Tribalism in Nigeria

NO.

1

SIX PENCE

TRIBALISM

IN

NIGERIA

BY

I. O. AKUNNETO

Founder & Director of the

Ibohayo Youth League
(Nigeria)

California IBOHAYO YOUTH LEAGUE
legional ANTI-TRIBALISM PAMPHLETS

'acility

West African Printing Co. E. B. 9-648 GOO

Tribalism in Nigeria

C \LfSM is the state of existence in sepcrate
tribes of a feeling of love for one's own tribes.

It is a natural feeling which can be compared
with parental feeling. It is a sort of superiority com-
plex waging in c.;rtai i ethnical groups, who own
that they had either been superior in certain respects
or jealous of another ethnical entity.

It' s existence can be traced far back to the
slavery era. Tribal wa;s wero waged with one
objective — lo capture slaves which are automatically
disposed of, to the "Human Trader." The winners
put to shame their victims in human degradations; the
psychological effect of the loosers c:»n be better
imagine.!, when they arc cowed before those they arc
supposed to have vanquished.

Such was the slavery era. In Nigeria today, this
enemy is still at large. Why was it not crushed
when slavery was no more ?

The paradox of life is that we must not only serve
ourselves but serve the social group if we should
know freedom and happiness in living. Serving our
own exclusive purposes leads to maladjustment, intro-
version and unhappincss.

We must not only unite our powers but live in
harmony with others. St. Paul in his epistle to the
Romans said among other things "Let love be without
hyprocricy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that
which is good. In love of the brethren be tenderly
affectioned one to another; in honour preferring one
another; " Where there is love, there is friend-
ship, and friendship lead to Unity—the giant that can
obliterate TRIBALISM from Nigeria. We cannot in
this twentieth century Nigeria tolerate tribalism and
this objective could be achieved by mutual under-
standing. It is quite evident that Nigeria's irredent-
ism lies on Nigerians.- That was why your humble
author, in August 1947, founded the IBOHAYO
YOUTH LEAGUE (NIGERIA) to combat against
tribalism in this country through penpalism.

THE EVILS

It is the duty of any Nigerian to contribute his
quota in the battle now being waged against tribalism.
The evils of tribalism in Nigeria are many. Tribal
appellations cause tribal idiosyncrasies ; these lead
ultimately to vanity and superciliousness and dis-
harmony.

An Hatisa mm may think a Ydftiba man his iferior,
whilst the Yoruha man in" turn commoniscs the Ibo
man; and Ibo man concedes to himself that both the
. Hausa and Yoruba are just the people without the
gut. Instead of some of our leaders helping in educating
their followers that their conception of tribalism cnn-
not withstand scientific analysis and that Nigcnan is .1
Nigerian, place of birth not withstanding, they add
more to this evil propaganda.

No leader in Nigeria today can succeed, unless he
forgets his ethnical group. His service must be to
Nigeria and not to any particular group. That was
why I agreed with Pro. Eyo Ita M. A.. B. Sc ., when
he said "We must widen our citizenship beyond our
tribal loyalities ..... every educated African should shed the
cocoon of tribe, should cease to be a tribesman ..... "

THE PRESS

Nigeria nPress have openly decried against it's existence;
yet I believe, that if they pull their strengths together
to combat against this evil, Nigeria will never forget
to be grateful. H^ar them : —

"Our little world called Nigeria seems to be pass-
ing at the moment, through one of the severest tests
in her whole history. That her people have been
evolving at a rate never before known in the annals of her
existence is also admitted. But that there are forces
both internal and external militating against the smooth
working of this machinery of health evolution is
a fact most painful to record the existence of triba-
lism in Nigeria. (W. A. Pilot.)

Disunity is the bane of any society composed of
men with common hope, common faith, and common
aspiration. The people of Nigeria, whether they are
from the North, the South, the East, or the West,
have one common destiny. The mill of imperialism
spares no one. It is no respecter of tribal affiliation.
The sledge hammer of Economic imperialism knows no
difference between the Yorubas, the Ibos, the Hansas, tlio
Fulanis, or the Kanuris. We are al1 Colonial peoples and
victims of foreign vested interest. That is why we have
always protested against tribalism." (Daily Service.)

"Wa wish to see Nigeria grow to maturity and
take its place amongst the great nations of the world.

Let us bui'd our future on the i leals that Chnst
has preached. Let us d:j up rcct o.it ail "isms" that
Smack of Racialism, tribdism, and commercialism. Let
us be friend in a common cause. (Cath. Herald.)

22

AJ A»)

THE WAY OUT

The big question now arises, ho\v cin we
combat tribalism? However, we should under-
stand from the beginning that we can only
wipo it out through, the collective efforts of tin;
inhabitants, of this "Great Paradise en Karth".

From th3 BulpjL Our religious leaders
should impart to their adherents in classes and
from the pulpits the evils of tribalism.

There arc tribes far behind otl ers today,
they seem to be sleeping:. It is our duty t >
a\vak:> them from their lethargy instead of
nuking jests of them. \Ve must arouse them,
help them forward and kindle in thorn the flame
of nationalism. We should make them realise
that what tin rope or America has achieved,
Nigeria too can, even bettor.

Languages. The understanding of different
tribal languages is imperative. This will auto-
matically rernovs the shyness, suspicion and
annoyance of one tribe against another when
they eorne across themselves in their different
works of life.

Here our Education Department will have,
to include in the, curriculum, the teaching <-i I bo,
Hausa and Yornba languages in all schools and
colleges throughout Nigeria.

Inter-Tribal Marriages. We. should encour-
age inter-tribal marriages. There is no reason
why an Ibo man should not marry an Hausa girl.
or an Hausa man marrying a Yornba, nor can
the Yornba man adduce any law forbidden his
marriage with a Cameroon! an and vice visa.

Our leaders should lay the example by giv-
ing out their sons and daughters in marriage
irrespective of tribe ; or marry inter-tribally.
Their followers. will;surely emulate, their foot-
prints.

Customs. The adoption of the same customs in
general is also a des;rndum. This can be done by .exa-
mining the customs of the different tribes in Nigeria with
constructive criticisms and select certain good ones to
be "used by -ill. Since the boycott strategy, our dresses
have been identical. This is a very good show.

P^npal|sm, This is very, very important. It is
only by regular contacts with ourselves, that we can
g'lin acq'i;iini?inces from different tribes. That was
why th.- IROHAYO YOUTH LEAGUE is open to
Nigerians of both sexes in any field of humnn er-
doavour. irrespective of creed, religion or political
aiTilhtion, anywhere in the world. It should be re-
membered, that the few of us who may have friends
from other tr.bes were able t) do so either through the
school, place of work, social activities et cetra.

Other Mediums It is also of paramount im-
pprtance that we should create oiher mediums, where
we can freely an! frequently come in contact with
ourselves. It may be the owning -and running of business,
together, staging inter-tribal piays, d; nces, sports, arts
or other social activities.

By re;r.ljring also mutual aids to ourselves at any
time and at all costs, irrespective of tribe, relation-
ship or creed.

Flattery, Flattery lavished much on any parti-
cular tribe must be thought little of. as, it creates confusion
and commotion. It fertilies, the spread of tribalism and
fuses blatant t-ibal hatred.

Sincerity. We m,ust be sincere in dealing with
ourselves in any form or shape. For once a trace of
m,istrust is discovered, hatred sets in.

Pa^roiagO. By patronising Nigerian arts, music,
G.OODS and having PRIDE in anything Nigerian.

Education and Home Training. "Train up a

child in the way he should go and when he is old he
will not depart from it" (Proverbs)

Here our educators and parents will be doing ithe
nation a great service if they start from the beginning
to erase this tribalistic instinct from our youths and the
leaders of tomorrow. But can they do this, if they
themselves are slaves to tribalism 1 Hence, they must
first of all, purge themselves out from it's chains.

If all the teachers and parents of this country will
pledge themselves towards this type of evangelism, their
gospel will be a huge success and they will have faci-
litated the New Nigeria.

Unity. In the animal world anthills and beehives
are wonderful models of what umty can achieve. Couiu
a single ant or bee ever s -cceed in raising <uch a
complicated structure? Never, it is only their unm d efforts
that made these possible.

Nigeria at present is like a piece of iron nut in
the furnace which laken out, is shaped into what it
should be. Let all tribes join forces with the National
Council of Nigeria and the Cameroon^. With malice
towards none, they could select their Officeis, with
charity towards all. they could win mass education, ward-
off mass illiteracy and revolutionize our economical
and political status quo.

CONCLUSION

Some of us might have conceived a wrcng meaning
of this deadly foe, and thereby find no fault or evil in
its existence. But let me warn you, it has held me
and you in degeneration. We should eradicate that
superiority complex which some of us assume.

The Nigerian must be educated to realise that be
he from Kabba, Lagos, Kanlagora, Kukuruku or Owerri,
his "eathly" overlords regards him as a Nigerian.

We must build a sold front. We must let our
Northern Bretheren realise that geographical position is
no barrier to co-operation and mutual understanding.

It is our duty to learn from them and to teach
them. So too must the Ibos and Yorubas learn from
each other. Nay all the ethnical groups in general.
Nor should we forget our "Volcanic*' brothers and
listers in the Cameroons.

Ours is a sacred mission.

We must let our fellow Nigerian be fully conscious
of how debarring tribalism has been to our progress.

We must educate them by all means of the oneness
of the Nigerian.

UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILI

market house anywhere you A QOO 093 685

mind him and make mm 10 unun. >u ,-.:..- ..
"I AM A NIGERIAN." In conclusion read what
an Ibohayoisl, Mr Akinlola A. Aje said about this
barricade of progress.

Down with Tribalism

I am a monster of disintegrations

For no good I work but harms

Harms, ill, political deteriorations

None likes me but the fool;

Any good that comes I rout

Men think ';un harmless

Knowing myself a barricade of progress

Tbohayoist rise, all in ONE

\iainst Monster Tribalism all I warn

Your ethnical groups to forget

I L we must achieve freedom political.

] b >, Yoruba, Hausa, lOlik, Edo or Ibibio

Din'ei'cnco in tribe causes disunity

Therefore battle and kiii Tribalism

Kill Tribalism by co-operation

No matter what the cost

No matter what people say

Tell wanton Oi'iicials they 're eullions

For your land needs must be free;

Set to work, by your train pings raise dust

Toil hard, free Nigeria from Tribalism

Scorn colour prejudice, greed and disloyalty

Hand in hand sing Unity

Corners far sing your song

Sing Unity of North and South

Battle oppression, show your light

Unite to free your dear land, so

Shout "Down with Tribalism."

TO OUR FELLOW NIGERIANS

University of California

SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY

405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388

Return this material to the library

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