ABSTRACT

Mainstream development discourse and practice often marginalise the significance of ‘religion’ and ‘faith’ for international development and humanitarianism. However, recent geopolitical events have prompted attitudinal and epistemological developments, with religion and faith considered an almost obligatory agenda for development scholarship. Despite current celebrations, scant attention is paid to the paramount role of religion for faith-based development actors such as African diaspora individuals and communities. Using focus group discussions, this article examines how the religious-faith identities of UK Nigerians specifically, shape their meanings for and engagement in international development. I reveal that Nigerian remittances and non-monetary contributions and services to their heritage country are constituted within moral (and cultural) obligations, justifications and values that are distinctly ‘religious’. So too, that Nigerians largely construe international development as a demonstrable ‘practice’ of their faith-based identities. Consequently, I call for a (re)theorisation of development to subsume transnational Afro-religious diasporic performativity. While focused on Nigerians, these findings are nonetheless relevant for wider UK-based African diaspora.

摘要

主流发展话语和实践往往将“宗教”和“信仰”对国际发展和人道主义的重要性边缘化。然而，最近的地缘政治事件促进了态度和认识论的发展，宗教和信仰被视为发展奖学金的几乎强制性议程。尽管目前举行庆祝活动，但很少有人关注宗教对非洲侨民个人和社区等基于信仰的发展行为者的首要作用。通过焦点小组讨论，本文具体研究了英国尼日利亚人的宗教信仰身份如何塑造他们对国际发展的意义和参与度。我透露，尼日利亚的汇款和对其遗产国家的非货币贡献和服务是在明显“宗教”的道德（和文化）义务、理由和价值观范围内构成的。同样，尼日利亚人在很大程度上将国际发展解释为他们基于信仰的身份的可证明的“实践”。因此，我呼吁对发展进行（重新）理论化，以包含跨国的非裔宗教流散行为。虽然关注的是尼日利亚人，但这些发现仍然适用于更广泛的英国非洲侨民。我呼吁对发展进行（重新）理论化，以包含跨国的非裔宗教流散行为。虽然关注的是尼日利亚人，但这些发现仍然适用于更广泛的英国非洲侨民。我呼吁对发展进行（重新）理论化，以包含跨国的非裔宗教流散行为。虽然关注的是尼日利亚人，但这些发现仍然适用于更广泛的英国非洲侨民。