Abuja Peoples of Nigeria as Indigenous Peoples in International Law

Abstract

There is no agreed definition of indigenous peoples (IPs) as the international community has not agreed to any. However, an examination of international instruments and literature on the subject presents a picture. This article examines the definition of IPs and its relevance to Africa. The case study of Abuja, Nigeria is used as a vehicle to challenge the existing descriptions of IPs. It argues that international law should expand its definition of IPs to include collectives of peoples with diverse cultures in Africa. Analogical insights are drawn from international child rights law to advance the argument that international law on IPs’ rights can learn from the evolution of international children’s rights law.