ABOUT

As a Nigerian-Canadian, issues concerning identity, race, capitalism and coloniality drive my work. These issues are personal in the sense that they largely explain why my family and I moved to Canada in the early 1990s (e.g., structural adjustment/socio-political legacies of colonialism) and also enable me to understand how I participate in settler colonialism.

In addition to academia, I love to travel, cook, read novels and write poetry/short stories. I used to act in dramas and write plays (maybe I’ll get started again soon!). In the meantime, I occasionally host book club meetings which are often quite theatrical. I also aspire to be a spoken word artist and/or stand-up comedian!

PROJECTS

I am a feminist scholar who is interested in place-making and subjectivity through the study of African urbanisms and popular culture. In my ethnographic study of African urbanisms, I am primarily interested in how local engagements with the Africa Rising discourse and global aspects of the neoliberal political economy work together to (re)produce spatial and social inequalities and provoke resistance in African cities. My research focus on popular culture explores the issues of race and representation; subjectivity and belonging; and the use of Afrofuturism in geographic projects that address the colonial politics of difference.

BLOG

  • Estranged. City. Stranger(s).
    In 2023, I had an opportunity to contribute to a publication that accompanied the “Following the Fish” exhibition at the Venice Biennale. I decided to write a short poetry collection entitled,  Estranged. City. Stranger(s). After this publication came out, Ali Al-Safadi, a student at Queen’s University, was commissioned to help bring the poetry alive by adding visuals. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out (and also pleased that I had an opportunity to travel to the Venice Biennale in June 2023! The exhibitions were amazing and they inspired me to seek for more alternative ways to disseminate my work…stay tuned!).  Original citation: Adeniyi-Ogunyankin, G.… Continue reading Estranged. City. Stranger(s).

RESEARCH

My current research explores the relationship between youth, labour and neoliberal urban transformation in Ibadan and Lagos, Nigeria. I am interested in the role that the intersections of neoliberal urban change, global consumer culture and labour play in (re)configuring youth identity and providing opportunities for youth to orientate themselves towards the future.

Through my investigation of the changing forms of labour in the new economy of Nigerian cities, I theorize on how the forms of labour cultivated and performed in African cities are also affected by coloniality, postcolonial politics of identity and racial capitalism.

My research methods include: ethnography, interviews, focus group, diary methods (written, photo and audio) and digital storytelling.

CONTACT

For questions about working with me, to arrange meeting times, or for media inquiries, please use the contact form. I try my best to respond to emails within 48 hours.

Mackintosh-Corry Hall, Room E304
613-533-6000 ext. 77424