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[–] -4 points 1 day ago (4 children)

LOL. Xenophobia across Africa and human history is as old as time itself. Tribalism started with literal, actual tribes, you know. Same as it has in most places.

Would you like to see examples of modern xenophobia in Africa that predate your American notions of it?

Let's try... 1969!

https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/DCS/article/view/12874

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  • [–] 5 points 23 hours ago (1 child)

    "Ghana under Kwame Nkrumah had championed the cause of creating a borderless Africa and a common government for Africa.Between 1957 and 1966, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana fought vigorously for the creation of a Union of African States with a common African Government. His optimism for the unity and cohesion of Africa as a lever for continental development was indeed unparalleled. It is interesting to note that Nkrumah vehemently criticized the artificial divisions and territorial boundaries created by the colonial powers which he regarded as a deliberate attempt to obstruct the political unity of African peoples" [source - the linked paper above]. So, to some extent, yes it was culture wars exacerbated by western colonial powers that has caused much ethnic strife across modern Africa.

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  • [–] 1 point 14 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

    It's a nice attempt, but it seems like you don't really understand either Kwame Nkruma's motivations, nor what xenophobia actually is.

    First off, xenophobia is a popular sentiment, not something that elites necessarily control. They can, obviously, via the media, but sometimes it just happens naturally in any society under pressure. For example, around 10 years ago in Zambia there was a rash of xenophobia attacks based on fears that Congolais migrants were doing human sacrifices following some "mad gasser attacks" panic. Yes, you read that right. The government tried to tell people to stop it and they didn't.

    Second, don't drag Kwame Nkruma into the argument unless you have actually read some of his work. His motivations for copying the proto-EU in Africa were based on Marcus Garvey's Pan Africanism to garner support, but Nkruma saw he needed economic and political weight. Which is true. Nkruma was good friends with Josip Tito, the President of Yugoslavia, which has managed to form a strong economy and manufacturing base around Yugoslavia's unification. Nkruma wanted the same from Africa, rather than letting the colonial borders dilute political power.

    Buuuuuuuuuuuut, no one like that idea. Regardless of who you or Nkruma blamed for why he got deposed, he spent a lot of time not in Ghana as president. He was gone, on his way to China. And hey, for what it's worth, Nkruma was Ashanti, despised by a Ga army officer in Accra, an ethnically Ga part of the county.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 day ago (1 child)

    You're saying the same thing as him. Why do you say it like You're disagreeing?

    Xeniphobia is why immigration is such an easy issue to use as a political wedge issue, stoking the anger of the populace

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