Tribalism? This can be defined
as “the behavior and attitudes that stem
from strong loyalty to one's own tribe or social group”. As a result, the
tribalists have disdain for and often disrespect the tribes they think are
inferior to theirs. Such people, therefore, discourage association in any form
be it marriage, work or friendship with tribes they deem to be inferior.
Tribalists think and
preach that the men and women of their tribe or ethnic group are superior to
others, and that as a result the others should serve and obey them. They try to
impose the hegemony, the predominance of their tribes. Tribalist ideas and
feeling are used most often to create a clientele who can help them to satisfy
their selfish interests and ambitions
The reasons for tribalism
and tribal discrimination may include the following:
The first is history, as
many a tribalist traces the perceived superiority of their tribe to ethnic
lineage. They will recount how their forebears defeated the other tribes in a
war or a series of wars, or sometimes how their forebears enslaved the other
tribes.
Such people take pride in
their history and no amount of persuasion can make them to see today’s reality.
They believe that since their ancestors were “better” than the other tribes, so
also are they now.
Another reason for
tribalism is geographical location in relation to national resources and power.
By this we mean that tribes which are endowed with abundant resources and
opportunities often tend to disrespect people from other tribes who come to
seek work on their land. Similarly, tribes which have the seat of power tend to
think that they are better than others, and sometimes look down on them.
The above mentioned have
been aggravated by politics. It is sad to say that most politicians either
publicly or privately try to encourage tribal sentiments for their own selfish
interests.
Among the effects of
tribalism is that it breeds nepotism. Once people feel that their tribesmen are
better than people of other tribes, they tend to surround themselves with their
tribesmen when they get into positions of trust.
Often tribalists are willing
to hire people from their own tribe who may not otherwise be the best
candidates for a given job. Such actions deprive the nation of the right people
for the right job.We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is arguable that the
negative effects of tribalism permeate all African countries. Millions have
been killed, maimed or displaced in civil wars in sub-Sahara Africa over the
past 50 years, mostly because of tribal agitation. Most of us are living
witnesses to the carnage that occurred in Rwanda and is still going on in
Somalia. These countries have fallen into the abyss mainly because of
tribalism. (The Point, 2010)
In the overall
sub-Saharan African political ethos, so long as a larger chunk of the negative
vestiges of colonialism predominate, ethnicity as a political tool in the long
run may, of course, involve several thoughts in the dimensions of social
sciences like anthropology or sociology in the academic world, but in practical
politics, especially in the contemporary African context of increasing
ignorance and backwardness, ethnicity or ethnic politics exist as a blatant,
gruesome instruments of accumulating private wealth and an easy accesses to
unearned political power. In short, ethnic politics is an excuse to the
profession of brigandage. (Yohannes Chane Metiku, 2002)
"People
who sow seeds of discord by preaching tribalism, racism and religious
misunderstanding should find another place to go." (Mwai Kinaki)
I wish to see all Gambians
continuing living as a family, where the joking relationship buried the menace
of tribalism, for The Gambia our homeland one people, one hearth, one Tribe,
one family, and one Gambia!!
May thunder and lightning
split on all tribalists, may evil spirit take away all tribalist to Jupiter, Ameen!!
BY: SAIDINA ALIEU
JARJOU
Alias Dr.ABS Taal Jr.
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