03798nam 2200685Ia 450 991015472700332120200520144314.00-88920-491-80-88920-053-X0-88920-885-910.51644/9780889208858(CKB)2560000000050374(OCoLC)144145412(CaPaEBR)ebrary10139818(SSID)ssj0000457438(PQKBManifestationID)11924191(PQKBTitleCode)TC0000457438(PQKBWorkID)10415293(PQKB)10588128(MiAaPQ)EBC3246417(MiAaPQ)EBC3050309(VaAlCD)20.500.12592/486nbn(schport)gibson_crkn/2009-12-01/2/402652(PPN)238416763(DE-B1597)667300(DE-B1597)9780889208858(EXLCZ)99256000000005037420780531d1977 uy 0engur|||||||||||txtccrThe rise and fall of an African utopia a wealthy theocracy in comparative perspective /Stanley R. Barrett1st ed.Waterloo, Ont. Wilfrid Laurier University Pressc19771 online resource (270 p.) Development perspectives ;1Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph0-88920-054-8 0-89920-053-2 Includes bibliography and index.Front Matter -- Table Of Contents -- List of Tables and Charts -- List of Maps and Photographs -- Preface -- Glossary of Yoruba and Arabic Words -- Introduction -- Early Development -- History and Economy -- Religion in Olowo -- Religion in Talika -- The Communal System -- Political Organization -- Discussion -- Recent Decline -- Private Enterprise -- Consequences for Innovation -- Olowo: A Model for Other Villages? -- Discussion -- Development And Decline In Comparative Perspective -- Development -- Decline -- Appendices -- Appendix A -- Appendix B -- Bibliography -- IndexIn 1947 a group of Yoruba-speaking fishermen who had been persecuted because of their religious beliefs founded their own community in order to worship in peace. Although located in an impoverished part of Nigeria, within a few years the village enjoyed remarkable economic success. This was partly because the fishermen held all goods in common, pooled the profits in the community treasury, and attempted to reduce the importance of the family and marriage. After about a generation the utopia began to fall apart. The early religious zeal faded, private enterprise replaced communalism, and the family became strong once more. In an attempt to explain the initial success and eventual decline of the utopia, the author compares it with neighbouring villages that embraced similar religious beliefs but did not enjoy the same economic success. He sets the problem firmly in a broad comparative framework and draws the implications for theories of development, especially Weber’s Protestant ethic thesis.Development perspectives ;1.Yoruba (African people)Politics and governmentYoruba (African people)ReligionCollective settlementsNigeriaYoruba (African people)Politics and government.Yoruba (African people)Religion.Collective settlements301.29/669Barrett Stanley R1635468MiAaPQMiAaPQMiAaPQBOOK9910154727003321The rise and fall of an African utopia4196661UNINA