Africa today stands at a painful contradiction. On one hand, the continent is undeniably impoverished by external forces of exploitation; on the other, it is crippled from within by destructive internal forces, chief among them tribalism. Together, these forces reinforce one another, sustaining Africa’s political weakness, economic dependency, and social fragmentation.
Oppression does not operate randomly. Its most reliable strategy has always been division. The enemy plants the seed of separation in order to conquer, dominate, and exploit. For this strategy to succeed, however, the soil must be fertile. Tragically, tribalism has become that fertile ground—nourishing division and making the continued conquest of Africa not only possible, but profitable for external interests and devastating for African societies.
Tribal Identity Was Never Africa’s Weakness
Long before the arrival of Europeans, African nations—later dismissively labelled “tribes”—existed as organised political, cultural, and social entities. These identities were not, in themselves, the source of Africa’s weakness. They did not prevent cooperation, coexistence, or collective progress.
Even today, tribal identity reveals its artificial political nature. When a Congolese, Kenyan, or Zambian crosses national borders and encounters fellow citizens abroad, solidarity rarely emerges from tribal affiliation. Instead, it is shared citizenship, common experience, and collective vulnerability that create unity and mutual support.
This reality exposes a fundamental truth: tribalism, as it operates today, is not organic—it is constructed, manipulated, and weaponised. Rather than serving African societies, it now disserves them, producing consequences that are overwhelmingly destructive.
How Tribalism Clouds Judgment and Kills Great Ideas
Perhaps the most damaging effect of tribalism is its ability to blind societies to their own talents. When tribal affiliation becomes the primary lens through which people are evaluated, competence, creativity, and vision are ignored or rejected simply because they come from the “wrong” group.
As a result, African genius is often recognised and cultivated elsewhere—particularly in Western countries—where talent is extracted and repurposed to serve foreign agendas. Marcus Garvey rightly observed that great ideas know no tribe, race, or nationality. An idea that heals, transforms, or innovates does so universally.
When we take medicine, use mobile phones, or benefit from modern technology, we do not ask which tribe invented them. Yet within our own societies, tribalism prevents us from identifying and empowering those capable of solving African problems.
Great minds are born everywhere—from the shores of Madagascar to the deserts of the Sahel. But only societies mature enough to recognise, protect, and deploy their own genius, as well as that of others, rise to global respect and power. Tribalism obstructs this maturity, even among government officials, paralysing national progress.
The Collapse of Collective Intelligence and Action
A society dominated by tribalism cannot generate collective intelligence—the shared thinking and coordinated action necessary for development. A nation functions as a complex system, composed of interdependent sub-systems that must work synergistically toward common goals.
Tribalism destroys this synergy. Instead of collaboration, it promotes competition between groups, each seeking dominance rather than shared advancement. Each tribe becomes a “nation unto itself,” undermining the larger national project.
The result is visible across the continent: state dysfunction, political paralysis, and social fragmentation, as seen in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Ghana, and others where tribal loyalties routinely override national interest.
Tribalism as Fuel for Neo-Colonialism
Tribalism is not merely a social problem—it is strategic fuel for neo-colonial domination. The foundational principle of imperialism remains unchanged: divide and conquer. The antidote, therefore, must be equally clear: unite and liberate.
Whenever tribalism prevails, unity becomes an illusion and oppression a reality. Contrary to popular belief, the greatest threat to Pan-Africanism is not the West itself, but Africa’s internal divisions. Tribal conflict signals political immaturity and distances African societies from the ideas, discipline, and unity required to shape 21st-century civilisation.
Countering Tribalism Through Conscious Action
Tribalism, like any deeply rooted social force, cannot be eliminated overnight. As Kwame Nkrumah argued, negative forces in society are not simply erased—they are counterbalanced by stronger positive forces.
If tribalism persists, it is because many people believe in it and practice it daily. This reality can change only when equally committed numbers of conscious citizens choose the opposite path—one defined by positive action.
This responsibility rests not only on institutions, but on individuals and organised communities determined to build a new society.
Key Actions to Neutralise Tribalism
First, we must accept a simple truth: difference is natural. Even within the same family, individuals differ profoundly. Diversity, therefore, is not a threat—it is a source of strength, creativity, and resilience. People must be seen as carriers of values, skills, and ideas—not merely as representatives of a tribe.
Second, meaningful interaction across social and cultural lines is essential. Engaging with people from different backgrounds expands perspectives, breaks stereotypes, and builds trust. Economic cooperation, business partnerships, and professional associations across tribal lines are particularly powerful tools for strengthening unity.
A Moral Responsibility, Not Merely a State Issue
Laws can regulate actions, but they cannot govern emotions—such as fear, hatred, empathy, or indifference. Tribalism operates largely in this emotional and psychological space. For this reason, it is not solely the responsibility of the state, even when state agents themselves perpetuate it.
It is, above all, the responsibility of conscious, principled citizens to engage in daily acts that weaken tribalism’s influence and nurture new social values. Through consistent positive action, a new African society—united, confident, and future-oriented—can emerge.
Africa’s liberation will not begin with borders or institutions alone, but with the defeat of the invisible currency that sustains oppression: tribalism.
