The book, Locating The Local In The Global: Voices On A Globalised Nigeria edited by Sola Akinrinade et al, represents the voices of 27 intellectuals from diverse fields of study on the subject of globalisation through information and communication technology.

It is also a compilation of papers presented at the 2004 weekly Faculty of Arts conference of the Obafemi Awolowo University with the main theme; The Humanities In The Era Of Globalisation and Information Technology,

The contributing writers explained their mission thus “We do not claim that the chapters in this book would shake the global discourse vigorously, but we are hopeful that the level of discourse initiated on various thematic areas would help the development of local discourse. Each of the chapters captures the thrust of the discourse and no author actually thinks the issue of globalisation is settled or argues that Nigeria has a good grasp of its effects. They see information technology as the essence of globalisation and value it as knowledge which evokes power, euperiority and advantage to a group. We have added our voices, we hope it would encourage others to add theirs.”

The 291-page book is divided into five parts made up of 27 chapters. Each lecture or presentation is discussed in each chapter. The first part is made up of special lectures by professors of different disciplines from different Nigerian Universities. They include Femi Osofisan, Akinjide Osuntokun, Olatunde Bayo Lawuyi and Dele Layiwola.

In the second part, Locating Nigeria In The Globalisation Process contains works of five contributors such as Idowu William, A.O. Adesoji, O.B.Oduntan, Gbemisola ’Remi Adeoti and Jare Oladosu
The essays of Adesegun Fatusi, George Olusola Ajibade, Victoria Adeniyi, John Adebayo Afolabi and S. O. Adedeji under the title, Local Institutions And The Globilisation Imperative are contained in the third part.

While the articles of David Ogundipe, Ope Onabajo, Bolaji Bateye, Samson Olanisebe, A.O.Nkwoka, S.A. Owoeye, E.O. Gbadegesin, Gbenga Fasiku and M.O. Adeniyi with the title Moral Dimensions Of Globalisation make up the fourth part.

The fifth part Globalisation And The Shaping Of Indigenious Discourse is made up of the works of Taiwo Soneye, Rotimi Taiwo, Ezekiel Olagunju, Wale Adeniran and Faleye Adeola. All the conributors of Part Two to Five are members academic staff of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
From the lecture entitled, Can The Humanity Survive? A Playwright’s Odu For African Renaissace In The Age Of ICE and Globalisation by the lead presenter, Prof. Femi Osofisan to the end, Technology And The Effects On Yoruba (Tonal) Language Publications In The Era Of Globalisation by Faleye Adeola, the book takes an indepth analysis of globalisation and IT and their effects on the Nigerian system.

Summing it up in the words John Afolabi,“To the youths in Africa, western fashion is the vogue. American dressing such as body hugs, hot pants, topless dresses, strapless bras and sensuous dressing are the order of the day. Sex appeal seems to be the guiding watchword. The hair too is either permed, jerry-curled or wigged to look like that of Americans. In spoken English, American English, complete with the accents, slang, cliché and spellings seem to be the order of the day.”

He noted further that African films now contain scenes of organised crime, gangsterism, sex, shooting, killing and maiming. Also, crimes which previously were uncommon, are now assuming greater dimensions in Africa; they include hired assassination, professional prostitution, various forms of sexual perversion, rape etc.

The book states that the modern day African society has derailed from its original norms and values as its spirit of communality and extended family system is now replaced with a western spirit of everyman for himself and God for us all. Also, the strict and disciplined social relations between opposite sexes is replaced with open sexuality, hugging, kissing and even coitus as often displayed openly in films.
The book laments that although globalisation has brought remarkable development in the history of man, it has equally brought a lot of havoc to the people especially the youth and the nation as a whole.
As envisioned in the book, the culture, the norms and traditions of the people especially in the developing world have been tampered with.

It defines globalisation as aggressive imperialism through which Africans (Nigerians) are trapped because what is really being globalised are the culture and technology of the Europe, America and Asia.
It states further:“It is a situation in which Euro-American industrial and intellectual products fill our markets, while our own industries lie moribound and our able bodied men and women wander the streets in search of work or expatriate themselves abroad to be humiliated as ‘migrant workers’ and ‘economic refugees.’ It is also a stage where the people are reduced to ‘parroting robots.’
The question posed by the book is “What will be Africa’s authentic contribution to the putative universal pool of the global order.”

The writers are of the view that Africa is largely marginalised in the politics of globalisation. They believe that globalisation would be meaningful only when Africa recognises and addresses its marginality to the scheme.

The book is an intellectual piece that could serve as resourse material for everyone.