The Unseen Demon
Human evolution has occurred in small groups and they naturally maintain a social network. As commonly known, tribalism is the state of being organized by, or advocating for, tribes or tribal lifestyles. Amongst common culture, tribalism is the way of thinking or behaving in which people are loyal to their social group above all else or derogatorily a type of discrimination or animosity based upon group differences.
According to Patrick Dixon, tribalism is the most powerful force in the world. I can’t help but agree with him due to how far this force has gone to hinder growth, development and the economy of nations across the African continent.
The Problem
I find it extremely funny yet shameful anytime I hear my fellow African say “together we can change Africa”. Such lies we keep telling ourselves when we know deep down in our hearts and souls, we worship the demon called tribalism with no regrets.
Africa births many tribes hence leaving her divided and ununited. The singular act to bring several indigenous nations to lump together as one country has stoked the fire of tribalism especially in the field of African politics.
Tribalism has overpowered the very hero we look up to, our government. In recent times the government has been weakened by the influence of this unseen demon we all fear. We see the cases of key positions and promotions being given to individuals by virtue of their tribes not their qualifications, such disrespect from our officials.
As if that isn’t enough, we hear stories about how students who share the same tribe as the headteacher or school owner pays lesser compared to students from other tribes even though they are all learning under the same conditions.
To add insult to injury, the most common form of this discrimination is when love is denied a chance, with sayings like, “I can never date or marry anyone from this tribe” or “No child of mine will marry from this tribe”. The most hurtful part of this is there are no known facts about why we don’t want to get acquainted with the other tribes.
This demon has survived through slangs, jokes, comedy, threats and abuse we see and hear from our work places, markets, places of worship, schools, and the society at large. Hatred, pain, hurt and disunity as a result of tribalism has lived on from one generation to another. It is disgusting to see how we stoop so low to promote disparaging things about people from other tribes.
The Tribalist
Once you are possessed by this unseen demon of tribalism you automatically refuse to see any good in other tribes. Your focus is mainly based on how bad the other tribe is and how perfect your tribe is, such a cliché.
You are more interested in favoring only those from your tribe with no form of measure just because you think people from other tribes are not worthy of help or the fear that they will overthrow you once they come into your circle, very funny and childish.
Social engagement such as marriages should be between members of the same tribe since people from the other tribes are of lesser value compared to your tribe or they don’t appear as you deem fit or do not have similar beliefs as you, typical act of hypocrisy.
The Way Forward
It is about time we wake up as Africans to fight against tribalism and stand with freedom and liberalism. The earlier we see beyond tribalism the faster we eradicate it, the faster we eradicate tribalism the stronger we stand together as a continent.
The demon called tribalism should be exposed for what it really is through awareness creation via public education, social media campaigns, policies in schools and work places, songs, movies, jokes and slangs.
Inter-tribal marriages should be encouraged across the continent, everyone should be allowed to marry from any desired tribe regardless where one is coming from.
David Mitchell said, “... in a cycle as old as tribalism, ignorance of the Other engenders fear; fear engenders hatred; hatred engenders violence; violence engenders further violence until the only "rights", the only law, are whatever is willed by the most powerful.”
As we all know, united we stand divided we fall, the time is now for Africa to stand as one and conquer our unseen demon called tribalism.
Oludamola Oluwaseun Ogidan is male advocate and an entrepreneur who enjoys writing. He is a Local Coordinator with African Students For Liberty, Nigeria.
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