Migration, Displacement, and the Making of Identity in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Migration and displacement shape social relationships, cultural identities, and experiences of belonging in Northern Nigeria. Beyond their economic, political, and humanitarian consequences, these processes influence how individuals understand themselves and negotiate membership in new communities. This paper examines how migration and displacement shape identity formation and reconstruction in the region. Using a qualitative conceptual and interpretive approach, it critically engages published scholarship on migration, displacement, ethnicity, and belonging. The analysis draws on Social Identity Theory and Identity Process Theory to explain how group membership, social categorisation, and changes in personal circumstances influence identity negotiation. It argues that movement does not necessarily erase existing identities but creates new conditions in which cultural affiliations, social recognition, and belonging are negotiated. In Northern Nigeria, these processes intersect with ethnic, religious, linguistic, and indigene–settler identities. The paper proposes a contextual framework linking movement, social location, recognition, cultural interaction, and belonging. By bringing these dimensions together, it contributes a conceptual perspective for understanding identity formation under conditions of migration and displacement. The framework also provides a basis for future empirical research into the experiences of migrants, displaced populations, and host communities.