About Us
Socialist Library and Archives
The Socialist Library & Archives (SOLAR) has its origin in the “Combined Archives and Libraries of Edwin Madunagu & Bene Madunagu, a product of the joint life of Edwin Madunagu and Bene Madunagu since 1973. It went through several combinations, affiliations, names and revolutionary uses and deployments since December 1975, at the birth of the Revolutionary Directorate (RD).
The last deployment was made in 1996 when the Combined Archives and Libraries were lent to a programme, Conscientising Nigerian Male Adolescents (CMA) and extended in 2000 when the lending was extended to the Calabar International Institute for Research, Information and Documentation (CIINSTRID).
The Combined Archives and Libraries was physically separated from CIINSTRID and CMA acquisitions in 2020 when the lending ended. Put differently: At the end of 2020, CIINSTRID and CMA Acquisitions were separated from the personal archives and books of Bene Madunagu and Edwin Madunagu and then the archives and books of Bene Madunagu and Edwin Madunagu were merged to become this Combined Archives and Libraries of Edwin Madunagu and Bene Madunagu.
The Combined Archives and Libraries of Edwin and Bene Madunagu was formally handed over to the Nigerian Left by Edwin and Bene Madunagu on May 1, 2021 and led to the emergence of the Socialist Library and Archives (SOLAR).
Vision
To be the most important resource centre in Africa on revolutionary and progressive literature.
Mission
To curate and be the repository of books, materials, documents, and information about the Nigerian Left and its revolutionary struggle.
Aims & Objectives
- To promote reading and learning
- To act as an archive and resource centre for research and learning
- To create learning and research opportunities for both large and small groups as well as individuals with a focus on intellectual content
- To promote scholarly communication and provide information to citizens and academic community
- To engage in research, education, training and advocacy