By Jideofor Adibe:
At face value, the answer to this question seems obvious. Surely, everyone knows who the African is, it would seem. But the answer becomes less obvious once other probing qualifiers are added to the question. Are White South Africans really Africans? Are Moroccans, Egyptians and other Arab Africans as much Africans as say, Nigerians or Ghanaians? Is Barack Obama an African? Do all persons categorised as African or as having an African pedigree perceive themselves as such? Are all who perceive themselves as Africans accepted as such? Are there levels of "Africanness", and are some more African than others? Who allots this Africanness, and why? How does African identity interface with other levels of identity and citizenship in Africa? In short, how is the African identity constructed in the face of the mosaic of identities that people of African ancestry living within and beyond the continent bear?
The above are some of the questions one confronts when trying to empirically delineate the African.
For some, the African is simply a racial category - a Black man with certain Bantu features. But this classificatory scheme often poses more questions than it answers. Let us for instance assume that a Caucasian English police officer described the scene of a crime thus: "At the scene of the crime were four Africans and four white boys." What kinds of images come to our mind to differentiate the four 'Africans' from the four White boys? If the same police officer changes the description to: "There were four Black men and four White boys at the scene of the crime", what sorts of images come to our mind? Or better put, what sorts of images do we think he is trying to convey?
It would seem that the use of 'African' is much narrower than the use of 'Black' because our hypothetical Caucasian police officer would most likely think of Africans as being different from Black Caribbean, Black Guyanese or African-Americans even though they are all generically called Blacks. This analogy suggests that while race does matter as an organising category in identifying the African, it would be inadequate in properly differentiating, in the Western imagination at least, who is an African from who is Black.
Again if we use race alone in the delineation of the African, a legitimate question is raised about non-Blacks with African citizenship, say, the White South Africans, who never knew any other country but South Africa. Are they Africans?
Some have tried to use territoriality to define the African. For those who adopt this perspective, all it takes will be to look at the map of the world and categorise all who were born in the continent of Africa or who hold the citizenship of one of the countries that make up the continent, or has ancestry in the continent, as African. This option however has equally a number of problems. For example, if we choose to call all who have 'African' ancestry Africans, how far back in time should we go? This perspective also wrongly assumes that all who are citizens of the countries that make up the continent of Africa accept that they are 'Africans'. Even within sub-Saharan Africa, sections of countries like Somalia, Mauritania, Niger and Sudan would prefer to be called Arabs, not Africans.
There are also those who believe that consciousness of being an African, or commitment to the cause of Africa should be the only or main criterion for delineating who the African is. This form of classification is quite popular with the remnants of the African (ideological) left and those eager to wear the toga of universalism and cosmopolitanism. One of the weaknesses of this classificatory scheme however is that it is so fluid that any one expressing any sort of interest in African affairs could, by this definition, legitimately claim to be an African. For instance is Tony Blair, who as Prime Minister of Britain said that Africa was a scar on the consciousness of the world, and felt moved enough to set up the Commission for Africa, an African by this definition? Besides, using consciousness to delineate the African could end up de-Africanising a majority of the people who non-Africans will commonly identify as Africans. Does, for instance, the village Igbo or Yoruba or Hausa woman in Nigeria have any consciousness of being an African? If, as is commonly believed, such a consciousness is non-existent, or at best incipient, does that imply that such people are not Africans?
Eminent African political scientist Professor Ali Mazrui made a distinction between "Africans of the blood and Africans of the soil". For him, Africans of the blood are defined in racial and genealogical terms. They are identified with the black race, while Africans of the soil are defined in geographical terms. For Mazrui therefore, both territoriality and race should be used simultaneously in identifying the African. A major problem with this view however is that it seems to imply a hierarchy of Africans, since someone who is both an African of the blood and an African of the soil could legitimately claim a higher ranking than those who have fewer attributes, such as those who are only Africans of the soil or of the blood.
More than the controversial question of who is an African, are the implications of the contentious nature of African identity for the continent's unity project and development trajectory. Fortunately there are many who believe that despite these challenges, there are sufficient grounds for optimism. These grounds include the rise of new economic powers - Brazil, China, India and Russia - which are increasingly looking upon Africa as the next big destination, the apparent deepening of democratic ethos in the continent, which could lead to a weakening of the fissiparous tendencies that underlie the various notions of Africanness, and the emergence of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.
For many Africans Obama is both an African name they can relate to, and a metaphor expressing that anything is possible if you strive hard for it with the 'right attitude'. It is believed that this 'right attitude' is an attitude that is post-chauvinism, for it is only by being post-racial and a reconciler that a Blackman, with an African Muslim father, who was not born into privilege, could emerge president of the most powerful country in the world. This lesson is not lost on Africans and it is a powerful boost to the African unity project.
Source:Concerned Migrants Group(C-M-G)Worldwide.
Email:concerned.migrants@gmail.com*The book, Who is an African? Identity, Citizenship and the Making of the Africa-Nation, is published this week by Adonis & Abbey Publishers (www.adonis-abbey.com)
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You would think that educated people had the ability to use their brains. But, I do not recocommend that we hold our breaths while some of these actually use their brains.
At face value, the answer to this question seems obvious. Surely, everyone knows who the African is, it would seem. But the answer becomes less obvious once other probing qualifiers are added to the question. Are White South Africans really Africans?
Well, they "really" have South African citizenship. That is "really" enough in any civilized society, especially in this modern era.
Are Moroccans, Egyptians and other Arab Africans as much Africans as say, Nigerians or Ghanaians?
If we are defining Africans in geopolitical terms, there is not much of a scientific way to answer which is more African than another. We know from science that Moroccans have been in Africa for not less than 200,000. This is proven. I have yet to see better credentials for Nigerians and Ghanians. Yet, nobody would think of questionisng a Nigerian's "Africaness". Nor a Ghanaian's, unlee he wants his head beat in. Our lighted skinned brothers and sisters show a great deal of forbearance for the more stupid among us. In any case, we know that in modern civilized society, it would be a crime to try to remove any of the people of Africa currently resideing there. Besdies, if we ask any of the people named if they are Africans, they would be just as likely to affrim their Africanness as an Uncle Tom professor at Harvard or Yale or Cambridge, probably more so.
Is Barack Obama an African?
Is you an African?
Do all persons categorised as African or as having an African pedigree perceive themselves as such?
Do you perceive yourself as such?
Look, I get sick and tired, sometimes, trying to convince Aunt Jemimas and Uncles Toms that they are Africans. Clearly, skin color alone is not enough, no is "pediogree" as if we are cats or dogs. Cats and dogs have "pedigrees". Africans have ancestries and genealogies, not "pedigrees"
Are all who perceive themselves as Africans accepted as such?
"Accepted" by whom?
Are there levels of "Africanness", and are some more African than others?
"Are there several levels of stupidity, and are some more stupid than others?" is a better question.
Who allots this Africanness, and why?
Allah. I would blame such insanity of GOD.
How does African identity interface with other levels of identity and citizenship in Africa? In short, how is the African identity constructed in the face of the mosaic of identities that people of African ancestry living within and beyond the continent bear?
This one is not only stupid, it is incoherent and nonsensical as well. Where did you learn to construct a complete sentence? The University of Tel Aviv?
Ngone Aw > Abdurrahman T. L. NelsonJune 7, 2009 at 2:15am
Stupid is relative and usually a reflection of the one pointing the finger outward, forgetting there are two pointing back at himself...
"No mine your nationality, as long you have the identity of a Afrikan"... Peter Tosh, "You're an Afrikan". As we fit the identity of a thick lip, broad nose, kinky hair, we are Afrikans.
Greetings to those who are of the blood and soil of Africa and to those who are sympathetic to our cause.
We have such varied forms of who constitute an African that it isn't funny. I dare say religion, slavery and colonialism provide the confusion of our existence. We Africans are born into societies of deceit and exploitation, with none or very few inclusive as to who we are, so long as we hinge on the three major religions we seem to think we have a chance, but it is not so. I was brought up as a protestant so I know the hyprocracy and double stantard of Christianity when it comes to the colour black whether it refers to skin colour or good and evil. We tend to want to belong, but tell me of one black generation who was not frustrated. They preach of our paganism and heathenism with no good credit, they call our gods idols and say it is the unforgiveable sin. They use their god to fight our gods with contempt and condemnation. They use Moses to condemn pharoah and Egypt and continually deminish Black people of the blood and the soil. For Black people to be at peace the three major religions have to reconcile unto us. They accept us disguised, that is we can be Black and Jewish, we can be Black and Christian, we can be Black and Arab, but we cannot be Black and be Black. To quote our ancestors, "we must know ourselves and to ourselves be true" and if Black people cannot do that show me the point in being free. I opt for a new designation out of all this confusion we are born into. I say to all Black people of the blood and soil I am Mwafrakan and you all are Wafrakan and it should be so that you know yourself as Mwafrakan too. Do I need to say more? I am, Nefertari Ahmose.
C. Johnson > Nefertari AhmoseMay 25, 2009 at 2:11pm
I am in agreement with the eminent African political scientist Professor Ali Mazrui: “Africans of the blood are defined in racial and genealogical terms. They are identified with the black race, while Africans of the soil are defined in geographical terms.“
I do not agree with the notion that by simply stating a biological fact, it diminishes or relegates those who do not fit this description into some inferior”hierarchy. They simply are not African, no more than an African born in Europe is a “European” biologically. The same holds true for a white American who talks “black” or strongly identifies with black culture. It makes him/her a cultural connoisseur of black culture, but it does not in anyway change the fact that he/she is of European ancestral genealogical stock. Conversely, the Arabs who live in Egypt today are ancestrally not Africans. They happen to occupy an African nation but do not hold any of its ancestral lineages languages, values, religions etc., they are simply Egyptian Arabs.
The problem that I have encountered over and over is the naïveté of many Africans, who subscribe to the notion that we (the Diaspora) cannot claim or define ourselves as hyphenated Africans. (i.e., African-Americans). In their Africentirc view, one must be born in Africa and speak an African language to be classified as African. They fail to take into account that just as many civilizations, cultures, languages and ethnic identifies were created by Africans OUTSIDE of Africa for thousands of years; yet these groups still identified themselves as blood Africans.
African-Americans are ancestrally AFRICAN. Their ancestors were enslaved in North America. The African-American have more African ancestors than any other group that they are “mixed” with. Their ancestral lineages date back THOUSANDS of years, just as the native African. No continental African has the authority to tell them that they are not part of Africa and its incredibly diverse cultures and Diaspora.
Greetings, Candy, the video I am posting below has a very good discussion of the topic Who is an Afriican" and also information about "Professor Ali Mazrui", I truly hope you can view it. I was blessed with having the priviledge to live in Ghana, W. Africa for 3.5 years, and as I reflect on the cultural differences I expereinced, I am inclined to
believe, cultural socialization plays an extreme part in making the definition, especially as it relates the the diaspora from the United Snakes.
Thanks Ngone Aw for the links. I already have these great video series in my personal collection.
Dr. Clarke’s historical account of both the true origins of Christianity and Islam has been proven prophetic and correct. Have you seen this slide-show:
In support of my argument that Africans have been erecting cultures and civilizations for thousands of years OUTSIDE of Africa, the above slide-show chronicling the origins of many of the so-called “biblical prophecies” stolen from African spiritual temples headed by priestesses, and the history of African goddesses later hidden beneath European faces, took place OUTSIDE of Africa by Africans.
We must not loose sight of the many contradictions we endear to ourselves when we proclaim that Africans traversed the great waters and established themselves all over the world, and in the next breath deny the descendants of those Africans their ancestral, genealogical and ethnic identities.
This phenomena of questioning “who is African” is new to many of the continental Africans expatriating to Europe and America voluntarily. Soon, their own children born abroad will be having children in Europe and in America. My question to them is: Are these children African? If their answer is “yes,” then what distinguishes them from the Diaspora whose ancestors are also African?
THE LOST AND HIDDEN HISTORY OF THE AFRICAN SIBYL PROPHETESS
CANDY,
Thanks for the links to the slide show, I had not seen them before. I know I will enjoy watching.
You know I am amazed at some of the men around these forums who love to strut their testostorome, yet have no balls to check their conquerors.
Concerning the question " Who is an African and removing those of questionable African Ancestry from the Continent,
I agree, they will not do so, because we seem to suffer from the disease opposite of the zenophobes. Every where they go they do ethnic cleansing and take the land. So the noble African will at last probably disappear from the planet if the present United Nations, "Agenda 21", " Codex Alimentarius," "Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, & Prince Phillip' s on going Eugenics programs", such as
"Dooms Day Seed Vault," and GM seeds programs now infesting Africa continue to progress, which Kofi Annan helped to spread through out Ghana.
In case your not aware over 400,000 farmers in India committed suicide last year because of these programs.
As for the so called President of the Federal Corproration Of The United Snakes, Mr. Barrack H. Obama, does not nor has he ever identified himself as an African, nor does he identify himself as a Black Man, he stated publicially at a offical State department press Conference, I quote: I'm a Mut", and that he is!
History shows us that it has always been the "half breeds " that kill Africa, but we never learn.
Mallika Chopra: 1,500 Farmers in India Commit Suicide: A Wake-Up Call ...
1,500 Farmers in India Commit Suicide: A Wake-Up Call for Humanity - The Huffington Post ... 1500 Farmers in India Commit Mass Suicide after being driven to ... http://huffingtonpost.com/.../1500-farmers-in-india-com_b_187457.html - 158k
"Doomsday Seed ... Doomsday Seed Vault. The seed bank is being built inside a mountain on ... point is who is sponsoring the doomsday seed vault. ...
To me you are an African if you haven't turned your back to the human family tree. The African tree.
Since this planet is ruled by creatures that left the tree of life, 'people' that turned away from who we are supposed to be, there is a need for space. A free country.
Once the 'African tree' has 'a free country', Jerusalem can be rebuild... no?
Roger Madison > Jose "Jay" BronzeMay 24, 2009 at 12:32pm
For those of us of African descent in the African Diaspora, this is often an intellecutal discussion that takes on the many nuances expressed by the author. However, I believe that we can easily fall into analysis paralysis -- that amounts to arguments "... full of sound and fury; signifying nothing."
At the root of the question is the notion of racial identity. Scientists have confirmed that racial makeup does not determine intelligence, or superiority, or inferiority, or any of the other "advantages" that so many try to claim for some personal advantage. Any study of race, and classification as "African" necessarily breaks into social, geographic, racial, and highly personal identification that are all open to endless debate.
My review of perspectives leads to anthropological perspectives providing the best guidance. There are two major categories of viewpoints and research that apply: biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology. Of course, these are not mutually exclusive, but overlapping. From a layperson's working perspective, I believe that we can make some general conclusions.
Biologically, those of us who are "black" are generally associated with African heritage. This is determined by our appearance and features we have come to associate with Africans. So, black people are readily recognized physically as Africans, and different from Asians, Europeans, or Pacific Islanders.
Culturally, those of us influenced by our African heritage seem to have some common internal connecting features that bind us. One example is the way we respond and express ourselves with music and rhythms, and community celebrations. I lived in Africa for 3 years and found many "natural" responses to sounds, rhythms, and social expressions for celebrations and community. Perhaps it was our common heritage of oppression. But I resonated with people with whom I had no previous association. This was very different than the 3 years I lived in England and traveled to Europe. The music, community and expressions of celebration were always foreign to me. Upon arriving in Africa, I felt "at home."
The discussion for me comes down to something deep within our biological and cultural heritage that is common to our modern origins (last 10,000 years of human history). Chester Higgins, photographer for the New York Times, put it best for me:
"We are Africans not because we are born in Africa, but because Africa is born in us.
Look around you and behold us in our greatness. Greatness is an African possibility; you can make it yours." Chester Higgins Jr.
https://theblacklist.net/
Replies
African intgellligentsia, where are you?
You would think that educated people had the ability to use their brains. But, I do not recocommend that we hold our breaths while some of these actually use their brains.
At face value, the answer to this question seems obvious. Surely, everyone knows who the African is, it would seem. But the answer becomes less obvious once other probing qualifiers are added to the question. Are White South Africans really Africans?
Well, they "really" have South African citizenship. That is "really" enough in any civilized society, especially in this modern era.
Are Moroccans, Egyptians and other Arab Africans as much Africans as say, Nigerians or Ghanaians?
If we are defining Africans in geopolitical terms, there is not much of a scientific way to answer which is more African than another. We know from science that Moroccans have been in Africa for not less than 200,000. This is proven. I have yet to see better credentials for Nigerians and Ghanians. Yet, nobody would think of questionisng a Nigerian's "Africaness". Nor a Ghanaian's, unlee he wants his head beat in. Our lighted skinned brothers and sisters show a great deal of forbearance for the more stupid among us. In any case, we know that in modern civilized society, it would be a crime to try to remove any of the people of Africa currently resideing there. Besdies, if we ask any of the people named if they are Africans, they would be just as likely to affrim their Africanness as an Uncle Tom professor at Harvard or Yale or Cambridge, probably more so.
Is Barack Obama an African?
Is you an African?
Do all persons categorised as African or as having an African pedigree perceive themselves as such?
Do you perceive yourself as such?
Look, I get sick and tired, sometimes, trying to convince Aunt Jemimas and Uncles Toms that they are Africans. Clearly, skin color alone is not enough, no is "pediogree" as if we are cats or dogs. Cats and dogs have "pedigrees". Africans have ancestries and genealogies, not "pedigrees"
Are all who perceive themselves as Africans accepted as such?
"Accepted" by whom?
Are there levels of "Africanness", and are some more African than others?
"Are there several levels of stupidity, and are some more stupid than others?" is a better question.
Who allots this Africanness, and why?
Allah. I would blame such insanity of GOD.
How does African identity interface with other levels of identity and citizenship in Africa? In short, how is the African identity constructed in the face of the mosaic of identities that people of African ancestry living within and beyond the continent bear?
This one is not only stupid, it is incoherent and nonsensical as well. Where did you learn to construct a complete sentence? The University of Tel Aviv?
Stupid is relative and usually a reflection of the one pointing the finger outward, forgetting there are two pointing back at himself...
We have such varied forms of who constitute an African that it isn't funny. I dare say religion, slavery and colonialism provide the confusion of our existence. We Africans are born into societies of deceit and exploitation, with none or very few inclusive as to who we are, so long as we hinge on the three major religions we seem to think we have a chance, but it is not so. I was brought up as a protestant so I know the hyprocracy and double stantard of Christianity when it comes to the colour black whether it refers to skin colour or good and evil. We tend to want to belong, but tell me of one black generation who was not frustrated. They preach of our paganism and heathenism with no good credit, they call our gods idols and say it is the unforgiveable sin. They use their god to fight our gods with contempt and condemnation. They use Moses to condemn pharoah and Egypt and continually deminish Black people of the blood and the soil. For Black people to be at peace the three major religions have to reconcile unto us. They accept us disguised, that is we can be Black and Jewish, we can be Black and Christian, we can be Black and Arab, but we cannot be Black and be Black. To quote our ancestors, "we must know ourselves and to ourselves be true" and if Black people cannot do that show me the point in being free. I opt for a new designation out of all this confusion we are born into. I say to all Black people of the blood and soil I am Mwafrakan and you all are Wafrakan and it should be so that you know yourself as Mwafrakan too. Do I need to say more? I am, Nefertari Ahmose.
I do not agree with the notion that by simply stating a biological fact, it diminishes or relegates those who do not fit this description into some inferior”hierarchy. They simply are not African, no more than an African born in Europe is a “European” biologically. The same holds true for a white American who talks “black” or strongly identifies with black culture. It makes him/her a cultural connoisseur of black culture, but it does not in anyway change the fact that he/she is of European ancestral genealogical stock. Conversely, the Arabs who live in Egypt today are ancestrally not Africans. They happen to occupy an African nation but do not hold any of its ancestral lineages languages, values, religions etc., they are simply Egyptian Arabs.
The problem that I have encountered over and over is the naïveté of many Africans, who subscribe to the notion that we (the Diaspora) cannot claim or define ourselves as hyphenated Africans. (i.e., African-Americans). In their Africentirc view, one must be born in Africa and speak an African language to be classified as African. They fail to take into account that just as many civilizations, cultures, languages and ethnic identifies were created by Africans OUTSIDE of Africa for thousands of years; yet these groups still identified themselves as blood Africans.
African-Americans are ancestrally AFRICAN. Their ancestors were enslaved in North America. The African-American have more African ancestors than any other group that they are “mixed” with. Their ancestral lineages date back THOUSANDS of years, just as the native African. No continental African has the authority to tell them that they are not part of Africa and its incredibly diverse cultures and Diaspora.
believe, cultural socialization plays an extreme part in making the definition, especially as it relates the the diaspora from the United Snakes.
The Rise Of Islam
Who Created Jesus Christ?
Dr. Clarke’s historical account of both the true origins of Christianity and Islam has been proven prophetic and correct. Have you seen this slide-show:
The Lost and Stolen History of The Sibyls part I
http://www.amengansie.com/Sibyls2.html part 2
In support of my argument that Africans have been erecting cultures and civilizations for thousands of years OUTSIDE of Africa, the above slide-show chronicling the origins of many of the so-called “biblical prophecies” stolen from African spiritual temples headed by priestesses, and the history of African goddesses later hidden beneath European faces, took place OUTSIDE of Africa by Africans.
We must not loose sight of the many contradictions we endear to ourselves when we proclaim that Africans traversed the great waters and established themselves all over the world, and in the next breath deny the descendants of those Africans their ancestral, genealogical and ethnic identities.
This phenomena of questioning “who is African” is new to many of the continental Africans expatriating to Europe and America voluntarily. Soon, their own children born abroad will be having children in Europe and in America. My question to them is: Are these children African? If their answer is “yes,” then what distinguishes them from the Diaspora whose ancestors are also African?
"WE NEVER LEARN"
CANDY,
Thanks for the links to the slide show, I had not seen them before. I know I will enjoy watching.
You know I am amazed at some of the men around these forums who love to strut their testostorome, yet have no balls to check their conquerors.
Concerning the question " Who is an African and removing those of questionable African Ancestry from the Continent,
I agree, they will not do so, because we seem to suffer from the disease opposite of the zenophobes. Every where they go they do ethnic cleansing and take the land. So the noble African will at last probably disappear from the planet if the present United Nations, "Agenda 21", " Codex Alimentarius," "Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, & Prince Phillip' s on going Eugenics programs", such as
"Dooms Day Seed Vault," and GM seeds programs now infesting Africa continue to progress, which Kofi Annan helped to spread through out Ghana.
In case your not aware over 400,000 farmers in India committed suicide last year because of these programs.
As for the so called President of the Federal Corproration Of The United Snakes, Mr. Barrack H. Obama, does not nor has he ever identified himself as an African, nor does he identify himself as a Black Man, he stated publicially at a offical State department press Conference, I quote: I'm a Mut", and that he is!
History shows us that it has always been the "half breeds " that kill Africa, but we never learn.
Mallika Chopra: 1,500 Farmers in India Commit Suicide: A Wake-Up Call ...
1,500 Farmers in India Commit Suicide: A Wake-Up Call for Humanity - The Huffington Post ... 1500 Farmers in India Commit Mass Suicide after being driven to ...
http://huffingtonpost.com/.../1500-farmers-in-india-com_b_187457.html - 158k
"Doomsday Seed ... Doomsday Seed Vault. The seed bank is being built inside a mountain on ... point is who is sponsoring the doomsday seed vault. ...
www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=7529
Since this planet is ruled by creatures that left the tree of life, 'people' that turned away from who we are supposed to be, there is a need for space. A free country.
Once the 'African tree' has 'a free country', Jerusalem can be rebuild... no?
JayJBee
"YES!"
At the root of the question is the notion of racial identity. Scientists have confirmed that racial makeup does not determine intelligence, or superiority, or inferiority, or any of the other "advantages" that so many try to claim for some personal advantage. Any study of race, and classification as "African" necessarily breaks into social, geographic, racial, and highly personal identification that are all open to endless debate.
My review of perspectives leads to anthropological perspectives providing the best guidance. There are two major categories of viewpoints and research that apply: biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology. Of course, these are not mutually exclusive, but overlapping. From a layperson's working perspective, I believe that we can make some general conclusions.
The discussion for me comes down to something deep within our biological and cultural heritage that is common to our modern origins (last 10,000 years of human history). Chester Higgins, photographer for the New York Times, put it best for me:
"We are Africans not because we are born in Africa, but because Africa is born in us.
Look around you and behold us in our greatness. Greatness is an African possibility; you can make it yours." Chester Higgins Jr.
Roger Madison
www.iZania.com
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