XENOPHOBIA AND AFRICAN UNITY

Abstract

World history has shown that the centrality of sustainable unity among individuals, societies, nations and countries for the realization of desirable social order and holistic development is not contestable. Consistent with this belief, some thinkers who seek solutions to the various developmental crises in Africa are quick to identify “unity of African people and nations” as the requirement for effective development and desirable progress in Africa. Some of these thinkers often times pin down the ordeal of African unity and lack of development on the antecedents of colonialism and neo-colonialism. It seems that less emphasis is being laid on the role of xenophobia in the quest for African unity. Using the method of critical analysis and reflection on political issues and events in Africa, this research paper identified xenophobia as a huge stumbling block towards the attainment of African unity; it also identified, besides other causes of xenophobic tendencies, the lack of proper knowledge of the unique and self-identity of the various tribes and nations in Africa as the remote cause of xenophobic action. Thus, it proposed the advent of an African Orientation Agency that will create enough room for a large membership that will draw from the various tribes and nations in Africa. In its duties, this agency will be able to achieve certain goals—It will rationally domicile and disseminate the knowledge of the self-identity of the various tribes in Africa to Africans. As the saying goes— “the fear of the unknown is far greater than the fear of the known”. This knowledge and awareness will greatly reduce xenophobia with its tendencies; it will predispose the Africans towards a process of healing from the damages already caused by xenophobic actions and this will engender unity in Africa.