During the period from November 2 to November 16, 2006, an expedition of Russian anthropologists conducted a field season in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The expedition was initiated by the Center for Civilizational and Regional Studies of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences (CCRI), supported by the Russian State Science Foundation (grant 06 - 01 - 02083a and grant 06 - 01 - 02062a) and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Field research was carried out within the framework of the projects "The image of modern Russia in Africa: Formation and features" and "Russia and Islam: Civilizational dialogue".

The expedition included A. A. Banshchikova, D. M. Bondarenko (head), O. I. Kavykin, A.V. Korotaev, A.D. Savateev, and D. A. Khalturina from the Central Research Center.

The aim of the research is to study the prerequisites for the formation of the image of modern Russia in connection with the history of Soviet - and Russian-African relations and their current state, to identify the characteristic features of this image, the prospects and conditions for its positive transformation, including in the context of Islamic-Christian relations in the modern world. Within the framework of this project, for the first time in Russian science, the task of systematically studying the image of our country and its citizens in the minds of the population of the African continent was set.

During the fieldwork, a series of interviews (more than 50) was conducted with representatives of the intellectual, cultural, business and political elite - people who are able to shape and change the image of Russia. There was also a round table discussion on the project with the staff of the Nigerian Institute of International Relations, informal discussions of research issues with colleagues at the Universities of Lagos and Ibadan, and an archive of photographic documents was compiled.

Interviews were conducted using an 18-item questionnaire, each of which took about 40 minutes to complete. Finally, a series of interviews consisted of a conversation without a preliminary plan, which usually lasted from an hour to one and a half. The vast majority of interviews were recorded on a tape recorder. The interviews made it possible to identify holistic images of Russia in the minds of representatives of the Nigerian elite.

Based on the materials collected during the expedition, as well as an online survey of 148 citizens of 43 African countries, preliminary results were obtained. The study showed that, on the one hand, the image of modern Russia in Africa is not formed primarily due to the insufficiently active informational, economic and political presence of our country on the continent. On the other hand, post - Soviet Russia, which has largely inherited the image of the Soviet Union, is still associated for many Africans with supporting the struggle of the peoples of Africa against colonialism, neo-colonialism and apartheid. According to one Nigerian academic, it was the Soviet Union that prevented the West from behaving as it pleased in Africa; any African could say, "Oh, the Soviet Union protects my interests!" and this role of the USSR is still remembered by many. In this regard, it is a historical fact advantageous for the image of Russia that it has never acted as a colonial metropolis in Africa: after all, a significant part of Africans, including representatives of the elite, perceive the current processes of economic and political globalization as a continuation of Western attempts to exploit the continent under a new ideological cover (see, for example: Msellemu S. A. Globalisation is Neocolonialism // East (Oriens). 2004, N 6).

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Thus, the materials collected by the project participants show that the majority of Africans are not prejudiced against Russia, and it has opportunities to develop its positive image in Africa. However, it should be borne in mind that at present, Russia, in fact, is "eating up" the "image reserves" accumulated during the Soviet period. These "reserves" can last only for about fifteen more years: until the last generation of people who retain the memory of the Soviet Union's existence and a positive attitude towards it, and often "automatically" extend this attitude to post-Soviet Russia, or, on the contrary, regret it, leaves active public life in African countries. that it has become largely guided by Western values. Although it is true that the collapse of the USSR went virtually unnoticed by some Africans, the educated elite of African countries not only recognizes the difference between the Soviet Union and modern Russia, but also notes the differences between them, which they see as both positive and negative. Negative differences include the already mentioned excessive association of Russia with the Western world, and the cessation of active support for African peoples. The positive difference is, in particular, Russia's rejection of state atheism and the revival of religious life in the country. It should be borne in mind that even highly educated Africans (both Muslims and Christians) retain a high level of religiosity, and therefore this aspect is important for forming an image of Russia in their minds. In this regard, the systematic dissemination of information about the revival of religious life in Russia, necessarily equally among Christians and Muslims, such as the construction of new churches and mosques, could further improve the image of Russia in sub-Saharan Africa. Russia's prospects in Africa, including from the point of view of its image in the eyes of the continent's inhabitants, may turn out to be positive, which will help strengthen its economic and political positions in the region, which is now once again in the center of increasing attention from both the world community as a whole and many states. However, in order for positive prospects to become a reality, first of all, Russia must take into account the factor of time, which is working against it. So, among the participants of our Internet survey under 35 years of age (i.e., people who do not personally remember the times of the USSR), only 34% of informants consider the role of the Soviet Union for their country positive, while among older respondents 53.2% consider it positive. Secondly, Russia needs to act thoughtfully, taking into account the specifics of African culture, including political and business culture. In addition, it is necessary to clearly understand that strengthening Russia's position in Africa cannot but require significant investments, both public and private, the latter, perhaps, in the first place.

The first results obtained allowed the project participants to develop a system of recommendations, taking into account which could contribute to a tangible improvement in the image of Russia in the countries of the African continent. We are talking about such recommendations as the importance of systematic dissemination of information about life in Russia - economic, political, cultural, religious, including through the re-establishment of a network of cultural centers, radio and television broadcasting to African countries; maintaining contacts with Africans - graduates of Soviet and Russian universities and compatriots living in Africa; strengthening cooperation cooperation between scientists and teachers of higher education in Russia and African countries; forming a positive image of Russia in Africa and a positive perception of Africa and Africans in Russia; uncompromising struggle against manifestations of racial intolerance and xenophobia, etc.

Since the projects under which the expedition to Nigeria took place are designed for three years - up to and including 2008, the scientific conclusions drawn as a result of its implementation will be supplemented by the results of research in other African countries and in Russia.

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