Description
Book Synopsis: The colonial government of southern Nigeria began to use asylums to confine the allegedly insane in 1906. These asylums were administered by the British but confined Africans. Yet, as even many in the government recognized, insanity is a condition that shows cultural variation. Who decided the inmates were insane and how? This sophisticated historical study pursues these questions as it examines fascinating source material—writings by African patients in these institutions and the reports of officials, doctors, and others—to discuss the meaning of madness in Nigeria, the development of colonial psychiatry, and the connections between them. Jonathan Sadowsky's well-argued, concise study provides important new insights into the designation of madness across cultural and political frontiers.
Imperial Bedlam follows the development of insane asylums from their origins in the nineteenth century to innovative treatment programs developed by Nigerian physicians during the transition to independence. Special attention is given to the writings of those considered "lunatics," a perspective relatively neglected in previous studies of psychiatric institutions in Africa and most other parts of the world.
Imperial Bedlam shows how contradictions inherent in colonialism were articulated in both asylum policy and psychiatric theory. It argues that the processes of confinement, the labeling of insanity, and the symptoms of those so labeled reflected not only cultural difference but also political divides embedded in the colonial situation. Imperial Bedlam thus emphasizes not only the cultural background to madness but also its political and experiential dimensions.
Details
Are you ready to delve into a gripping historical study that explores the fascinating world of madness in Nigeria, intertwined with the cultural and political impact of colonialism? Look no further than Imperial Bedlam (Medicine and Society) (Volume 10). This meticulously researched book takes you back to the early 20th century, when the colonial government of southern Nigeria established asylums to confine the allegedly insane.
Intriguingly, Imperial Bedlam uncovers how insanity as a condition varies across cultures, sparking questions about who determined the inmates' sanity and how. In this concise yet well-argued study, Jonathan Sadowsky delves into primary source materials, including personal writings by African patients and reports by officials and doctors, to shed light on the meaning of madness in Nigeria and how colonial psychiatry shaped it.
As Imperial Bedlam traces the evolution of these asylums from their earliest inception to the innovative treatment programs developed by Nigerian physicians during the transition to independence, it offers fresh perspectives often overlooked in previous studies. Specifically, it amplifies the voices of "lunatics" themselves, providing a unique and seldom-explored viewpoint.
Uncovering the inherent contradictions of colonialism, this eye-opening book reveals how confinement practices, the labeling of insanity, and the symptoms attributed to those labeled reflected not only cultural differences but also political cleavages rooted in the colonial situation. Its thought-provoking insights will reshape your understanding of madness, from both cultural and political dimensions.
If you're seeking a captivating journey through Nigeria's psychiatric history, then Imperial Bedlam is your must-read. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the development of insane asylums, the cultural backdrop of madness, and the political struggles that influenced these institutions. Don't miss out on obtaining this invaluable source of knowledge!
To grab your copy of Imperial Bedlam (Medicine and Society) (Volume 10), click here and embark on an extraordinary historical journey.
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