ARUKEGHEZI "Born in a Canoe" ; Design Activism in the Delta

ARUKEGHEZI

“Born in a Canoe” Design Activism in the Delta.

Oluwatise Oyewole

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I respectfully acknowledge that this thesis was researched and written on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.

I recognize the enduring presence and deep-rooted connections that Indigenous communities have with this land. As someone who has come from another part of the world to pursue knowledge and education here, I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow on these lands.

I acknowledge the responsibilities that come with this privilege and am committed to engaging with the ongoing process of truth and reconciliation. I extend my respect to Indigenous ancestors, Elders, and communities past, present, and future.

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ARUKEGHEZI “Born in a Canoe” Design Activism in the Delta.

OLUWATISE OYEWOLE

DESIGN THESIS | MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE ADVISOR: SHAWN BAILEY OCTOBER 2025 FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE | UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA

To my Grandma; Madam Felicia Adaobi Ennis-Cole

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

TO MY CREATOR, SOURCE AND SAVIOUR: All thanks to God, my creator, the source of my inspiration and the sustainer of all things.

TO MY ADVISOR Shawn BAILEY, Thank you for your unwavering support and for constantly pushing me to my limits. Thank you for your unwavering support. I am truly honoured to have learnt and grown under your tutelage over the last year. I am truly honoured to have you as a mentor and a friend.

To Terri FUGLEM, Janna LEVITT, Thank you for your attending to my reviews; this work would not have been complete without your advice.

TO MY PARENTS Mr Yemi OYEWOLE and Mrs Patience OYEWOLE, Thank you for constant support and encouragement. I would not be in this position without you, and for that I am eternally grateful.

TO MY GUARDIANS Mr and Mrs Daniel Akpan, Words can not describe how grateful I am for your kindness and care during the last 2 years; for that, I say thank you.

TO MY SIBLINGS AND FRIENDS, Thank You TO MY BEST FRIEND and LOVER ADEWUNMI, I can never thank you enough for choosing to do life with me and for supporting me constantly. Thank you.

TO YOU reading this, thank you.-

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CONTENTS

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

CONTENT

Chapter one- The Niger Delta

ABSTRACT

Chapter two- Design Activisim

Chapter Three- Site Context

Chapter Four- Arukeghezi (Design Proposal)

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ABSTRACT

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria, West Africa, spans 26,000 square kilometers1, making it the third-largest delta in the world. This vast region of marshlands, rivers, rivulets, and springs has served as home to diverse ethnic minorities long before colonial contact. Its geography ranges from coastal sandy ridges to mangrove and freshwater swamps, and lowland forests.

Rich in hydrocarbons and natural gas, the Niger Delta is Nigeria’s economic backbone, providing the largest share of the nation’s foreign revenue2.

However, extensive oil and gas exploration has left a trail of environmental devastation, affecting water bodies, biodiversity, and agricultural productivity. Pollution has eroded the traditional livelihoods and cultural practices of the region’s communities, sparking decades of protests and, at times, militarized conflict3. These challenges underscore the urgent need for design interventions that advocate for ecological restoration, social empowerment, and economic justice.

Design activism, as defined by Alastair Fuad-Luke, provides a framework to create counter-narratives that foster positive environmental, social, and economic change4.

This thesis aims to leverage architectural design to challenge the current status quo, addressing systemic issues affecting the Niger Delta.

This project aims to use Architectural design as a medium of creating an alternative to the current status quo, by doing so also shedding more light on the systems and structures that currently affect the region. This project hopes to use approaches focused on the “Role of Women,” “Arts, Culture and Animism” as well as the “Geography” to create a radical remit around the Niger Delta.

By employing intersectional sustainable and adaptive architectural strategies, this research seeks to propose transformative architectural design interventions for the Niger Delta’s polluted water bodies and marginalized communities.

It offers a template for economically and socially disadvantaged regions globally, using architecture design as a medium for advocacy and change.

1 2 3

Mai-Bornu, “Political Violence and Oil in Africa,” 69.

Francis, Lapin, Rossiasco, “Securing Development and Peace in the Niger Delta,” 9.

Obi and Rustad, “Oil and Insurgency in the Niger Delta,” 7-8.

4

Fuad-Luke, “Design Activism,” 27.

+ Adjacent Page; Digital Collage of Niger Delta Millitants

* What is the relationship between Geopolitics and Third world countries? * What is the relationship between Geopolitics and Architecture? * How can Architecture translate to those most affected by Geopolitics?

I began my thesis by beginning to look at the geopolitical relationships between Nigeria and the rest of the global world, my experience writing about the political landscape of Nigeria and her relationship with the rest of the world.

I began to study the impact of the geopolitical and economic relationships formed between Nigeria as a state and the rest of the world and those most impacted directly in some form by this relationship.

This led me to focus on the N iger Delta region of Nigeria “The treasure base and the source of wealth for the nation”.

This focus on the region was also motivated by my personal connection to the region through my Maternal Grandma with whom I had shared most of my childhood with until she passed in the first year of my master’s program.

This project is also a form of tribute to her, with a lot of emotions inputted into it over the last year.

01. Chapter One - The Niger Delta

+ Adjacent Page; All the states that make up the Niger Delta region in current Day Nigeria.

Pre-Independence Niger Delta The Niger Delta, is a region rich in culture and natural resources, playing a significant role in most of West Africa’s pre-independence history.

Its strategic location and access to waterways attracted early European slavetraders,explorers, merchants, and eventually colonial administrators.

European contact with the Niger Delta began in the late 15th century with Portuguese explorers, followed by the Dutch, French, and British.5 The region quickly became a focal point for the transatlantic slave trade due to its accessibility and network of navigable rivers.

By the early 19th century, the abolition of the slave trade by Britain led to a shift in economic focus to “legitimate” commerce, particularly the trade in palm oil. Palm oil became essential for industrial purposes in Europe, such as lubricating machinery and making soap. The Niger Delta, with its vast palm oil resources, became a crucial supplier.6 This economic shift empowered new local elites, such as King Jaja of Opobo, who controlled large sections of the trade.

In 1886, the British government granted a charter to the Royal Niger Company (RNC), giving it administrative and commercial rights over the Niger Delta and surrounding areas.

The activities of the RNC laid the groundwork for formal colonial rule.

Following the Berlin Conference (1884-85), Britain consolidated its control over the Niger Delta through the establishment of the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria in 1900.

Colonial rule imposed new administrative structures, undermined traditional authority, and integrated the region into the global capitalist economy.7 The colonial legacy left a profound impact on the Niger Delta, contributing to contemporary issues such as environmental degradation, resource control conflicts, and ethnic tensions. Understanding this pre-independence history is crucial for addressing the region’s current challenges.

5 6 7

A. G. Hopkins, An Economic History of West Africa (London: Longman, 1973), 122.

K. Onwuka Dike, Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta, 1830–1885 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1956), 110.

Toyin Falola, Colonialism and Violence in Nigeria (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2009), 42

+ Adjacent Page; Digital Collage of Pre-Independence Niger Delta

+ Digital Collage of Niger Delta Culture

Crude-Oil (Black Gold)

Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, which has a wealth of natural gas and crude oil deposits, has been essential to the country’s economy since the middle of the 20th century.

While the Nigerian government has benefited much from its natural wealth, which has drawn considerable attention and investment from multinational oil companies (TNCs), the local people and community has frequently been left to bear the brunt of the ensuing socioeconomic inequality and environmental destruction.

Oil exploration in the Niger Delta began in earnest in the 1950s, with Shell-BP discovering oil in Oloibiri in 1956. This discovery marked the beginning of extensive involvement by TNCs, including Chevron, ExxonMobil, Total, and Shell, among others.8

8 Cyril Obi, “Globalization and Local Resistance: The Case of Shell versus the Ogoni,” New Political Economy 8, no. 1 (2003): 115.

Top-Figure 1: Gas Flaring and Oil refining in the Niger-Delta. AFP https://vid.alarabiya.net/images/2019/03/02/16c9cb51-24b0477c-bd28-d43aeb87097c/16c9cb51-24b0-477c-bd28-d43aeb87097c_16x9_1200x676.jpg?width=801&format=jpg Bottom Figure 2: Crude Oil refining and storage on the shores of the Niger Delta. Photographed by Pius Utomi Ekpe /AFP/ Getty Images, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/01/african-nations-set-to-make-the-case-for-big-rise-in-fossil-fueloutput#img-1 Right Figure: Gas Flaring and Oil refining in the Niger-Delta.

AFP, https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/20131171265689734_20.jpeg?resize=570%2C380&quality=80

These companies entered into joint ventures with the Nigerian government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), allowing the state to retain control while benefiting from foreign expertise and capital.

TNCs brought modern technology and investment to Nigeria, transforming the Niger Delta into a hub of global energy production. However, their operations often lacked stringent environmental oversight, resulting in frequent oil spills, gas flaring, and the destruction of arable land and water sources.9 Petroleum accounts for over 90% of Nigeria’s export earnings and more than 70% of government revenue.10 The federal structure of Nigeria allocates oil revenue primarily through a derivation formula that has historically favored the central government over oil-producing states. This has created a perception of exploitation among Niger Delta communities.

9 10

Michael Watts, Curse of the Black Gold: 50 Years of Oil in the Niger Delta (Brooklyn: PowerHouse Books, 2008), 34.

Augustine A. Ikein, The Impact of Oil on a Developing Country: The Case of Nigeria (New York: Praeger, 1990), 57.

Oil Wealth and the Nigerian Civil War The discovery and control of oil wealth played a critical role in the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). Following the political crisis of the mid-1960s, the Eastern Region, which included much of the Niger Delta, declared independence as the Republic of Biafra in May 1967.

One of the underlying motivations for secession was the desire to retain control over the vast oil resources in the region.11 The federal government, aware of the strategic importance of oil to the national economy, was unwilling to lose access to the oil-producing areas. As a result, securing and recapturing oil facilities in the Niger Delta became a central focus of the federal military campaign.12 International interest in Nigerian oil also influenced the war. British and other foreign interests largely sided with the federal government to protect their oil concessions and investments, particularly those held by Shell-BP.13 The war devastated communities in the Eastern Region and caused widespread humanitarian crises, including famine. In the aftermath, the federal government pursued policies aimed at reintegration, but the underlying issues of resource control and regional inequality persisted, laying the groundwork for future unrest.

11

Chibuike Uche, “Oil, British Interests and the Nigerian Civil War,” The Journal of African History 49, no. 1 (2008): 111–135.

12

John de St. Jorre, The Nigerian Civil War (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1972), 211.

13

Martin Lynn, “Nigeria, Biafra and the Strategic Importance of Oil,” Journal of Contemporary History 38, no. 3 (2003): 485–506

+ Digital Collage of Images from Nigeria’s Civil War (1967-1970)

Oil Wealth, Resource Control and Millitancy.

The marginalization of the Niger Delta’s communities and the environmental devastation of their homeland contributed to the emergence of militant groups in the early 2000s. Organizations such as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) engaged in armed resistance against the Nigerian state and oil companies, demanding resource control and compensation.14 Militants attacked pipelines, kidnapped oil workers, and disrupted production, significantly affecting Nigeria’s oil output.

In parallel, oil theft—or “bunkering”—became widespread.

Local actors, often with the complicity of political elites and security personnel, siphoned crude oil for illicit sale on the international market. This illicit trade has deprived Nigeria of billions of dollars annually and entrenched a cycle of violence and corruption in the region.15

14

Judith Burdin Asuni, “Blood Oil in the Niger Delta,” United States Institute of Peace Special Report 229 (2009): 2.

15

Christina Katsouris and Aaron Sayne, “Nigeria’s Criminal Crude: International Options to Combat the Export of Stolen Oil,” Chatham House Report (September 2013): 6.

+ Digital Collage of Niger Delta Millitants

Oil Extraction = Environmental Destruction Oil extraction in the Niger Delta has led to some of the most severe environmental degradation in sub-Saharan Africa. Decades of oil spills, gas flaring, and deforestation have devastated the region’s biodiversity and the livelihoods of local residents. The Niger Delta, a once-thriving ecosystem of mangroves and freshwater swamps, has seen widespread pollution that has contaminated water sources, ruined farmland, and decimated fish populations.16 Despite Nigeria’s environmental regulations, enforcement has been weak, and both the government and oil companies have often failed to clean up spills or provide adequate compensation. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reported in 2011 that oil pollution in Ogoniland could take up to 30 years to remediate fully, emphasizing the scale of ecological destruction.17 The impact on human health and economic well-being has been profound.

Local communities suffer from increased rates of respiratory illness, waterborne diseases, and cancer due to prolonged exposure to hydrocarbons.

Traditional occupations such as fishing and farming have become unsustainable, exacerbating poverty and driving youth into criminal activities, including militancy and oil theft.18 Efforts to address environmental damage, such as the implementation of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), have been criticized for delays, lack of transparency, and limited impact.19 The persistence of environmental degradation continues to fuel grievances and distrust among Niger Deltans toward both the state and oil corporations.

16

Environmental Rights Action, “No Progress: An Assessment of the Implementation of UNEP’s Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland,” ERA/FoEN (2015), 9.

17

United Nations Environment Programme, Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland (Nairobi: UNEP, 2011), 8.

18

Celestine Akpobari, “Oil, Gas and the Niger Delta: Beyond Amnesty,” Social Action Briefing Paper 3 (2010): 4.

19

Stakeholder Democracy Network, “HYPREP and the Clean-Up of Ogoniland: Community Perceptions and Expectations” (2018), 6.

+ Adjacent Page Digital Illustration of spillages and pollutions across the Niger Delta

Left Figure 4 : Oil spills in a Village in the Niger Delta, Bloomberg/Getty. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2022/ jun/01/oil-pollution-spill-nigeria-shell-lawsuit#img-8 Top-Figure 5: Paddling in a creek in the Niger Delta. Photographed by Sunday Alamba. AP Photo. https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-niger-delta-oil-spill-cleanup-hyprep-8c7533ad31d1aad5c0e3933a41891579 Bottom Figure 6: Scooping oil from a spill in a village in the Niger Delta.

Photographed by Sunday Alamba. AP Photo. https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-niger-delta-oil-spill-cleanup-hyprep-8c7533ad31d1aad5c0e3933a41891579

Left-Figure 7: Fishing in the Niger-Delta.

Photographed by Arteh Odjidja. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/dec/06/ this-place-used-to-be-green-the-brutal-impact-of-oil-in-theniger-delta#img-15 Top-Figure 8: Walking through a oil spill in the Niger Delta.

AP Photo/Sunday Alamba https://images.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ urnpublicidap.org4ceb760d5d84e8d58b04d24d2d20893aNigeria_Shell_Sale_04176.jpg?d=2040x1360

Top-Figure 9: Young children swimming in a water body in the Niger Delta. Photographed by Arteh Odjidja. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/dec/06/ this-place-used-to-be-green-the-brutal-impact-of-oil-in-theniger-delta#img-15 Bottom Figure 10: Extent of Oil Spillage in Ogoniland, Niger Delta.

Photographed by Marten van Dijl, EPA. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2022/ jun/01/oil-pollution-spill-nigeria-shell-lawsuit#img-4 Right Figure 11 : Gas flare lighting up the night sky, somewhere in the Niger Delta. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/dec/06/ this-place-used-to-be-green-the-brutal-impact-of-oil-in-theniger-delta#img-6

Environmental Activism in the Niger Delta Environmental activism in the Niger Delta gained international recognition in the early 1990s through the efforts of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP). Saro-Wiwa, a writer and activist, mobilized Ogoni communities against Shell’s operations, which had caused extensive environmental damage and economic disenfranchisement.20 MOSOP’s campaign was centered on nonviolent protest and international advocacy. The Ogoni Bill of Rights, issued in 1990, outlined demands for political autonomy, environmental remediation, and control over natural resources.21 However, the Nigerian government responded with repression.

In 1995, Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists were executed following a military tribunal widely condemned as unjust.22 The martyrdom of Saro-Wiwa sparked increased activism across the Niger Delta. Civil society groups such as Environmental Rights Action (ERA) and Social Action began documenting environmental abuses and advocating for justice.

Environmental activism in the Niger Delta is intertwined with broader struggles for resource control, human rights, and self-determination. Activists have aligned with labor unions, ethnic movements, and global environmental justice campaigns. The Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups have, at times, framed their armed resistance in terms of environmental and social justice.23 Despite differing approaches—nonviolent protest, legal action, or militancy—the core grievances remain consistent: ecological destruction, lack of accountability, and exclusion from the wealth generated by oil.

20

Ken Saro-Wiwa, A Month and a Day: A Detention Diary (Essex: Penguin Books, 1995), 62.

21

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), “The Ogoni Bill of Rights” (Port Harcourt: Saros International, 1992).

22

Human Rights Watch, “The Ogoni Crisis: A Case Study of Military Repression in Southeastern Nigeria,” July 1995.

23

Judith Burdin Asuni, “Blood Oil in the Niger Delta,” United States Institute of Peace Special Report 229 (2009): 4.

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Adjacent Page Digital Collage of Activism in the Niger Delta

“The obvious assessment so far, is that not much impact has been made on the lives and living standards of the most ordinary people of the Niger Delta” President Olusegun Obasanjo (Democratic President of Nigeria 1999-2007)

02. Chapter Two - Design Activism

Design Activism Design activism is a growing movement that merges creative design practices with socio-political objectives to foster systemic change. Alastair Fuad-Luke describes design activism as “design that acts with intent to disrupt the status quo and catalyze positive change.”24 Design activism is using design thinking, creating and practice to build a counter-narrative that promotes positive social, institutional environmental and or economic change, it is ideological and experimental.

Design activism challenges the notion of client dependent projects (The clients in this situation are usually TNC’s and government bodies).

It challenges structures of domination and in the process calls capitalism itself into question.

It hopes to reveal the people, their technologies and allows for sharing and understanding knowledge and uncertainties.

In the context of the Niger Delta, where environmental degradation and inequality persist, design activism can provide innovative tools for communication, protest, and community resilience.

24 Alastair Fuad-Luke, Design Activism: Beautiful Strangeness for a Sustainable World (London: Earthscan, 2009), 20.

+ Digital Collage Illustrating Evolution of Design Activism

+ Digital Collage of versions of Design Activism across different regions of the world.

Mapping capitals in Design Activism This framework illustrates that all forms of value are ultimately grounded in the ecological and human resources of the planet.

Fuad-Luke emphasizes this foundational relationship: “Design must reconnect with the ecological base—where natural and human capital are not only resources but contexts of care.25 By acknowledging the primacy of these capitals, design activism redirects design away from commodification and towards stewardship, justice, and sustainability.

Designing Across Capital Types Design activism engages multiple forms of capital: Natural Capital: Initiatives that rehabilitate damaged environments (e.g., community-driven clean-up design projects).

Human Capital: Co-design and participatory practices that enhance skills, agency, and dignity.

Cultural and Social Capital: Visual languages of resistance and solidarity that strengthen community identity and networks.

Intellectual Capital: Sharing knowledge and reimagining narratives through alternative media and design research.

Financial and Manufactured Capital: Prototyping sustainable production systems that prioritize well-being over profit.

As Fuad-Luke writes, “The designer’s role is shifting from stylist to facilitator, from author to co-author, from designer-for to designer-with.

25 Alastair Fuad-Luke, Design Activism: Beautiful Strangeness for a Sustainable World (London: Earthscan, 2009), 30.

+ Digital Collage Illustrating Relationships between the Capitals of Design Activism

Natural Capitals of the Niger Delta (The Environment) The Niger Delta is endowed with exceptional natural capital—its environmental wealth spans lush mangrove forests, inland swamps, freshwater ecosystems, and expansive biodiversity. These natural endowments support fishing, farming, traditional medicine, and spiritual practices among the indigenous populations.

Rivers like the Bonny, Forcados, and Nun not only enable transportation and commerce but also nurture the region’s ecological equilibrium.

Yet, this natural capital has been systemically degraded by decades of oil exploitation.

Oil spills contaminate water bodies, while gas flaring contributes to air pollution and acid rain. Soil infertility due to hydrocarbon contamination has disrupted farming cycles, while fisheries collapse has pushed local livelihoods to the brink.

This environmental destruction is not merely an ecological issue—it is a socio-economic and cultural crisis.

Restoring and protecting the Niger Delta’s natural capital is a critical step toward environmental justice. It requires a shift from extractivist models to community-centered sustainability frameworks, where the environment is not treated as a passive resource but as a living system integral to identity, survival, and future resilience.

+ Digital Collage of the Natural Capitals of the Niger Delta (The Environment)

Human Capitals of the Niger Delta (Women of the Niger Delta) In the Niger Delta, human capital is profoundly embodied in the lives and labor of women. These women navigate complex intersections of economic, environmental, and cultural challenges. From fish processing in the creeks to subsistence farming in oil-contaminated soils, they sustain households and local markets. Their roles extend beyond economic contribution—they are custodians of indigenous ecological knowledge, intergenerational caregivers, and cultural transmitters.

Yet, the extractive oil economy has disproportionately harmed them. Polluted water sources and dwindling fish stocks undermine their livelihoods, while militarization and conflict increase their vulnerability. Despite these hardships, women have risen as powerful agents of resistance. From the historic protests in Gbaramatu and the Niger Delta Women for Justice campaigns to grassroots organizing in Ogoniland, they have demanded environmental remediation, transparency, and community empowerment.

Empowering women in the Niger Delta means valuing their knowledge, securing their land rights, and including them in environmental policy-making. As essential human capital, their involvement is key to building a just and sustainable future for the region.

+ Digital Collage of the Human Capitals of the Niger Delta (Women of the Niger Delta)

Social Capitals of the Niger Delta (Culture, Arts and Animism) The Niger Delta is a region of immense cultural wealth, where oral histories, visual arts, music, and spiritual practices form the backbone of community life. Social capital here is built not only through kinship or governance but also through collective participation in deeply symbolic cultural practices. The rhythm of drums, the flamboyance of masquerades, and the poetry of praise-singers all contribute to a shared identity that reinforces resilience.

Central to this social capital is the spiritual worldview rooted in animism.

Communities often regard rivers, forests, and sacred groves as inhabited by spirits deserving of reverence and protection. These beliefs form an indigenous ecological ethic, regulating how resources are used and what boundaries should not be crossed. While modernity and extractive industries have eroded many of these practices, the cultural frameworks persist as forms of resistance and renewal.

Artists, performers, and traditional custodians of knowledge are now reclaiming this heritage in the fight against environmental and social injustice. Cultural performances double as political commentary; shrines become symbolic centers of environmental protest.

As such, the arts and animism of the Niger Delta are not relics of the past but active forms of social capital—living systems that nurture solidarity, resistance, and hope.

+ Digital Collage of the Social Capitals of the Niger Delta (Culture, Arts and Animism)

Revealing the People and their Technologies [A] “ARU” -The Canoe For the Ijaw people and many other communities across the Niger Delta, the canoe—or aru—is more than a vessel; it is a symbol of life, identity, and cultural continuity. Woven into the fabric of daily existence, the canoe connects people to their environment, ancestors, and each other. In a region where rivers are roads, the aru functions as a bridge between isolated communities, a provider of sustenance, and a means of spiritual communion with the waters.

Crafted traditionally from felled hardwoods using indigenous knowledge passed through generations, the making of a canoe is a communal act of skill, patience, and ritual. Trees chosen for canoes are often selected with ceremony and reverence, guided by spiritual beliefs and ancestral customs. The process acknowledges the sentience of nature—a central theme in animist traditions where rivers and forests are believed to be inhabited by spirits.

The aru reflects a deep technological intimacy with the ecosystem. Its form and function are harmonized with the tides, mangrove channels, and seasons of the Niger Delta. Used for fishing, trading, ceremonial crossings, and even activism, the canoe embodies self-reliance and resilience in a region often marginalized by the oil economy.

During periods of protest and resistance—such as the ferrying of messages and people during environmental uprisings or oil-related disruptions—the aru also became a discreet tool of mobilization. It carried not just goods but also the will of a people determined to navigate the currents of oppression with dignity and purpose.

Thus, the canoe is not merely a tool; it is a mirror of Niger Delta cosmology and a vessel of collective memory. In its hull rests the story of a people shaped by water, resistance, and the eternal rhythm of the tides.

“Ebi iye timiyoyou alaghe” “When you are paddling towards good things the way does not seem long” IJAW PROVERB

Revealing the People and their Technologies [B] Building on Stilts The architecture of the Niger Delta, particularly among the Ijaw and other riverine peoples, reflects a deep symbiosis with the water-bound environment. Homes elevated on stilts—rising above creeks, tidal rivers, and seasonal floods—are not merely responses to geography; they are expressions of indigenous engineering, cultural resilience, and spiritual alignment with nature.

Known locally as “pole houses,” these structures are built from timber, raffia, and palm thatch, using construction techniques honed over generations.

Beyond practicality, these stilted homes serve as communal markers—anchoring kinship ties, facilitating water-based economies, and protecting against spirits believed to dwell in the depths.

In many villages, platforms under or beside the homes serve as docks, markets, or gathering spaces, reinforcing social bonds and interdependence.

Stilt houses, as depicted in the accompanying diagrams, fall into three broad categories: “House on Stilts,” “Mud-Stilt Hybrid,” and “House on Mud-Foundation.” These structures employ locally sourced materials such as raffia palm, bamboo, and mangrove wood. The raised platforms facilitate ventilation and resilience against flooding, while open spaces beneath the buildings serve as work areas or temporary docking for canoes. Walls and roofs are often woven or thatched, keeping the interiors cool in the humid climate. Technologically, these structures illustrate sophisticated vernacular engineering.

As with the canoe (aru), the architecture of stilts is a testament to the adaptive intelligence of Niger Deltans—an architectural heritage shaped by tides, sustained by craftsmanship, and resilient against both natural and political currents.

Political Satire and Comics as Activist Tools In the evolving landscape of environmental and political activism in the Niger Delta, political satire—particularly through comics—has emerged as a powerful medium of resistance, critique, and public enlightenment.

The use of visual storytelling through caricature and humor not only captures attention but also breaks down complex socio-political issues into accessible narratives for a wider audience.

In a region burdened by illicit financial flows, environmental devastation, and governmental complicity, comics serve as both mirror and megaphone, reflecting injustice while amplifying calls for accountability.

Comics, often produced by grassroots organizations like Follow The Money or independent cartoonists, function as tools of civic education. They bypass barriers of literacy, bureaucracy, and fear, offering a culturally resonant mode of protest.

Moreover, satire resists censorship. Through humor and exaggeration, it disarms while provoking thought. In the context of shrinking civic space in Nigeria, where activists face intimidation and surveillance, comics offer a subversive but relatively safe channel for dissent. The legacy of visual protest in Nigeria, from the biting cartoons of Newswatch in the 1980s to digital memes today, underscores the continuity and potency of visual satire in the struggle for justice.

As part of a broader activist toolkit, comics complement legal petitions, street protests, and digital campaigns. They invite dialogue rather than decree, encouraging public participation and critical thinking. For Niger Delta activists, satire is not merely a diversion—it is a form of resistance rooted in cultural expression and political urgency.

Top Figure 12: The Federal Republic of Malabu. Follow The Money https://i0.wp.com/www.main.connecteddevelopment.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Malabu-cartoon.jpeg?w=1080&ssl=1 Right Top Figure 13: Niger Delta Resource Control by Mustapha Bulama https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3112222592186938&set=a.2246574565418416&__cft__ [0]=AZUE_7dWAc6xRmPPeD4zdv8cYn_41C3uVJ95sQZgLzOOO6qXoFsq_-_igYYNFjKjDvDM-Y-nBotZ69Ukk7nFAJf7wSw_ruVCZlwvfu1vC_DbgkhIPrFTI7vOrVpLkDn7pMJq1i8X5qUJweWPccGwdAxmqLLK_jPISjEcqku9dH-UWA&__tn__=EH-R Right Bottom Figure 14: Access to Oil Wealth https://www.primebusiness.africa/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/discretionary-awards-of-oilblocks-in-nigeria-a-state-capture-culture-passed-down-from-the-military-government-heinrich-boell-foundation.jpg-jpeg.webp

03. Chapter Three - Site Context

Top Left Figure 15: Google Earth Image of the river Niger bifurcating into smaller rivers (Forcados in focus).

Bottom Left Figure 16: Google Earth Image of the river Forcados and its Estuary with the Atalantic Ocean at the Bight of Benin.

Right Figure 17 : Google Earth image of Niger Delta communities settled on the bank of the Forcados River.

Okrigo Community Okrigo is a small village located in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. It lies on the west bank of the Forcados River, within the Niger Delta. The village is situated near other communities such as Okuama II and Ogbeinyama along the river, and is positioned at approximately 5.25312°N latitude and 5.84256°E longitude, with an elevation of about 2 meters above sea level .

Specific details about Okrigo’s population, infrastructure, and local economy are limited, its proximity to other villages and the broader Bomadi LGA suggests it shares in the region’s communal lifestyle and reliance on the natural environment for livelihood.

The community was selected at random as one of the many communities on either banks of the Forcados could have been selected, but the river Forcados was specifically selected due to its rich history and its current use. The river was used by the Portugese and the British to gain entry into current day Nigeria.

In current day, the Forcados Terminal, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), is one of Nigeria’s major crude oil export terminals.

The river area has seen numerous oil spills, with devastating environmental and socio-economic impacts on the local communities that have co-existed alongside the river.

The selection of the site is an attempt for direct action at beginning the Design Activism.

Figure Drawing of Okrigo Community at scale 1:6000

Site Analysis To understand the community using just Google earth Images, was a challenge as there are little to no location markers due to its extremely rural nature.

By analysing factors such as Access, community nodes it became cleare that such factors could be opportunities for Design Activism.

By “building” on visible existing community identifiers, the design could potentially highlight the people their culture, technologies as well as their struggles and provide an opportunity for positive change.

ACCESS The riverbank is lined with multiple access points, These likely serve for: • Transportation • Fishing • Water Collection.

• River trade or travel COMMUNITY NODES Community nodes are distributed to maintain social cohesion and ensure access to shared spaces.

Community nodes are selected by identifying areas where access routes congregrate into larger public open space.W

I imagined the posibility of what activities could be on the banks of the river, the banks serve to provide locations for access to the community.

• Transportation • Fishing • Water Collection.

• River trade or travel

I imagined the posibility of what activities could be around communal nodes.

Opportunities for activism in communal nodes; • Direct Activism Campaign • Cultural art display • Education • Empowerment/ skill acquisition

04. Chapter Four - Arukeghezi “Born In a Canoe” (Design Proposal)

Arukeghezi “Born in a canoe” (Volume 1)

(Design activism in the niger delta)

Tucked in the heart of Southern Nigeria, where rivers and creeks weave through the rainforests, swamps and oil rigs dot the horizon.... lies several rural Niger- Delta communities.

A region once known for its spectacular Bio-diversity as noted by early European Colonizers, yet now one of the more harmful and poluted places in the world.

Arukeghezi, welcomes you to her imagination of what could be Arukeghezi ...

I blended the community drawing into the google earth image to imagine how my designblended with the existing community, The dock provides opportunity for economic groth, transport and for social gathering. deep within the community a combination of three buildings makes up what is to be the community centre.

• The school • The I.T centre and • A chapel

Community school I.T Centre

Chapel/Community Hall

Welcome to Okrigo Community, Delta State - Population: 2,100 “Out of nearly 8 million people, more than half live in rural communities like this one.”

Arukeghezi was born here , and she has lived here for thr last 13 yearsexcept the occasional Christmas holidays spent in her mother’s village.

(Mark

Boy 1: Are we still going to the dock after this game.

Boy 2: Yes, Arukeghezi is with my sister, I believe they were headed to get some tomatoes at the market

Man 1: I don‛t think the Nobil pipeline spill has been cleaned up yet Woman 1: Yes, I dont know why, we should record a video of the spill and send it to the Government

OKRIGO COMMUNITY CENTER

(Community school, I.T CENTRE ,cOMMUNITY CHAPEL) ADAPTIVE RE-USE SANDCRETE BLOCK, LATERITE BRICKS, TIMBER, BAMBOO .

the dock

ket area, Transport infrastructure,ceremony CONGREGRATION) New* TIMBER STRUCTURE.

Woman : Why are those people gathered at the sign post.

Aukeghezi: There is a poster about the latest Nobil Oil Spill

N

BOY 11: The sign post always has something on it, I hope that this time it is something good.

Boy 2: Yes ohh, but i think it is just the time for the Nigeria vs Ghana AFCON game

ELDER 1: I think the Nobil oul spill is getting larger.

I don’t know why these companies only care about their profits WOMAN 1: THE YOUTHS ARE RECORDING A VIDEO OF THE SPILL SO THEY CAN UPLOAD IT AT THE IT CENTER

Arukeghezi: Good evening, Ma Arukeghezi Grocery Vendor Vendor: Good Evening Arukeghezi, How are you?

Arukeghezi: I am fine ma.

Arukeghezi How are you ma?

Grocery Vendor Vendor: I am doing good, Thank God. ....

Arukeghezi: Can i get some Arukeghezi Tomatoes Grocery Vendor Vendor: Yes, they go for 100 Naira each.

DOCK FLOOR PLAN; 1:100

Actions of activism on the dock are implemented along the access to the docks, by incorporating sign posts .

Floating platforms are also incorporated in the dock to provide opportunities for gathering to view cultural activities on the river ,as well as providing opportunities for social gathering.

The dock.

Provides transportation infrastucture, as well as an physical location for local economy. the lower area also provides platforms for viewing cultural display Material source; Timber from Forest areas.

Dock SECTION NORTH-SOUTH; 1:100

The dock.

Provides transportation infrastucture, as well as an physical location for local economy. the lower area also provides platforms for viewing cultural display Material source; Timber from Forest areas.

Dock SECTION East-west; 1:100

Structural Systems The structural systems of the dock comprises of timber elements (such as beams and columns) and the structural arrangement are based on the structural strengths of the locally available material, such as wood.

N

FLOOR PLAN

Teacher:Do you know if there has been any update on the upload?

Youth 1: Yes, I believe Nobil got to the site of the spill in the early hours of the day to begin the clean up.

Girl 1: What are you eating for lunch today?

Arukeghezi: I am eating rice and some vegetable soup with crayfish (small prawns*) My brother got some from the river when he went swimming with his friends

OKRIGO COMMUNITY CENTRE The Okrigo Community centre is a combination of three individual units; � The community school to the left � The I.T center up slighty Northward � The Community Chapel to the right.

The community centre fits in with the rest of the community by adaptively re-developing abandoned building constructions and making use of locally sourced materials

N

ROOF PLAN 1:100

OKRIGO COMMUNITY CENTRE The roof slopes are very pronounced to allow for easy drainage due to the consistent rainfalls experienced in the region.

It also provides for shading opportunities during the hot season

COMMUNITY CENTRE. ADAPTIVE RE-USE LOURVE TYPE WINDOWS FOR SCHOOL SEMI-OUTDOOR SPACE FOR PUBLIC GATHERING COMMUNITY SECTION NORTH-SOUTH; 1:100

COMMUNITY CENTRE. ADAPTIVE RE-USE LOURVE TYPE WINDOWS FOR SCHOOL SEMI-OUTDOOR SPACE FOR PUBLIC GATHERING COMMUNITY SECTION EAST-WEST; 1:100

ARUKEGHEZI thinks the roof structure of her school almost replicates the framing of a canoe, i think there might be some truth with that.

But what do you think?

to be continued...

“Ebi iye timiyoyou alaghe” “When you are paddling towards good things the way does not seem long” IJAW PROVERB

Reflections Although the number of tragic issues plaguing several communities in the Niger Delta, like Okrigo, is innumerable, it is important that we do not give up fighting for those whose voices are seldom heard.

While a dock and a community centre resolve some issues, they do not solve all. By embarking on this thesis, I have been able to bring to light, in my own way, the tragic situations in the Niger Delta. There is a lot more work to be done.

But this, to me, is a step in the right direction.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Akpobari, Celestine. Oil, Gas and the Niger Delta: Beyond Amnesty. Social Action Briefing Paper 3. Port Harcourt: Social Action, 2010.

Asuni, Judith Burdin. “Blood Oil in the Niger Delta.” United States Institute of Peace Special Report 229 (2009).

De St. Jorre, John. The Nigerian Civil War. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1972.

Dike, K. Onwuka. Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta, 1830–1885. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1956.

Environmental Rights Action. No Progress: An Assessment of the Implementation of UNEP’s Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland. ERA/ FoEN, 2015.

Falola, Toyin. Colonialism and Violence in Nigeria. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2009.

Francis, Paul, Deirdre Lapin, and Paula Rossiasco. Securing Development and Peace in the Niger Delta: A Social and Conflict Analysis for Change. Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 2011.

Fuad-Luke, Alastair. Design Activism: Beautiful Strangeness for a Sustainable World. London: Earthscan, 2009.

Hopkins, A. G. An Economic History of West Africa. London: Longman, 1973.

Ikein, Augustine A. The Impact of Oil on a Developing Country: The Case of Nigeria. New York: Praeger, 1990.

Katsouris, Christina, and Aaron Sayne. “Nigeria’s Criminal Crude: International Options to Combat the Export of Stolen Oil.” Chatham House Report, September 2013.

Lynn, Martin. “Nigeria, Biafra and the Strategic Importance of Oil.” Journal of Contemporary History 38, no. 3 (2003): 485–506.

Mai-Bornu, Zainab. Political Violence and Oil in Africa: The Case of the Niger Delta. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2019.

Obi, Cyril, and Siri Aas Rustad, eds. Oil and Insurgency in the Niger Delta: Managing the Complex Politics of Petro-violence. London: Zed Books, 2011.

Stakeholder Democracy Network. HYPREP and the Clean-Up of Ogoniland: Community Perceptions and Expectations. Port Harcourt: SDN, 2018.

United Nations Environment Programme. Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland. Nairobi: UNEP, 2011.

Uche, Chibuike. “Oil, British Interests and the Nigerian Civil War.” The Journal of African History 49, no. 1 (2008): 111–135.

Watts, Michael. Curse of the Black Gold: 50 Years of Oil in the Niger Delta. Brooklyn: PowerHouse Books, 2008.

List of Figures Figure 1. Gas flaring and oil refining in the Niger Delta. AFP. Source Figure 2. Crude oil refining and storage on the shores of the Niger Delta. Photograph by Pius Utomi Ekpei /AFP/ Getty Images. The Guardian Figure 3. Gas flaring and oil refining in the Niger Delta. AFP. Al Jazeera Figure 4. Oil spills in a village in the Niger Delta. Bloomberg/Getty. The Guardian Figure 5. Paddling in a creek in the Niger Delta. Photograph by Sunday Alamba. AP Photo. AP Figure 6. Scooping oil from a spill in a village in the Niger Delta. Photograph by Sunday Alamba. AP Photo. AP Figure 7. Fishing in the Niger Delta. Photograph by Arteh Odjidja. The Guardian. The Guardian Figure 8. Walking through an oil spill in the Niger Delta. Photograph by Sunday Alamba. AP Photo. The Seattle Times Figure 9. Young children swimming in a water body in the Niger Delta. Photograph by Arteh Odjidja. The Guardian. The Guardian Figure 10. Extent of oil spillage in Ogoniland, Niger Delta. Photograph by Marten van Dijl, EPA. The Guardian Figure 11. Gas flare lighting up the night sky in the Niger Delta. The Guardian. The Guardian Figure 12. The Federal Republic of Malabu (cartoon illustration). Follow The Money / Connected Development. Source Figure 13. Niger Delta Resource Control cartoon by Mustapha Bulama. Facebook Figure 14. Access to oil wealth in Nigeria. Heinrich Böll Foundation / Prime Business Africa. Source Figure 15. Google Earth image of the River Niger bifurcating into smaller rivers, with Forcados in focus. Google Earth.

Figure 16. Google Earth image of the River Forcados and its estuary with the Atlantic Ocean at the Bight of Benin. Google Earth.

Figure 17. Google Earth image of Niger Delta communities settled along the banks of the Forcados River. Google Earth.

DESIGN THESIS | MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE ADVISOR: SH AWN BAILEY OCTOBER 2 025 FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE | UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA