Examine the challenges of ethnicity in Africa

Ethnicity is more than skin color or physical characteristics, more than language, song, and

dance. It is the embodiment of values, institutions, and patterns of behavior, a composite whole

representing a people’s historical experience, aspirations, and world view. Independence

removed the common enemy, the colonial oppressor, but actually sharpened the conflict over

centralized power and control over national resources. To this end ethnicity is clearly a resource

for political manipulation and entrepreneurship.

African politicians weaponise negative ethnicity to further their selfish ambitions. They use

ethnicity to distribute resources for example schools, infrastructure and social services.

Presidents and top official develop their rural areas as well as develop the welfare of their tribal

kinsman ignoring the other ethnic groups.

Leaders also use ethnicity to carry out violence and manipulate democracy. This was observed in

Kenya in post-election violence where the contesting leaders manipulate and perpetrated

violence basing on their ethnic affiliation.

Nepotism and tribalism is also prevalent in African countries. During the reign of Kenyatta in

Kenya he gave influential positions to his ethnic kinsman disadvantaging other ethnic groups and

when Moi became president he shuffled the government and gave influential positions to the

members of his ethnic group. This is largely the reason why Africa is underdeveloped since

politicians are just concerned about personal enrichment and stay in power not development of

the nations.

Poverty is also facilitated by ethnicity for example the people in turkana are languishing in abject

poverty because their ethnic group is deprived and alienated. This level of poverty and lack of
viable livelihoods in Turkana serve as a clear indication that resources are distributed along

ethnic lines with the winner takes it all rhetoric.

Ethnicity is also used to incriminate and DE campaign others. African politicians have the

tendency to label other ethnic groups as thieves, rude, and unfit to lead. This serves as the basis

for discrediting them from being elevated to positions of influence and power. F=this is observed

in Zimbabwe where the Ndebele are not given a chance to become presidents and be voted into

higher offices siting that their ancestors sold the country to the colonialists. This creates hatred

and unequal opportunities fraught with one ethnic group’s privileges.