The History of Chinese Presence in Nigeria (1950s–2010s): Factories, Commodities, and Entrepreneurs

187 Pages·2022·22.03 MB·English

by  Shaonan Liu

China Perspectives
THE HISTORY OF CHINESE
PRESENCE IN NIGERIA
(1950s–2010s)
FACTORIES, COMMODITIES, AND ENTREPRENEURS
Shaonan LIU
The History of Chinese Presence in
Nigeria (1950s–2010s)
As the first book-length work on the history of Chinese presence in Nigeria, this
book examines how Chinese migrants and the Nigerian state, workers, traders,
and consumers interacted with and influenced one another from the mid-twentieth
century to the early-twenty-first century.
Based on a combination of archival sources and oral history interviews, this
book argues that the significant Chinese presence in Nigeria—Chinese-owned
factories, commodities, and entrepreneurs—is not as recent a phenomenon as
it might appear. As early as the 1950s, an influential yet understudied group of
Chinese entrepreneurs moved to Nigeria, set up factories, and gradually came to
dominate some of the country’s key manufacturing industries such as textile and
enamelware over subsequent decades. Such dominance remained unchallenged
until the coming of mainland Chinese traders with their made-in-China goods in
the late 1990s, dramatically changing the structure and influential pattern of the
Chinese in Nigeria. The research also emphasizes African (Nigerian) agency in
shaping this Chinese presence, both economically and culturally.
This is a vital read for academics, researchers, and students of African History,
African Studies, Chinese Studies, and those who are interested in contemporary
issues relating to Africa-China relations.
Shaonan LIU is a lecturer at the School of History, Beijing Normal University,
China. His research interests include the history of Chinese in Nigeria, the history
of Africa-China relations, and the economic and social history of West Africa.
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The History of Chinese Presence in Nigeria (1950s–2010s)
Factories, Commodities, and Entrepreneurs
Shaonan LIU
For more information, please visit https://www. routledge. com/ China- Perspectives
/book- series/ CPH
The History of Chinese Presence
in Nigeria (1950s–2010s)
Factories, Commodities, and Entrepreneurs
Shaonan LIU
First published 2022
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 Shaonan LIU
The right of Shaonan LIU to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
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without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record has been requested for this book
ISBN: 978-1-032-27966-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-27970-1 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-29484-9 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/b22920
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
Contents
List of Figures vi
List of Abbreviations vii
Acknowledgments viii
1 Introduction 1
2 From China to Nigeria: Migration of Chinese Industrialists
and Nigerian Industrialization in the 1950s and 1960s 16
3 Prosperity, Crisis, and Identity: The Textile Industry of
Nigeria and Chinese Textile Manufacturers in the Post-
Independence Era 35
4 The Good Old Days: Work and Life of Nigerian Textile
Workers at Chinese-Owned Textile Factories 57
5 From Chinese Factories into Everyday Lives: Enamelware in
Northern Nigeria 76
6 The Changing Dynamics of the Chinese Community in
Nigeria since the 1990s 104
7 Between the Nigerian State, Traders, and Consumers: The
Rise and Fall of China Town in Lagos 122
8 Conclusion 147
Appendices 151
Bibliography 160
Index 172
Figures
3.1 One of the Chinese experts working in the mill, assisted a
Nigerian artist with the design of printed patterns. (Source:
“Kaduna Mill Makes Big Stride in Textiles Manufacture: United
Nigeria Textiles Is Pioneer in Colour-Printing Techniques,” New
Nigerian, February 20, 1967.) 41
5.1 A Nigerian kwarya maker is carving and burning images of
animals onto the surface of a decorated calabash bowls. (Photo
taken by the author at Kode Village, Kano State, Nigeria,
September 23, 2016.) 79
5.2 Beautiful images of animals on calabash bowls. (Photo taken by
the author at Kode Village, Kano State, Nigeria, September 23, 2016.) 80
5.3 A palm-tree wood bowl. (Photo taken by the author at Kano City,
Nigeria, September 6, 2016.) 81
5.4 A typical set of enamelware. On top of a faranti are (clockwise
from left) a kwanon sha, a langa miya, and a langa tuwo. (Photo
taken by the author at Hwa Chong Enamelware Factory, Kano,
Nigeria, June 3, 2016.) 86
5.5 Pilgrim eating at the airport while waiting for his plane to Mecca,
1966. (Source: “Faith and Hope on Pilgrims Progress.” New
Nigerian, March 18, 1966.) 87
5.6 Reception of wedding ceremony of the Emir of Kano. (Source:
New Nigerian, May 2, 1974.) 88
5.7 Kwalla (straight pot) was used to store water or clothing. (Photo
taken by the author at Kurmi Market, Kano, Nigeria, June 7, 2016.) 88
5.8 Daro (wash basin) was used to wash clothes. (Photo taken by the
author at Kano, Nigeria, September 4, 2016.) 89
7.1 Main gate of China Town, Ojota, Lagos. (Photo by the author,
May 13, 2016.) 127
7.2 China Town in Ojota, Lagos. (Photo by the author, May 2, 2016.) 128
7.3 A tablet at the main gate of China Town in Ojota, recording its
official opening by the late Stella Obasanjo. (Photo by the author,
May 4, 2016.) 130
Abbreviations
ATL Arewa Textile Limited
BTIL Baguada Textiles Industry Limited
CDW China Dyeing Works Ltd.
CFAO Compagnie Française de l’Afrique Occidentale
DWS David Whitehead & Sons
ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States
FTL Economic Community of West African States
GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
JFTC Jiangsu Foreign Trade Corporation
KCTC Kano Citizens Trading Company
KMT Kuomintang
KTL Kaduna Textile Ltd.
MAN Manufacturers Association of Nigeria
NCS Nigerian Enamelware
NEWCO Nigerian Enamelware
NNDL Northern Nigerian Development Limited
NNIL Northern Nigerian Investment Limited
NNPC Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
NRDC Northern Region Development Corporation
NRMB Northern Regional Marketing Board
NSE Nigerian Stock Exchange
NTL Nigerian Textile Ltd.
NTMA Nigerian Textile Manufacturers’ Association
PRC People’s Republic of China
SAP Structural Adjustment Programme
UAC United Africa Company
UNICO Universal Nigeria Industries Company Ltd.
UNTL United Nigerian Textiles Ltd.
UNTWU United Nigerian Textiles Workers’ Union
WAHUM West Africa Household Utilities Manufacturing Company
WTO World Trade Organization
ZTIL Zamfara Textile Industry Limited
Acknowledgments
This book represents the culmination of several years of research on the interac-
tion between Chinese migrants and Nigeria’s workers, traders, consumers, and
state apparatus. It could not have been written without the assistance of a number
of individuals and agencies in Nigeria and China (mainland and Hong Kong) who
guided and facilitated my lengthy research and writing process.
First and foremost, I am profoundly indebted to Dr. Nwando Achebe and
Dr. Walter Hawthorne who encouraged me to delve into the fascinating yet under-
studied history of Chinese migrants in Nigeria and guided me through every stage
of my research and writing. It was under their careful supervision and tutoring
that I grew into an Africanist historian. Thank you so much for your support,
enthusiasm, and dedication to me and my manuscript. I am deeply indebted to
Dr. Jamie Monson, who had been my mentor since I was a master student at
Peking University and exposed me to new trends in research on African his-
tory when I came to Michigan State University. I am also grateful to Drs. Mara
Leichtman, Aminda Smith, Andrea Louie, Laura Fair, Jessica Achberger, and
Yoon Jung Park, who have provided valuable feedback and comments through-
out this process.
I also owe a great debt of gratitude to my mentor at Peking University, Dr. Li
Anshan, who led me into the field of African history and Africa-China relations
as well as guided me through my academic career from a student to a faculty
member. Thank you so much for your all-round support and valuable suggestions.
My research and writing was made possible by generous funding support from
the Department of History and African Studies Center at Michigan State University,
the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange, and the
Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (China).
My research for the book was facilitated by archivists and librarians in the
United States, Nigeria, and China, among whom I am particularly grateful to
Mr. Dalibi, Archivist, National Archives of Nigeria at Kaduna; Mr. Musa Salih
Muhammad, Chief Archivist, Arewa House; Mr. Lawal Yusuf Buhari, Librarian,
Arewa House; and Ms. Aisha, Archivist, Arewa House. Many thanks also are
due to Dr. Moses Ochonu and Dr. Salihu Maiwada, who helped connect me to
academic institutions and archives in Kano and Kaduna.
Acknowledgments ix
I also received extensive help and cooperation from the Hong Kong Chinese
community in Nigeria. I am particularly grateful to M. L. Lee and S. F. Lee, who
generously provided accommodation, transportation, and other fieldwork neces-
sities in Lagos and Kano. I also owe debts of gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Lam,
Mr. Andrew Tam, Mr. Junron Lee, Mr. Liu Jiaqi, Mr. Hu, Mr. Cao Qingcai, and
Mr. Wang Zhengxing of Lee Group, who helped facilitate my research, and to
Mr. Lawrence Tung, Mr. Colin Chow, Mr. Shu Men Ho, Mr. Joseph Huang, Mr.
Francis Huang, Mr. Leo Fan, and Mr. Gary Liu for sharing their knowledge of the
early generation of Chinese in Nigeria.
I also benefited greatly from the kindness and hospitality of Nigeria’s main-
land Chinese community. I would especially like to acknowledge the assistance
of the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, includ-
ing the then Consul-General Mr. Liu Kan, the then Consul-General Mr. Chao
Xiaoliang, Mr. Yao Wenjun, Mr. Xie Chao, and Mr. Zhao Yuwei. I thank in
particular Mr. Sun Guoping for accommodating me and facilitating my access
to potential interviewees in Lagos China Town, and Mr. Liu for accommodating
me in Kaduna. Many thanks are also due to Mr. Hu Jieguo, Mr. Xue Xiaoming,
Mr. Ni Mengxiao, Mr. Liu Chang’an, Mr. Xu Zhiliang, Mr. Feng Jun, Mr. Yuan
Guochang, Mr. Zheng Xusheng, Mr. Zheng Xuguang, Mr. Wang Haijiang, Mr.
Sun Yiwei, Mr. Li Kun, Mr. Chen Yuhao, Mrs. Zhou Jun, Mrs. Huang Yuzhen,
Mrs. Ji Xiaohui, Mrs. Zhao Liuqing, Mrs. Chen Baiyan, Mrs. Yu Qirui, Mrs. Lu
Tingting, and Mrs. Xu Liwei: among the many who shared their knowledge of
the history of the Chinese in Nigeria and their own experiences of living in the
country.
My heartfelt appreciation goes out to every one of my Nigerian interview-
ees/collaborators. All of their names are listed in the notes as well as in the
bibliography, but I owe a particular debt of gratitude to Alhaji Nasidi, Alhaji
Abdullah Usmar, Alhaji Ibrahim, Mr. Ahmed Tijjani Yusuf, Mr. James Elaigwe,
Mr. Kassim Garba, Mr. Williams Alege, Mr. Muhammed Abu, Mr. Sani Maliki,
Mr. Sadiq Musa, and Mr. Joseph Adacha, who shared their connections with me
as well as their life histories.
I must also warmly acknowledge the dedication and support of my research
assistants: Mr. Segun Olaitan in Lagos, Mr. Yusha’u in Kano, and Mr. Peter in
Kaduna. They accompanied me in the field, guiding me through their respective
cities and introducing me to local residents, and helped with the transcription of
some of the interviews. I thank them for their help.
Finally, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to my loving wife Yining
Zhang and our daughter Erica Yanru Liu. Yining: during my year-long fieldwork
in Nigeria and China, it was you who painstakingly assumed full responsibility
for taking care of Erica and endured all the difficulties that came along with it.
Thank you for being such a fantastic wife and mother, and for that sacrifice. And
Erica, thank you for lightening my life with your sweet smile and filling it with
happiness.