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The trending topic presently is Tribalism.
It got a political approval after the March 28th Presidential Election. The Igbos have been pilloried and harassed ever since for voting Goodluck Jonathan in huge numbers.
It got traditional blessings yesterday when the Oba of Lagos threatened to drown Igbos in the Lagoon, from which Lagos got its name, if Igbos dared vote Jimi Agbaje over Ambrose Ambode, two Yoruba Sons of the Soil running for Governor of Lagos State.
It got some measure of creative indiscretion yesterday when Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, went on a tweet rage about Igbos and Piracy. He has since apologised but apologies don’t really heal these kind of things. It will take a long time. In this social media age, people don’t forget even if they forgive. Mel Gibson’s film career practically died a few years ago when he went on an anti-Semitic rant against Jews when he was pulled over by a Policemen in America. He has been apologising and trying to make amends ever since but his career seems to have nose-dived ever since. I like Kunle a lot and know he made a Freudian slip but it is one from which I am sure he would have to discover another part of himself
The Western world know how to deal with racists and hate speakers. They will make sure that for the rest of your life, if you were one, you would be sorry for tactless outbursts or actions against a race. We haven’t learnt such here in this part of the world where things are taken for granted. We like to close the cauldron and move on.
That is why a few posts I read by some of same ethnicity with the Oba are as shocking as The Oba’s statement. “Our Oba is a custodian of traditional values and should not be insulted in anyway the way people are doing right now.” Wrote one fellow. ‘Yes, what he said may be wrong but he is a King and his words are sacred. Do not insult my Oba’
Idiot. We don’t have to help you insult the person who insulted people by his tribalistic rants. Far be it from us.
Another wrote, ” But it’s true na. Igbos have flourished in Lagos and think they are Landlords here. They buy land and build mansions here in Yorubaland. Show me where in Igboland they allow Yorubas to build houses. The Oba has a right to whip them in line. Igbos cannot use their votes to make Lagos an opposition state”
Numbskull. What’s democracy for if people cannot use their votes to express themselves?
Tribalism by itself is an industry in Nigeria. It’s used to achieve inordinate interests. But the fabric of tribalism is woven from the family unit across Nigeria. Tribalistic parents drum tales about other tribes in the ears of their kids.
‘Don’t ever befriend an Igbo person. Their love of money will corrupt you’.
‘Taa! Yoruba people are bad people. You can’t marry into that race! I will disown you!’
‘ Don’t go near the Hausa person. They are bad and will cut you with knives’
‘Ha! The Bini people are wicked and diabolical. Fear them. Run from them’
‘Chai! Urhobo people are wayo people. I will not be caught near them’
Many of such tales have been planted in the minds of millions of our kids, just as some of our parents might have done same to us when we were younger. And such innate prejudices may just never die.
Mutual suspicion is hidden behind nervous smiles of fake tolerance. The bubble just waits for a day to burst. And it must burst.
Personally, I try to imbibe universal values of integration. The other person is your brother. And though your brother will fight with you, quarrel with you and even betray you; he remains your brother.
A helping hand stretched out meets a grateful hand in a clasp of brotherhood.
We must learn to live in peace and togetherness. It starts from what we tell our kids; the prejudices we sow in their hearts.
And there is one other prejudice which all tribes are guilty of. Sexism. Tribal sexism.
All these major tribes hating themselves, when they are in agreement is when it comes to women from a part of Nigeria. Then, their hormones are united in assertion.
‘Calabar women? Chai! Gaskiya! Omogelete o! Calabar and Akwa Ibom women! Chai! To God be the glory!’
At least we can agree on something; even stereotypes. And the funny thing about it? I am yet to see a woman from those parts denying such ‘God’s Glory’.
One Nigeria. In Peace, Possibilities and….Phallic Ambitions
