About What

About"the -ism and -ist in Nigeria"

I wouldn't say we're racist in Nigeria because :

1. We're all from the same race
2.  We are all black..... okay, that might have sounded somehow . I rephrase, we all have melanin in our skin
3. And We're all from the same race again.

So basically there's like a zero to one case of racism .

But I do think we're racist in a kind of way but this time not pertaining to different races but the different tribes .

Tribalism : the feeling of superiority or inferiority about one's tribe .

I would say this kinda occurs in different degrees around different parts of the country . There's the Biafra war which is more or less like a ticking bomb. But since I really don't know much about it yet, I'm just going to focus on the minimal tribalism I notice around me .

I have no idea how tribalism started , maybe it began as a simple fight among tribes about who's food was better and then later disintegrated into something bigger that got out of control!

But it's basically when an Igbo man sees a Yoruba man and classifies him as a ritualist (thanks to most of the Yoruba home videos)

Or when Yoruba children are warned not to marry from "outside". I'm pretty sure every other tribe is warned not to marry any one from "outside" too .

Or when Hausa people are seen and the word Boko Haram comes to mind immediately.

And it amuses me how we sometimes let tribalism cloud our judgement sometimes.

It's like we all use the tribalism card as a safe option especially during the election period . I overheard two men discussing loudly in the bus(I sat at the back) about how the next president has to be a Yoruba man because a Yoruba man hadn't "ruled the chair" in a long time.

And I thought how does having a Yoruba or Igbo or hausa president affect us. Shouldn't it be about what the person has to bring to the table concerning the country that should matter to us as citizens.

We even play the tribalism card during marriage.

I can't count the number of times I have been warned not to marry any other person than a Yoruba but I'm pretty sure if I intended to marry an "oyinbo" ,who's not even Nigerian,  nobody will say pem rather they'd welcome him with open hands .

And it's not like I'm a saint either. I'd admit ashamedly that I'd sometimes see some people behave in a certain way and just go "all this *insert tribe names* that's how they kuku always behave"

So if someone asks me if there is anything like racism in Nigeria ?

I'd probably say "no" but then think about tribalism and reply with a "maybe"

And if I'm further asked if tribalism can ever stop ?

I'd chuckle on the inside and say I don't think so .
Tribalism is probably everywhere but like I said earlier just in different degrees..

So about tribalism stopping again :to be honest, I don't know if tribalism can ever stop it's probably always going to be acting as the elephant in the room .

Wazobia like it's commonly said , let's all just love each regardless of language, culture or tribe . The most important thing is for us to work at having a United Nigeria.

So please do leave your comments cause I really want to know what you think about this chapter and a big thank you for reading 😘.

Question(s) of the chapter :

I. Do you think there's anything like tribalism in Nigeria or I'm I just been irrational?

II. Do you think tribalism can ever stop in Nigeria ?

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Nov 22st , 9:10am