Comment: The ugliness of tribalism

Tribalism is a disease, a moral virus affecting most African states, and it is now threatening to induce South Sudan into a state of acute illness. No one really takes this disease seriously though, until it hits them in the face, or when all the dirty laundries are aired out. If I can compare tribalism to anything, it would be like baking powder in a bowl full of dough; the dough will rise, steadily, with every minute passing.

It is as well like the big elephant, commonly occupying most peoples' homes. It can be found sitting on the couch or switching TV channels. No one cares to mention that it is there! That is tribalism in its most simple form. But the ugliness of this disease can only be understood if we look at the logic behind the deadly silence accompanying it - often en-clothed with moral cowardice, also known as political correctness.

For further background information download "Southern Sudan at Odds with Itself" by the London School of Economics

What accompanies the logic behind tribalism is astoundingly simple. If viewed from the perspective of the tribalist, it goes something like this:

"I am a human being, created by God, who belongs to such and such a tribe. I belong to such a tribe, because I was born in a certain geographical location. My parents were born in the same geographical location. My ancestors migrated there thousands of years ago and we have been following their traditions ever since. Therefore, I am proud of my tribe and will protect it by all means necessary."

You are probably wondering where I am going with this? Let us ask the above hypothetical person some pointing questions:

A stereotypical souvenir at a Khartoum shop Photo by Benjuni  

1. If you agree God created you, and possibly sent you on earth, do you believe he could have placed you anywhere on the planet? You could have been born in Afghanistan, and thus become an Afghani, who may be fighting against the Americans right now, or a Libyan, resisting Gaddafi for example. So you basically have no choice as to where you were born. Why then do you confine yourself in one geographical location? Furthermore, since God created the entire universe and gave you a brain so you could explore it, why do you still continue to confine yourself within a geographical location on planet earth? Why not think further?

2. Is being born into a particular tribe an accomplishment of life, or an act subject to chance? If so, where is the pride coming from?

3. Can your open allegiance to your tribe be used as a mechanism by which a road can be repaired? How about fixing a broken shower?

Perhaps a better illustration of the ugliness of tribalism is through an experience I went through when visiting one of the esteemed government offices in Juba town. I had gone in a pre-scheduled visit to this office, and was expecting to see the person I made the appointment with. I was ushered in by a receptionist, who requested to know the nature of my visit, and who then called another receptionist to inform him of my request. The second receptionist came over, pulled me aside, and started asking me the same stupid questions: "Who did you come to see?" I mentioned the name. "Why are you seeing him?" I said it was personal and said the person was aware of my visit.

For more Southern voices on tribalism check "Southern Sudan at the Crossroads" by the National Democratic Institute

The 'interrogator', who was not convinced of my answers, came closer and said: "Sir, the person you are coming to see does not expect someone from your tribe." That was it. That was the fuse of tribalism blown right in my face. How could I answer such a statement? How could I understand such reasoning? Why are such persons employed? Rather than answering those rhetorical questions, I stormed off; the anger was dissolving all flesh.

Such an experience is probably minor to some, while to others, it may be a normal occurrence. But why we do not really tackle this issue, I do not know. It has to be held from the horns and buried to the ground. If some customs encourage tribalism, then they should be discarded. I am not saying all traditions should be removed. I would love to view the culture in Nyakuron Cultural Centre expressed as colourful dances, ancient art or poetic beauty. But customs dividing one group of human beings from another should be discarded, no matter the one group such customs benefit.

"My generation is growing out of touch with rigid definitions of tribes."

Human beings are meant to progress in a forward manner, not to retrograde into backwardness. Human beings form sociological constructs subject to evolutionary changes, and tribes being one of them, will one day disappear into nothingness. I notice this is happening because my generation is already growing out of touch with most of the traditions, or rigid definitions of tribes, as known by our parents.

So soon, nature will do what it does best - selection of the fittest. Tribalism will disappear on its own accord. But before it does, we have to do something about it. We have to hasten its demise, or else we end up the victims.