HOW ETHINICITY SHAPED SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN WEST AND EAST AFRICA.
Question;Ethnicity has shaped the African social, political and economic development of the continent. Discuss this claim drawing from East and West Africa
Ethnicity, has been defined by various scholars as according to Smith 1991, defined as the group of people where members share collective proper name, the myth of common ancestry, shared historical memory, common culture, sense of solidarity and specific homeland also according to Werbner 1997 defined ethnicity as a process of self-identity and a form of social stratification, and is ‘as much the product of internal arguments of identity and contestation as of external objectification. Also, according to Fenton 2003 defined Ethnicity as social construction of descent and culture, the social mobilization and the meanings and implication of the classification system built around them. So according to him people do not poses cultures or share ancestry.In general ethnicity refer to the identification of a group based on perceived cultural distinctiveness believed to be expressed in language, music, literature, family life, ritual, religion and food. These practices are ant developmental aggregates the problem of income inequality and lead to resources scrambles which are harmful to economic growth. In Africa ethnicity traced back during colonial era when colonialist come with the policy of divide and rule with the aim of creating ethnical classes among African so as to smooth their colonial rule as during colonialism is when there were ethnical classes on provision education and health services. So, the ethnical classes which was created during colonial era was based on colour between whites and blacks also the was based on religion as there was Muslim and Christian. For example, during colonialism education was provided on basis of religion and colour. Hence after the independence of most West and East African countrieslikeGhana,Nigeria,Kenya,Tanganyika and Uganda maintained the ethical classes which was created by colonialist during colonial era as the areas which was developed by colonialist during colonial era like Dar es salaam and Nairobi until now are developed as are supplied with better social services like health services and transport networks like roads as colonialist did during colonial era also those areas which was not considered during colonial era until now are not considered as Kigoma region which was regarded as labour reserve until now are not considered such areas are like Kigoma, Lindi and Mtwara.Thus, the ethnicity inherited from colonial period has now fit with the social political and economic structure of many African states especially in West and East Africa. So, ethnicity has shaped the African states in all aspects of life as Political, social and economic aspects as follows; -
First, ethnicity shaped agricultural system, in agricultural system the production has been shaped by the ethnicity which was planted during colonial era by colonialist. For example in Ghana there were two rivals of producing and non-producing of cocoa which was created during colonial era by colonialist and those rivals namely as ancient group which produce most of the country’s primary export and cocoa producer hence seemed to have economic and industrial power also another group was Akan group characterized with the most p olitical power including elites and educated people like Kwame Nkurumah who held political position. In Ghana the political power of Kwame Nkurumah was on the basis of ethnicity by favoring his ethnical group of political elites this manifested when Nkurumah organized the formation of Cocoa Marketing board which undermined the ancient group of cocoa producer by taxing them heavy taxes with the aim of weakening them over group of political elites,3So until now ethnical elements which was created during colonial era are maintained as there was a group of cocoa producers and the group of political elites where by on group of political elites are the one which held political in Ghana so the ethnicity has shaped the agricultural system in Ghana and other areas like Tanganyika and Uganda as Agriculture production is done through ethnicity.
Second, Ethnicity shaped political system, in most West and East African countries political system has been ethnically shaped since in most countries the leader who are in political position decided to favour their ethnical group which resulted to the political structure of competition which in most cases resulting into political chaos as most of peoples were especially other ethnical groupwere not satisfied with the election results. In Kenya the citizens are divided along the ethnical lines which posing threat to the country stability and development as was complicated mix of several ethnic group, the dominant was being kikuyu, Luhya, Luo, Kalenjin and Kamba where bythe Kikuyu formed alliance with Luo later with Kamba and until now the dominant political power in Kenya is belong to Kikuyu and Luo as since the independence when Jomo Kenyatta from Kikuyu dominated political power.So due to the ethnical group in Kenya resulted into political chaos during election since each group wanted his people to held higher position of leadership like presidential position so until now ethnicity in Kenya still exist since the president come from dominant ethical group of Luo which formed an alliance with Kikuyu in 1960s.
Also, ethnicity has shaped religious practices, ethnicity has been shaped religion in most East and West Africa since created religious group with different ideology. For example, in Nigeria there are two ethnical religious group which led to the fragmentation of Nigeria since Nigeria are divided into two parts which based on religious ethnics which are Northern part of Nigeria which are dominated with Christianity and Southern Nigeria are dominated with Muslim.Thus, in Nigeria ethnic fragmentation and religious intolerance make it difficult to establish stable government. For example Hausa and Fulani religious ethical group so the religious ethnicity made difficult for Nigerian to achieve social, political and economic development since it influencesterrorism and religious conflicts6. Religion referred as an instrument of promoting peace and harmony but for Nigeria its verse versa since religion was used as an instrument of violence asmost terrorist group like Boko Haram under the leadership of Abubakar Shakur arise with the aim of making their religion superior than the Christian so terrorist happen due to the desire of a certain religion to dominate the nation also this was planted by colonialist in Nigeria but until now aremaintained by the Nigerian natives.
Furthermore, ethnicity has shaped transport and communication system, during colonial era in West and East Africa transport and communication system was ethnically built on the basis of colour where by areas with white settlers during colonialism and productive areas were much considered in term of transport and communication system since were supplied with transport network like roads, railway and telegraph line while the areas with no whites was not much considered with the system of transport networks like roads and railways so in West and East Africa the transport was built on the basis of ethnicity since at that time there were mostly two ethnical group which was based on colour between whites and blacks. For example, in Tanganyika areas like Dar es salaam was much developed with better transport system like roads and railway during colonialism since there was greater number of whites including colonial officials like governor also in Kenya, Nairobi was highly developed during colonialism since was acted as a center for colonial officials. In other hand the areas with no whites during colonial era was not much developed. In general, until now the areas which was developed by colonialist during era on basis of ethnicity are still maintained as subjected to urban center while areas like Kigoma which was not developed during colonialism until now faced with poor transport system like roads hence ethnicity in Tanzania created regional imbalance.
Also, ethnicity has shaped education system, the education system has been shaped by ethnicity since colonial period where by the colonialist provided on basis of ethnicity based on colour and religion where by during colonialism whites gets better education than the African black also education was provided according to religion as there was Muslim and Christians also the productive as Kilimanjaro, Bukoba and Tanga were highly provided with education than unproductive areas with the aim of increasing production mostly of cash crops. So soon after independence and until now education are being provided ethnically on basis of religion since there is many numbers of religious schools which offers education to his believers such schools including St. peter school for Roman catholic and Ihsan Islamic secondary school also region which has many religious schools is Kilimanjaro and Tabora and most of them built by colonialist as regarded as producing areas. So, to large extent education in East and West Africa are shaped with ethnicity which planted by colonialist.
Lastly, ethnicity shaped provision health services, ethnicity being one of the factor of distribution of the allocation of funding for health care, for example in Kenya ethnicity tension have led to unequal allocation of construct health centers with certain group being disproportionality represented in health care, workforce and receiving better quality care than others this leads to lack of trust in health system in health system among certain ethnic groups and as hindered effort t improve health outcome in the country. Also, in Nigeria the country is being divided over 250 ethnics group and this diversity has led to lack of coordination and corporation among different groups so this made difficult to implement effective health policy and programs,leadings to poor heath outcome in the country overall the ethnicity led to the hindering the improvement of health outcome. So, ethnicity in Africa are maintained until now since colonialism when the colonialist provided education on basis of colour and religion.
Generally, a country strategy aimed at achieving equal participation by all ethnic’s groups would ordinality demand political leadership who is fair to all citizen as discrimination against citizens on basis of ethnic’s group is violation of human right thus by addressing this problem among African countries the African union setup a strong and credible African court of human right which aimed at reducing ethnic favoritism which is main source of conflicts in many African states as in Uganda where Genocide happened in 1994 due ethical differention among themselves so when the African will success to end up ethnicity will pave the way for rapid economic growth as there will equal access on resources also there will no civil war since all people will be united and will be single unit.
FURTHER READINGS
Ilorah R, (2009), Ethnic bias, favoritism and development in Africa, Routledge.
M. Damiano, (1978), education and development in colonial and postal colonial Africa, Sprinter.
K. Hyacinth, (2011), The Nigerian nation and religion, Universe Inc.
Walter, (1983), Migrant labour in Tanganyika during colonial period.
TOA MAONI YAKO HAPO CHINI KUFANYA MABORESHO ZAIDI NA SWALI AMBALO UNAPENDEKEZA LITOLEWE MAJIBU YAKE PIA TUMA SWALI HAPO LITAFUTIWE MAJIBU.
