Theorising Authenticity in Nigerian Cultural Tourism: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study

This study theorises authenticity in Nigerian cultural tourism through a constructivist grounded theory methodology, generating an original theoretical framework for understanding how authenticity is constructed, negotiated, and contested among tourists, hosts, and mediators in Nigerian cultural tourism encounters. Authenticity theory in tourism has evolved from objectivist through constructivist to existential paradigms, predominantly drawing on Western and Asian tourism contexts, with African tourism authenticity dynamics remaining theoretically underrepresented. Data are generated through 52 in-depth interviews with domestic and international tourists, cultural tourism operators, traditional custodians, and government tourism officials across six cultural tourism destinations spanning all geopolitical zones, including Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, Sukur Cultural Landscape, Calabar Museum, Arochukwu Long Juju Slave Route, Nok Archaeological Site, and Kano Old City. Constructivist grounded theory procedures including theoretical sampling, constant comparative analysis, and theoretical saturation are applied. The emergent theory, designated the Nigerian Cultural Tourism Authenticity Negotiation Model, proposes that authenticity in the Nigerian context is a dynamic relational construct co-produced across three negotiation arenas: the performance arena between tourist expectations and host presentations, the custodianship arena between traditional institutions and commercial operators, and the policy arena between cultural preservation mandates and tourism development imperatives. The model departs significantly from Western-derived authenticity frameworks and offers a contextually grounded theoretical contribution to critical tourism studies. Keywords: cultural tourism authenticity, grounded theory, Nigeria, heritage performance, host-guest relations