Xenophobia Amongst Africans "A rather Unpleasant Route To a Greater Continent" - A.R Aina

Xenophobia is the fear of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange. Xenophobia can manifest itself in many ways involving the relations and perceptions if an ingroup towards an Outgroup, including a fear if losing identity, suspicion of its activities, aggression, and desire to eliminate its presence to secure a presumed purity.  

             

The term Xenophobia and racism are sometimes confused and used interchangeably because people who share a national origin also belong to the same race.    Xenophobia is a political term and not a  recognised medical phobia.                              

 An early example of Xenophobic sentiment in western culture is the Ancient Greek denigration of foreigner as "barbarians", belief that the Greek people and culture were superior to those of others, and the subsequent conclusion that barbarians were naturally meant to be enslaved.                          

Before 1994, Immigrants from elsewhere faced discrimination and even violence in South Africa. Africa democratisation in 1994, contrary to expectations, the incidence of xenophobia increased.                                         

Between 2000 and March 2008, at least 67 people died in what we identified as xenophobic attacks. In May 2008, a series of attack left 62 people dead; although 21of them were South African citizens, Xenophobia apparently motivated the attacks. In 2015, another nationwide spike in a xenophobic attack against immigrant, in general, prompted many of the foreign government to begin repatriating their citizens.                                

Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe said, "It is only in South Africa an illiterate thinks a medical doctor from neighbouring countries happens to be the cause if his or her unemployment ".                                                     

Zwelithini is the traditional leader of South Africa's largest ethnic group, and he holds no official role in South Africa politics, but still holds sway with many people and has being recognised as the pioneer of xenophobia lately.                                                                       

An attack on Nigerians and other African countries seems absurd and unforgivable. The first democratically elected president if South Africa sees Nigeria is the mother if other African countries and never doubted the fact that it was called "The Giant of Africa" based on the fact that she spent millions of dollars as stated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo during the Apartheid Policy implementation in South Africa.  

In conclusion, a Xenophobic attack should be stopped and eradicated from the region if Africa and the world as a whole because, irrespective of our colour and historical background... I still do believe we are one.            

Aina Abiodun Razak                                              

Graduate History and Diplomatic Studies