Written By: Abdulrasaq Taiwo A.
It isn’t any news that Africa as a Continent is faced with diverse cultural and socio-economic setbacks. Well, which Continent isn’t anyways? Only problem is that Africa’s setback is so much that she is now ranked the world’s poorest and most under-equipped of all the existing continents. Possessing abundant natural resources which could have made her the “food basket” of the world or “the world’s Oasis”- if there was any title like that. But reverse is the case. Our land speaks of our prosperity yet poverty remains our middle name! We suffer serious human rights violations, insurgencies, failed central planning, high level of illiteracy and the worst and self destructive of all- frequent tribal conflicts.
Africa is highly susceptible to intra and inter state wars and conflicts. To mention but a few, there is the Hutu and Tutsi war in Rwanda, the Ashante and Fante enmity in Ghana, the hostility among the Yoruba, Igbo and Hausas of Nigeria and the list goes on and on. Thereby earning us the insinuation that Africa is “the home of wars and instability”! Isn’t it enough that all African countries except Ethiopia were colonized by the British?
Although we have gotten our freedom, it is such a pity that we are never really liberated. Our colonial masters left but their ideology remains and we openly show it. Or how then do we describe the disunity among citizens of the same country because of their tribal differences?
The unending tribal conflicts combating Africa have had a lasting unpleasant impacts on her socio-economic development because it is almost impossible for an environment riddled with violence, insecurity and disunity;the aftermath of the conflicts to have a solid and sustainable development if there is at all.
Inter-tribal wars have rendered our government debilitated, infrastructural facilities are wantonly destroyed, loyalty, patriotism and mutual relations are broken, high rate of unemployment and worst of all, death.
What then is the way forward? Africans are tired of having to suffer lack or insufficiency (if not both) but our complaints can’t change a thing. Base on previous research and thorough analysis, it was concluded that committed and sincere leadership along with poverty eradication is the bail out.
Personally, I think all hands must be on deck to halt this negative development and chart a new course for peace in Africa. Let’s put an end to our own form of marginalization. “Socially constructed things become real when they are embedded in culture. Language are constructed too and yet they are real things that have real impact in our lives. We need to deal with the constructs not swim in cultural denial”(Excerpt from I’m judging you by Luvvie Ajayi).
This entire restructuring begins with me. It begins with you. Have the mind that treats people equally and how you would like to be treated irrespective of their tribe. Always respect the differences in others.
Don’t make others bend for your rules and way of life. Dare to make a difference. Let’s end tribal wars together!
