Notes on Racism, Tribalism and Ethnic Self Determination By Wale Adeoye

Since the outrage that greeted the murder of George Floyd, there has been increased debate on Racism. Many have deliberately confused Racism, Tribalism and Ethnic Self Determination.

I speak to the three concepts which are three different Worlds, each far apart from each other

1) Racism: This is the act, practice or strong feeling of a people that their race is more superior, should oppress others, have access to priviledges and opportunities more that the other races in a given environment.

It is “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular race or ethnic group.”

2) Tribalism: A tribe closely knitted with one, more or all of the tribe, they over protect their tribe to ensure every available opportunity is reserved for the particular tribe above any other tribe.

Tribalists have an introvert attachment to their values and cultures and do not believe theirs are necessarily superior to others while racists believe in the superiority of their race and indeed think their race should have a tyranical dominion over others.

While tribalism involves only one tribe, racism is a configuration of many races, usually an amalgma of nations bound together by colour.

Tribalism is the attitude and action that comes from very strong loyalty to “one’s own tribe or social group.” Sometimes tribalism can be nurtured to promote resistance against a certain class of tormentors.

While Racism and Tribalism can be confused, they are not the same

3) Ethnic Self determination is the act of an ethnic group holding on to one or common history, language, spirituality in a commonly defined terirrory asserting the right to control their politics, their security, their economy and their relationship with the cosmic without external influence.

While international conventions do not recognise and infact despise racism, ethnic self determination is upheld and supported by United Nations, (UN) Conventions.

It should be noted that the global acceptance of the United Nations Charter in 1945 at which came after War II that led to millions of deaths, honoured the right of self-determination which is now included in the framework of international law and diplomacy. The right to self determination has resolved many conflict all over the world that could have led to war.