MIGRATION AND BORDER-CROSSING IN NIGERIAN NOVELS
MIGRATION AND BORDER-CROSSING IN NIGERIAN NOVELS Photo by bymuratdeniz on iStock Zenas Olanipekun The notion of border-crossing stretches back to humanity’s earliest migrations, but “migration” and “border-crossing” are not exact synonyms. Migration refers to any movement from one place to another, encompassing a wide spectrum of crossings which can be geographic, cultural, social and beyond. In contrast, border-crossing is more specific: it signifies the act of traversing a boundary that demarcates difference, whether literal or symbolic. Collyer and de Haas (2012) define contemporary migration as “dynamic,” with individuals continually crossing not only geographic borders, but also shifting legal, social and cultural categories throughout their journeys. Thus, a “border crossing” encapsulates these varied transformations. People do more than physically relocate; they negotiate legal statuses, adjust to new cultural norms, and reshape their identities. In this sens...