Overcoming Xenophobia in Africa

South Africa is home of mixed migration. The Apartheid struggle was fought with the support of most African countries and today, people of different nationalities turn to the Rainbow nation for greener pastures. Others are also living as refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from African countries.

But these immigrants experience xenophobia, which can at times turn ugly. The widespread xenophobic attacks of 2008 did not spare any of these groups – 62 people died and hundreds were displaced. The 2010 soccer fever is believed to have helped calmed the situation, but African migrants in South Africa cannot be comfortable. This is because of rumours that the attacks may erupt when the tournament is over.

Organizations like the African Diaspora Forum, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Migration Organization (IOM) are working with the South African government to stop the attacks on migrants. But the issue of xenophobia is not peculiar to the Rainbow nation – a cursory observation indicates that similar jingoistic practices abound in other African countries.

In the beginning

Slavery, Colonialism and Racism have emerged as the tripartite phenomenon the African has had to contend with over so many years. While formal slavery and colonialism have been laid to rest, the issue of racism, accompanied by its horrific experience of injustice to human dignity, continues to afflict the African, both on the continent and in the Diaspora.

The promulgation of some international human rights instruments, such as the Universal Declaration of Human and Rights (UDHR), explicitly identify the numerous rights to revolve around the dignity and reverence of the individual personality, irrespective of race, colour, creed, religion or sex.The issue of racism and its impact on human beings has been of paramount interest to the United Nations to the extend that its General Assembly designated the year 1971 as the International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. It has since designated three Decades of Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1973–1983, 1983–1993, and 1993-2003).

The Third World Conference Against Racism, which took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, focused on developing practical, action-oriented measures and contemporary forms of racism and intolerance. The general question, however, is what type of Racism exists today on the African continent?Article 1(1) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) define the term “racial discrimination” as ‘any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life’.Historically, racial discrimination has been identified on the level of White-Black basis, especially during the colonial, apartheid and segregation eras.

The White against Black paradigm has occupied our minds to an extent that contemporary trends of racism on the African Continent, which needs urgent address, have been overlooked.

The xenophobia within
Today, the expression of racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance reign supreme on the entire continent of Africa. It is very much clear that most Africans are racist without necessarily being aware. These forms of racism are mostly carried out along tribal, ethnic, religious, gender and national and economic circles.Tendencies for racism exist owing to fear or uneasiness toward other group of people; instituted intolerance resulting from a calculated effort to put the person down; and lack of knowledge or education to foster inter-relationship as well as provide understanding of difference among tribes and nationalities.It is expedient to note that the African and the African continent are on the threshold of time. Times have past when all our woes and tribulations were attributed to the Western world. Gone are the days when racism was a White and Black issue.

It is now time to reflect on what is actually afflicting the African on a Black-to-Black basis. There is a pertinent need to seriously examine our Religious, Economic, Political, Educational and Family institutions with a view to addressing the present predicament of racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance badly affecting us.

The effects of xenophobia and intolerance have resulted in bloody ethnic and religious clashes, which in most countries ended in civil wars and genocide. It has also culminated in severe hostilities among nationalities and continues to be a major factor in inter/intra border clashes between nations. Ethnic conflicts, religious fundamentalism and arm struggles continue to have negative impact on the rule of law and fundamental freedoms of the African. Factors such as exploitation, environmental degradation, demographic boundaries, ethnic composition, migration flow, marriage patterns, unequal distribution of state portfolio, other cultural and religious issues can be subdued to enable the continent achieve economic prosperity, peace and harmony among its peoples’. What can therefore be done to curtail these “reservoirs of hostilities” among Africans?

The canker can be overcome!
“Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned… until there is no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation, until the colour of a man’s skin is of no significance than the colour of his eyes… until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race ... and until that day, the dream of lasting peace, rule of international morality will remain nothing but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained”.__ Robert N. Marley.

In a plan of action, the African must understand that the fear of the unknown is a symptom of ignorance and to curtail the anomaly, each individual in a community must learn to respect the views and ways of life of other persons or group of people, no matter how absurd such lifestyles or opinions may appear. Appreciating the difference and dynamism of cultures and religions of other people is a sure way to building lasting relationship between nations in Africa. We must also realize the fact that we had been living together before the partitioning of the continent which led to the creation of artificial boundaries.

If there is going to be real African Renaissance, governments of Africa must inculcate real commitment and zeal towards the implementation of policies. The expression of hypocrisy must stop and selfish interests shunned. It is very expedient that the entire segments, institutions and bodies on the continent of Africa and interested bodies in other places be carried along in the new African Union. For this to be achieved, there must be effective measures aimed at tackling corruption, nepotism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance, which promote widespread hostilities. Peaceful co-existence must be ensured in each nation of the continent, because if one group feels threatened, bullied or relegated, integration would certainly end up in a fiasco.

The African Union must consolidate democracy, bring lasting peace, eradicate poverty, tackle diseases and sustain development, thereby bringing the continent into the mainstream of the world economy.

It must be pointed out that real Union is attainable if issues of power equity are well addressed. The selfish sought for power must not be allowed to overcome the collective interest of the people of African.

This generation cannot be wasted!“If Africa unites, it will be because each part, each nation, each tribe gives up a part of its heritage for the good of the whole. That is what Union means, that is what Pan-African means”, says William B. Du Bois.

Xenophobia and intolerance, especially on economic, religious and racial levels, leads to nothing but havoc, not only to the mind and personality of the subject but also of the perpetuator. Let’s adhere to the stipulation of article 1 of the UDHR that ‘all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and in rights, they are endowed with reason and conscience and must act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood’.

Let us be our brothers’ keeper in all its importance, and the dream of a United States of Africa would be a reality!

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Intellectual Casualties

O ye dead ones of conceptual suicide
The mental causalities of professionalism
Having nothing new to offer
But awaits the intellectual undertaker

You are members of the intellectual terrorism gang
Always hooked on idea-wrecking ventures
Worshipping the past of dogmatism
Yet offering no substitute for the present

You impede creative talents of progress
By resisting any doctrinal change
Adjustment to the new is impossible
So delay decisions by playing the ‘No’ game

You ritualistically engage in a dance with dead ideas
Fearful of looking new thoughts in the eye

In the brightness of day, your sight is open closed

Please! Let knowledge reign over your ignorance!

© Kofi Adu Domfeh

2000 AD - THE YEAR THAT WAS!

To many a man, the euphoria surrounding the days ushering in the millennial year was that of fear, curiosity and great expectation. The momentum leading to the year 2000 had commenced as early as the 1990’s. During this period, most so-called prophetic, spiritual and religious leaders had predicted the year to be a misery for man on earth. While some claimed it would be the end of time, others said it was going to be the beginning of the end. Still others mischievously talked about doom. Perhaps, for us in Africa, we only thank some of the new Charismatic institutions that somehow gave hope that the year was going to the beginning of the manifestation of God’s Grace for us and other oppressed people on earth.

In as much as the spiritual institutions had succeeded in already making the year an extraordinary one, it was the scientific and technological dimension of man that added and even over-blew the catastrophic nature of the year. This was due to the fact that there arose a controversy (which still exists) over the correct dating of the millennial year. While some said the 20th century ends in year 2000, others opined that 2000 commenced the new century. This challenge in dating made some to disregard the prophetic pronouncements of the spiritual leaders. However, when the issue of the millennium bug came up, and the havoc of its presence explained, the coming of the year became much fearful and horrific than earlier expected. Not only were our scientists going to fail us, the owner of the universe was coming to destroy and take over.

As the year 1999 drew to an end, much of the fear had been given away, thanks to the ‘true servants of God’ and somehow the USA which assisted many countries to be ‘Y2K complaint’. But the curiosity surrounding the appearance of the first day of January 2000 was very much alive. So, on the eve of the magic year, while most people in advanced countries kept vigil in front of their computer screens, the African was in the presence of God, praying for mercy. Yet, others who cared least to what may come went about enjoying themselves to the fullest. On and on the clock tickled away – the general question then was, are we going to be alive before the insurgence of Heaven and Hell?

Then the long awaited hour came! At midnight in Africa, one could hear of nothing but shouts of massive prayers from all quarters. At last, it has happened – we were still alive. God have mercy on us!. In the Western nations, it was a night of comparisons and verification through all forms of communication: it seems the Y2K phenomenon had been overcome.

Now, even before the early mornings of 1st January 2000, the year had already been tagged Y2K to mimic the virus that was about to attack us as a wild beast from an African jungle. We were there at last and our world was still intact. The elevators, aeroplanes and all those electronic technologies were operating as they have always been. Whether the bug existed or not is still a controversy that is going to stay with us for quite some time, although the ‘MicroGiant’ in the industry has assured us that ‘the Rat’ is still living among us and would show its ugly face sometime. Let’s only hope that it does not.

Then behold my beloved continent Africa! Our despotic leaders were still on their monarchical seats surrounded by their subjects. In spite of their ‘prophetic visions’ – food, healthcare, housing, education, everything for all by the year 2000 – the African was still faced with the ‘unholy trinity of hunger, disease and ignorance’. But my people never give up; so long as they remain alive and pray to their God, much will be in store for them. This was illustrated in their various New Year (this time around, New Millennium) resolutions. One would come across popular ones like: ‘Year of Remarkable Divine Flourishing’, ‘Year of Success’, ‘Year of Breakthrough’, ‘Year of Dominion over the Devil’ and ‘Year of Divine Fulfilment’. In some way, the African seemed to have started on a good note because ‘with God, all things are possible’. However, the year started moving on like any other year though with a special meaning attached to it. If nothing at all, it was a privilege for one to witness a millennial year in a life time. So the African generally, had an atmosphere and mood that seemed favourable to see him through the year.

The dawn of the year 2000 had its own downturns and successes for the African. Generally, the hopes outstretched the failures. In spite of the so-called ‘donor fatigue’ proclaimed by most Western donors, the general atmosphere of commitment towards the upliftment of the continent was high. Perhaps, the major hope came from the resolution or declaration of the United Nations Millennium Summit. Being the largest gathering of world leaders ever and with our own president Sam Nujoma of Namibia, co-chairing the summit, much priority was given to the African. The leaders “pledged their commitment to helping the United Nations adapt to the new era and strengthen its capacity to deal with the challenges of maintaining peace and eliminating poverty”. Thanks also to the Jubilee 2000 Coalition, a petition containing 22 million signatures from people in 155 countries, was presented to the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan – all asking that the world’s 40 poorest countries, known as the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC), have their debts cancelled.

In as much as visible things were not actually observed, the year brought some form of hope to the poor African. For instance, the US government under President Bill Clinton convinced his colleagues at the G8 Summit to consider the debt burden of African countries. Similarly, the Paris Club made good moves at assisting the African. Another positive agenda was the seriousness in attacking the AIDS/HIV scourge. Not only did President Clinton observe it as a threat to national and international security, the United States and other agencies pushed in some financial support in the area of research and medication. Although the scourge was said to have reached catastrophic levels, as the pandemic hit 50% increase more than projected with over 35 million infected, the attention created through the numerous seminars, conferences, talks, symposia, etc., made one to feel there was some form of hope.

Despite the nuisance the African continent seemingly posed to the ‘Bigger Nations’, a rare president of the US, Clinton, demonstrated his love for the continent and declared the continent’s relevance in the words of “in as much as Africa needs the world, the world also needs Africa”. Clinton’s second coming to the continent and the concerns shown helped put confidence in the upliftment of Africans. To put words into action, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was passed into law by the US Senate with the aim of a improving the African Economy in terms of production and export.

As the world was trying to help, the African was seeking means to better his own welfare as the magic year run over. The major effort by Africans themselves was the move to create an African Union, United States of Africa. Unity, they say, is strength and therefore the idea was laudable. The challenge apparently is at the implementation level. But the fact that all African Heads of States and Governments acknowledged the need to combine forces for the well-being of the continent was commendable. Also, most governments at the regional blocs were heading towards economic integration; while some were signing free trade packs, others were forging for use of one currency and one common bank. Certainly, these were true, frantic and sincere moves to the achievement of the African dream.

What perhaps demands much commendation was the upturn and continuous democratic consciousness of the African. While many enthroned governments of the people, some just kicked out tyrants and dictators who continued to be major obstacles to the African dream. At the middle and getting to the end of the year, the African demonstrated the level of political and democratic consciousness – aside Senegal, Ghana ended the year with a change in government through the ballot box and it was praised by the international community as a free and fair process.

While the African expressed some hope along the way, the usual harsh and sometimes barbaric way of life still stared us in the face. The stupendous of all was what took place in Uganda which was certainly due to the false prophetic proclamations ahead of the year. The death (or suicide) of the members of the Dooms Day Cult or the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments, was the most unfortunate and most stupid incident that hit the continent. Another incident was the insurgence of rebels in Sierra Leone, and with their continuous horrific atrocities. Also, clashes between religious factions which culminated in massive loss of life and property, especially in Nigeria, were very much unfortunate. The petty inter-border clashes between nations were also unwelcome. The illegal smuggling and trade in diamonds also helped fuel hostilities among people on the continent.

What actually demanded sympathy and compassion from all was the natural disasters of flood, drought and famine which hit some countries on the continent; millions of people being rendered homeless, hungry and dead. Certain strange diseases like the Ebola virus brought its own menace.

Generally, the year 2000 with its own controversies – good or bad - can be said to have ended on a good note for the African. This is because most of the major problems that bedevilled the continent had been laid to rest (at least on paper) before the end of the year. Eritrea and Ethiopia successfully signed a new cease-fire pact that saw troops from the borders redraw. The Sierra Leonean government signed a new peace agreement with the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), to end the bloody war. The Ebola virus was also under control. There seemed to be some form of peace as coincidentally or divinely, the Christians and Moslems celebrated their religious festivities on the same day in most African countries.

So, as the African joyfully saw the face of the year 2001, it was a time of sober reflections and a look into the future. Now, if the kind of co-operation that existed between the leaders of the continent could continue, then certainly the United States of Africa would be a great entity for the world to recon with. Therefore, as we joined Pope John Paul in the quest for peace, understanding and co-operation among cultures on the eve of the year 2001, we could only say the African must march towards greater heights as we await the coming of the Lord.

Today, on the eve of Christmas 2009, looking forward to 2010, the impact of climate change on livelihoods in Africa is a major concern. I am only wondering when the African Renaissance will begin?

© Kofi Adu Domfeh
adomfeh@yahoo.com