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Monday, June 16, 2008

Would Africans elect Obama to be a president?

Now... don't get all snotty... that Africa is a continent & not a country... Read the article first... linked in the subject header...

For all the racism in USA... there is more (deadlier?) tribalism most slivers of Africa than racism in the entire USA...

The BD article talks of an "Ivorite" - a former Prime Minister of Ivory Coast - being disqualified from running for the presidency coz he was not considered an "Ivorite" even though he was born in Ivory Coast!
Similar to a situation, say in 2012, if Raila is banned from running for prez in Kenya on the grounds he is "Ugandan" even though he was born in Kenya & was its PM at one point!!!

Similarly, examples of vitriol against Kenyan-born Whites & Asians... who are always on the edge during (almost) every election. Of course, during the 2007 election, the 'anger' was towards the Kikuyus (& others) who had moved to Nyanza or Rift Valley. The Whites in Zimbabwe (& increasingly S.Africa) also face similar situations.

Even a prosperous (in African terms) country like S.Africa had their share of xenophobia against fellow BLACK Africans. If not for the Football World Cup in 2010, the SA gov't (esp jacob zuma who thrives on populism) might not have reacted as they did but would have turned a blind eye to the lynching of fellow Africans.

Even the (generally) genteel Tanzanians are prone to (occasional) xenophonia esp against Kenyans.

Africa... where being African is a privilege not a right...

2 comments:

bankelele said...

Not a chance. there are two columns in the east african and Friedman in the NYT last week posing & answering similar questions and NO! Obama could only be a candidate in America

Anonymous said...

If Obama could only be a candidate in America, then we are very lucky we are not as small-minded as the other nations and situations you discuss. Just my opinion, of course, but we sure do need change in the USA.