ABSTRACT
On the northern outskirts of Ibadan, behin d the hil l overlookin g the cit y on which the officia l regiona l government residences lie, is a quiet new housing estate. I n it s spaciou s single-famil y houses, surrounde d b y well-trimme d half-acres o f law n an d garden , liv e som e o f th e member s o f Ibadan' s cosmopolitan technocratic elite . They are lawyers and town planners, profes - sors and engineers, doctors and publishers, consular personnel and commercial executives. About half are foreigners, from a score of countries. The other half are Nigerian, mostly Yoruba from Western Nigeria itself but from other ethnic groups and other regions as well. The physical atmosphere o f Wasimi Layout, and of the other estates at the city's periphery, is tranquil, and almost modest in its refinement . Th e socia l atmosphere , wit h s o man y o f th e manager s of Western Nigeria n society o n hand, i s one o f unrushed professiona l concer n muted by an obvious enjoyment o f present privilege.
