RECENTLY Nigerians living in South Africa came under attack by local vigilantes. Many suffered only the destruction of their homes and business while some who lost their lives were not so lucky. As usual reports of these events which the press described as”Xenophobic attacks” attracted the usual condemnation from Nigerian authorities. The National Assembly was particularly at the forefront of the demands for answers from the South African authorities. However as is almost characteristic of everything that is Nigerian, the intervention of the National Assembly was not without its own measure of drama. For days both chambers of the National Assembly could not agree on the composition of a team from the Legislature to visit South Africa. While the House of Representatives preferred to go it alone, the Senate reportedly pushed for the composition of a committee comprised of members drawn from both chambers. Eventually the Senate let the House of Representatives have its way.
To be certain, the recent xenophobic attacks were not one of a kind. In 2015, there occurred a series of attacks on nationals of foreign countries. In that attack nationals of Zimbabwe and Nigeria bore the brunt of the violence. That particular incident was attributed to the inciting words of the Zulu king who called on all foreigners to leave the country. Prior to that time there had been reported attacks in 1998, 2000, 2008, 2009 and 2013. In 2013, the Governments of Nigeria and South Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding to reinforce diplomatic ties with the hope of preventing further attacks. The events of 2016 and 2017 have proven that those efforts were in vain. The recurrence of these attacks without a doubt raise the question as to why they are common to South Africa. Indeed, at a loss to understand why Nigerians have been targeted, many reasons have been adduced as being responsible, the most amusing of which is the claim that South Africans involved in the attack were acting upon false information that foreigners, including Nigerians were taking away their jobs and women!
Xenophobia explained: However, to understand the root cause of the problem, one must go a bit back in history. Firstly it is important to note, that the word “xenophobia” is not a medical term but a political one. It is used to describe a situation in which members of a group or culture regard members of another culture as threats to their own interests.
Uncritical exaltation of another culture
Wikipedia specifically defines the word to be:
“the fear of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange. Xenophobia can manifest itself in many ways involving the relations and perceptions of an ingroup towards an outgroup, including a fear of losing identity, suspicion of its activities, aggression, and desire to eliminate its presence to secure a presumed purity. Xenophobia can also be exhibited in the form of an “uncritical exaltation of another culture” in which a culture is ascribed “an unreal, stereotyped and exotic quality”
“the fear of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange. Xenophobia can manifest itself in many ways involving the relations and perceptions of an ingroup towards an outgroup, including a fear of losing identity, suspicion of its activities, aggression, and desire to eliminate its presence to secure a presumed purity. Xenophobia can also be exhibited in the form of an “uncritical exaltation of another culture” in which a culture is ascribed “an unreal, stereotyped and exotic quality”
“The ANC government – in its attempts to overcome the divides of the past and build new forms of social cohesion… embarked on an aggressive and inclusive nation-building project. One unanticipated by-product of this project has been a growth in intolerance towards outsiders… Violence against foreign citizens and African refugees has become increasingly common and communities are divided by hostility and suspicion.”
Whatever is the true origin and cause of the problem, it cannot be disputed that it is very wrong and contrary not only to African tradition of welcoming visitors but also duties of countries to protect foreigners from such attacks. It is even more disturbing when it is considered that Nigeria contributed in no small measure to the collapse of apartheid and subsequent enthronement of democratic rule in South Africa. In a statement released by the Nigerian Guild of Editors, The South African Institute of International Affairs was reported as having recorded that Nigeria spent $61 billion between 1960 and 1995 in the fight against apartheid.
We must look inwards
Beyond, the nature and origin of the xenophobic attacks, is however the more important issue of examining what it is that draws Nigerians away from their fatherland to such places where they suffer so much indignation. Without a doubt the economic challenges of the currently have brought about an exodus of sorts of Nigerians to other parts of the world in search of the proverbial golden fleece. In Nigeria at the moment, most business have either collapsed or are on the brink of collapse owing to a myriad of problems. Job opportunities, where they do exist are difficult to take advantage of. A few years ago, several innocent lives were lost following a stampede at the screening exercise of a national agency for job applicants. Many business ideas have been frustrated going to absence of capital as banks still charge unrealistic interests rates that continue to hamper the growth and development of small businesses. Yet as economists will point out, such small businesses are the required linchpin for the long term recovery of the Nigerian economy. Thus, in my estimation the immediate response from government about the unending xenophobic attacks on its citizens should be the formulation of policies that will make it easier for Nigerians to make a living here. Where jobs are available and availability of business credit is not a problem, the attraction of foreign travel for purpose of basic economic sustenance as opposed to large scale direct foreign investment in the economies of other countries will be reduced.
By Aare Afe Babalola.
Culled from The Nigerian Vanguard.
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