91Èȱ¬

Nigeria's 50th anniversary of independence is the leading theme of the October-December 2010 issue of 91Èȱ¬ World Service's quarterly print magazine, 91Èȱ¬ Focus on Africa.

With the front-cover headline, Nigeria's Journey, the issue offers the reader a fascinating range of topics, exploring the country's history and economy, society and culture – and looking ahead at where Africa's most populous nation is heading. The special content includes the following features:

Donu Kogbara, a Nigerian journalist who has a weekly column in the Vanguard newspaper, reflects on the ups and downs of Nigeria's last 50 years.

91Èȱ¬ journalist Celeste Hicks uncovers correspondence, kept secret until 1990, between the British and Nigerian authorities in the run-up to Nigeria's independence in 1960.

Mannir Dan-Ali, the editor-in-chief of Nigeria's Daily Trust newspaper looks at patriotism – or the lack of it – amongst his fellow countrymen.

Peter Cunliffe-Jones explores why, despite Indonesia and Nigeria's remarkably similar histories, today one is flourishing while the other is struggling.

Writer Kaye Whiteman argues that not politics, but Nigeria's rich cultural diversity is what has helped it on the way to achieving nationhood.

Managing Editor of 91Èȱ¬ Focus on Africa magazine, Alison Kingsley-Hall, says: "Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with one of the fastest growing economies in the world, as well as a regional power in West Africa – and as such it offers our magazine a huge and very important reader market.

"But we also felt that Nigeria's journey since she gained her independence 50 years ago, the challenges she has faced and is facing, as well as her successes – all that is very relevant to our readership across Africa and African diaspora."

In addition to the celebration of Nigeria's 50th anniversary, this issue of 91Èȱ¬ Focus on Africa magazine also tackles the difficult task of identifying 50 African icons with a double-page spread of faces for readers to identify. The magazine will continue the debate on who is an African icon by opening the discussion to the readers.

91Èȱ¬ World Service Publicity