Citoyens d’origine contrôlée au Nigeria
Résumé
Citizens of designated origin in Nigeria
For forty years Nigeria has separated its body of citizens in two parts, indigenes and non indigenes. Indigene citizens can trace their genealogical roots back to a community in a specific locality, and local governments issue indigene certificates certifying this origin. This article explores the relationship between local bureaucrats, intermediaries, and users seeking this certificate in three Nigerian states. Analysis demonstrates how applicants take on these procedures, how the bureaucratic relationship is an ordinary apprenticeship in the state that redefines belonging as an exclusive local citizenship, and the conditions under which issuing documents becomes a controversial political issue.
For forty years Nigeria has separated its body of citizens in two parts, indigenes and non indigenes. Indigene citizens can trace their genealogical roots back to a community in a specific locality, and local governments issue indigene certificates certifying this origin. This article explores the relationship between local bureaucrats, intermediaries, and users seeking this certificate in three Nigerian states. Analysis demonstrates how applicants take on these procedures, how the bureaucratic relationship is an ordinary apprenticeship in the state that redefines belonging as an exclusive local citizenship, and the conditions under which issuing documents becomes a controversial political issue.
Le Nigeria a dissocié depuis quatre décennies le corps des citoyens en deux : les indigenes et les non indigenes. Les indigenes sont ceux qui peuvent faire remonter leurs racines généalogiques à une communauté de personnes originaires d’une localité. Les gouvernements locaux produisent des certificats d’indigene qui certifient cette origine. Cet article explore la relation entre les fonctionnaires des gouvernements locaux, leurs intermédiaires et les usagers en quête de certificat dans trois États du Nigeria. L’analyse montre comment les candidats se prêtent à ces procédures, comment la relation bureaucratique constitue un apprentissage ordinaire de l’État et redéfinit l’appartenance à une citoyenneté locale exclusive, et à quelles conditions la production de documents devient une question politique conflictuelle.