By Addisu
A tribe is a group of people, often who live together sharing the same language, culture and history, especially those who do not live in towns or cities. (Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 3rd edn.)
According to me, in relation to modernization and social integration of global society, tribal sentiment is a backward idea that can vanish in the process of civilization.
Look at the above definition of tribe which says “Tribe is … those who do not live in towns or cities.” For those who live in rural villages in their tribe, their tribe matters a lot than – their nationhood – because their tribe is their world. It would be an amazing question to a ‘White Man’ (a European or North American) if you ask them what is their tribe. This is not because they never had a tribe but they passed the tribal stage of human evolution and abandoned their tribe long, long ago through civilization and urbanization to the extent that this question surprises them. Today, they (western civilized societies) do not have a tribe but a race of civilized people, and that is where the global society is heading to.
Civilization coupled with digital technology has speeded up the global social integration of peoples of different cultures. We are a global community who share languages, cultures, values, etc.
If we look at the origin of conflicts especially in Africa, they often have an ethnic dimension and are deeply rooted in tribal divisions. The decades-long conflict in South Sudan is one good example.
Tribalism is a precursor of racism; and a tribalist is a racist in a broader view. If we are tribalist, why should we blame others for being racist?
If we use our tribe to discriminate against, marginalize, and/or to promote hatred against others who are not our tribesmen, then do not ask me my tribe. I HATE MY TRIBE.
2 replies on “I Hate My Tribe”
Thank you for taking the time to express your beliefs. I will have to think about this from your perspective to better learn how to approach the issue of tribe and tribalism. I have heard from various friends of differing African tribes their unique and individual views pertaining to pride in their tribal identity and dismay at certain disadvantages they incurr through the practice of tribalism. I often think of a tribal identity as a beauty to be embraced but I am coming from a position of privilege where I dont incurr negatives associated with tribalism. Again, thank you for expressing yourself and your beliefs.
Thank you Addisu for that very insightful article. I am one of the ” White men” that you refer to and see the issue from a very different perspective. being part of a tribe is certainly a foreign concept to me. I have to say however that I agree with your conclusions. In my opinion much of the violence and oppression in the world can be attributed to tribalism. I have felt this way for a long time but never heard it expressed in the way that you have. Keep up the good work and the good words!
Blessings to you,
Paul Hamley
USA