A Critical Analysis of the Roots, Faces and Features of “Tribalism” in Africa

Abstract

This article is an in-depth study of the roots, faces, and features of tribalism as it thrives in recent African history and experience during and after colonialism and Western missionary activities, as well as the contemporary state of African societies in general and in Nigeria in particular. The issue of ‘tribe’, ethnicity, and race are fundamental theological concerns in Africa. The paper significantly identifies and defines the roots, faces and features of tribalism in Africa. The four African primordial social factors of ethnicity, land, religion and culture that are foundational to the worldview, ethnicity and tribalism as built by African ancestors are identified and discussed. The African concept of kinship rooted in blood and the analysis of the effects of tribalism in the social, political, religious and economic spheres of contemporary Africa is highlighted here. The goal of this article is to be able to state concisely and clearly what are the roots, faces and features of tribalism in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. The methodology used in this study was the historical research method in which various relevant sources in literature were interrogated.