By David Oye

It is an unfortunate reality that xenophobia is not confined to a single nation on the African continent. While South Africa’s recent actions have been the most pronounced and violent, Ghana has also witnessed a troubling rise in xenophobic sentiment. However, in a twist of tragic irony, many Ghanaians have found themselves on the receiving end of this hostility during the South African xenophobic saga. Having felt that sting of rejection, Ghanaians are uniquely positioned to understand the profound pain of being told to leave a place one calls home, simply for being a fellow Black African.

This brings us to a fundamental truth that we must all confront: Blacks are one. The artificial lines that divide us today are a recent invention, a stark contrast to the ancient reality of our shared heritage.

In the days of our forefathers, before the imposition of colonial borders, we were traditionalists and warriors. Our ancestors did not recognize the nation-states we see on maps today. They migrated freely, moving from one forest to another, traversing the vast expanse of sub-Saharan Africa until we collectively occupied the space we now call our countries. It is, therefore, profoundly illogical for a Black man to tell another Black man to leave "his" country. It is even more absurd for a Black African to require a visa to enter another Black African nation.

Let us ask ourselves a fundamental question: Did our grandfathers purchase this land from heaven? Did any Black man receive a deed to this earth from a divine power? The answer is no. They simply migrated, settled, and cultivated the land, transforming it into the towns, states, and countries we inhabit today. Our claim to this land is not one of divine ownership, but of shared history and ancestral legacy.

Yet, today, we are plagued by a web of internal hatreds. Tribe distrusts tribe, and these prejudices are passed down through generations. This tribalism has metastasized onto a national level, where one Black country distrusts another or holds its nationals in contempt. This is a dangerous path. No Black country can thrive in isolation. Our survival and prosperity are intertwined; we cannot exist without our neighbors.

We must collectively declare a decisive end to tribalism and xenophobia. It is true that many countries harbor chronic xenophobic reactions, but only too often, South Africans have escalated these sentiments into violent action. We must recognize that the most ardent xenophobes are often those who have never crossed a border to experience the rich diversity of our continent.

I hope this message serves as a catalyst for change in your mentality. Say no to xenophobia. Remember that Africans are one family. Our fathers were once warriors who migrated across this land, not as conquerors of foreign territory, but as pioneers occupying the space that would become our shared home.

Remember this: if we as Black people hate one another, we cannot be surprised when others hate us. The love we desire from the world must begin within our own hearts. We must love one another before we can expect others to show us love.

This is my Sunday tip for all of us.

Africa’s Voice,h Always

Amb. David Oye

Writer, Activist, Digital Guru

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