plus Jomo Kenyatta, den he dey touch plus Ralph Bunche plus Nnamdi Azikiwe. Sana, he work plus white-led organizations insyd Britain, like de National Council for Civil Liberties, plus white activists like Norman Leys plus Horace Alexander. Plenty of dem people be Africanists, or dem involve insyd peace movements for dat time. Fadipe write for number of newspapers where he condemn de weak international response insyd de invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) insyd 1935, den he write sana for de *West Africa* magazine.

Still dey struggle plus ein finances, Fadipe work sana as clerk, Yoruba language instructor, den translator.

## Death
Fadipe die insyd 1944 from brain haemorrhage insyd age of 51. Dem describe am say he be “killed by overwork plus maybe frustration: he get to combine earning minimal living insyd menial tasks plus total devotion to de cause of Africa.”

## References