Magatte Wade | Tribalism Sanitises Corruption & Hinders Africa's Economic Freedom | Jordan Peterson

As a proud and self-respecting African, I often find myself wrestling with a complex love-hate relationship with my continent. Yes, it is true that some African Kings and Chiefs, along with their armies, captured or kidnapped and sold fellow Africans from warring tribes into slavery, first to Arab slave traders on the East African coast and then to European slave traders on the West African coast. It is also true that some African Kings, Chiefs, and home guards (i.e., house negroes) collaborated with European colonizers.

Clearly, tribalism (i.e., negative ethnicity) existed in Africa prior to the arrival of slave traders and continues to divide and conquer our African societies long after the colonizers left. This tribalism has only evolved from the horrific practice of selling fellow Africans into slavery and collaborating with colonizers to a system where puppet leaders, often installed by former colonizers, plunder their own countries with impunity. What's even worse is the vehement defense and allegiance offered to the puppet leader by his kinsmen and tribe, perpetuating a cycle of corruption and underdevelopment. Such tribal allegiance to corrupt puppet politicians, even when it goes against the collective interests of the entire tribe, is puzzling: What sorcery is this?

Oh foolish Africans, who has bewitched us? The European colonizers or, is it "conquerors," who "civilized" the already prosperous natives? The puppet elite who took over after independence? The bigoted electorate who self-sabotage at the ballot? The meddling by former colonial masters? Or all of the above?

In fairness, it was only natural for slave traders and colonizers to exploit and exacerbate existing ethnic divisions, as any strategic person should.

A striking example of missed opportunities is often cited when comparing Singapore's path with that of many African nations during the independence era of the 1960s. While Singapore once stood on equal footing, it has since surged ahead economically, surpassing even its former colonial master, Britain.

Under the visionary leadership of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore pursued a strategic and disciplined approach to governance and economic development. In contrast, many African nations focused on institutionalizing bigotry (i.e., tribalism, clanism, sectarianism, and nepotism).

Such contrasting trajectories leave me yearning for a utopia where Africa overcame tribal divisions so that we can finally address corruption objectively.