Bayo Akomolafe might define a 'nation-state' by evoking both its conventional understanding and the subtle complexities it harbors. For him, the nation-state is a construct of modernity, a geopolitical entity characterized by the overlap of a political and cultural community bound within defined territorial borders. It's a structure often rooted in colonial legacies and the European Enlightenment’s rationalist doctrines, aspiring to homogenize diverse identities under a singular national narrative. Akomolafe would punctuate this with the notion that the nation-state, while presenting itself as a monolithic guardian of law, order, and governance, is also a site of contested power dynamics, historical amnesia, and an ongoing negotiation of diversity and belonging. It’s a living paradox, grappling with its dual roles as both sanctuary and cage in a world where identities and alliances are fluid, overlapping, and dense with stories untold.

See also: middle passage, colonial order, white supremacy, late-stage capitalism, black lives