Racism and the rest of Africa

Recently, Nigerians were jolted by the news of xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The attacks, which targeted foreign nationals from the rest of Africa, especially Nigerians, led to the death of several people. A lot of people wondered why Africans should kill one another. They once again advocated the unity of Africa as a continent. […]

Recently, Nigerians were jolted by the news of xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The attacks, which targeted foreign nationals from the rest of Africa, especially Nigerians, led to the death of several people. A lot of people wondered why Africans should kill one another. They once again advocated the unity of Africa as a continent.

Since then, a lot of people have continued to raise questions on the possible causes of xenophobia. The answer is racism. Other factors could be relative deprivation, specifically intense competition for jobs, commodities, housing etc. Another cause of xenophobia could be the fact that South Africans feel superior to other Africans.

To eradicate a global epidemic, one must first try to understand it. Racism and other forms of social vices may be difficult to eradicate, but it is possible if there’s determination, even while it may seem an impossible task. That is why hate speech should be condemned and tackled by every government in Africa.

It is important to watch out for people who delight in destruction. According to Marion Rodriguez, a cognitive behavioural therapist, “Hatred of certain ethnic groups, religion, race or sexual orientations, is based on irrational beliefs, which can as well lead to crimes. It is the belief that other groups are inherently flawed or inferior. This can be seen as a threat.” Truly, this is what leads to such attacks we witnessed in South Africa.

Another question is: Why do people feel superior or inferior to others? Psychologists believe that fear, primitive survival mechanism, instinct to avoid danger etc, are possible factors.

The late nationalist and president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, spent many years in prison because the white minority and colonialists in that country then were afraid that he would overthrow their government. Mandela was a threat, so he had to be taken out of the system. In Africa and other continents, some people are sent to various prisons because their opponents in government are afraid of what they are capable of doing. That is the kind of havoc that fear can wreak. On xenophobic attacks, South Africans are afraid that others are in their country to take away their lands, jobs, and even their women, so they had to fight for what they saw as a form of freedom.

One of the possible ways of fighting racism is to recognise and understand your privileged position and that of others. Secondly, examine your own biases and consider where they may have originated from. Then ask yourself why others are different from you. For example, why do we have different ethnic nationalities, religions etc? If these questions are answered, perhaps the problem of racism would be solved and there would be peace in the world, not only in Africa.

Bankole Dolapo, Department of Mass Communication, Babcock University