Basic HTML Version
6
composed of Hausas and Fulanis. This
gave two tribes a dominant position.
Strife developed, then revolt, then war.
The same seeds of tribalism which
brought civil war and devastation to
Nigeria threaten all the other newly
independent black African nations,
from the Congo to Kenya; from
Uganda to the Sudan; from Tanzania
to Zambia.
Most black Africans reta in allegiance
to tbeir tribes, regardless of nationalism
or education or industrialization. Tribal
nepotism abounds within governments.
Independence and the 20th Century
have not solved this ancient problem.
The forces of tribalism and regional
rivalry remain strong throughout Afri–
ca. These were the forces that plunged
the Congo into chaos. They are still
very much alive throughout black Africa.
Africa's Enormous Problems
Today, in Africa, there are 38 newly
created states with 200 million popu–
lation. These states have vast poten–
tia!. Africa today produces 49 of the
53 most important minerals and metals
in the world. Jron ore reserves are twice
those of the United States. Coal reserves
are estimated at 100 billion tons. Vast
deposits of oil have been found. But
the big questions are: Can the new
African states maintain political stabil–
ity? Can tribalism, with its prejudices
and animosities,
be
overcome?
Throughout Africa, a continent three
times the size of Europe, there are about
6,000 different tribes or sub-tribes. The
leaders of black Africa are attempting
to make nations out of these diverse
ethnic groups speaking different Jan–
guages and dialects, with differing
religious beliefs, diverse histories and
cultures, and varying climates.
When Portugal, Spain, Britain,
France, and Germany divided up Africa
in tbe last century, they were not
interested in creating viable, stable,
homogenous nations. In competition
with each other, they grabbed as
much as they could, not caring if bor–
dees cut across tribal boundari<:s. As a
result, the newly independent nations
are unstable and largely artificial. They
have only a veneer of modero civi liza·
tion.
Little wonder that coups and counter-
The
PLAIN TRUTH
AFRICA'S ENORMOUS PROBLEMS
- languoge borriers, geogrophy, lock
of developed communicotions highlight
the d ifficulties facing modern Africa.
The cotton market in Ugando, top, illu–
strates need for industriolizotion. Right,
notive cottle gozing in northeast
Congo will not survive in vost oreas
of tropics due to disease-carrying
tsetse fly. Tribal ond longuoge barriers
ore illustroted by the Kivu girl, obove,
whose costume distinguishes her from
neighboring tribes.
March, 1970