As Blacks,a lot of attributes is attached to us.
Speak of culture and we’re mentioned.
Speak of history and we have got a whole lot of it.
Speak of population,different kinds of food(s), natural resources…everybody knows we’re really blessed but never have we been associated with fear or discrimination of ourselves(well up until 2015).

Almost everybody is surprised about the latest happenings in South Africa called Xenophobia. Phobia being the fear of something,xenophobia is the fear of something foreign and it is exhibited through discrimination of the foreign.

Currently, there are hundreds on Nigerians being killed in South Africa. Human beings are burnt alive, stoned to death, chased around the streets and business/shops vandalized out of hate. I’ve watched a few videos and each one gets harder to watch, the most heartbreaking part is the justification of the act by South Africans and their representatives who directly and indirectly suggest that the killings of Nigerians aren’t an act of hate/xenophobia.

On another thought, how could we be surprised?
This was the first question that popped into my head when I first heard about Xenophobia in 2015.

I mean we live in a country and continent where tribalism and color-ism is our watch word and where difference in languages is a big barrier in businesses.
So the topic of xenophobia doesn’t shock me as much.
This doesn’t justify the act, I’m only saying that it is expected and even worse exhibitions of such character is expected.
In as much as we would try to deny that we hate ourselves through songs,advertisements,preaching or whatever…xenophobia in Africa has always been existence through little acts like-
No support for inter-tribal marriages
Offices not accepting a particular tribe or country as employees,
Discrimination of minor groups or tribe,etc
Well,we can’t deny it anymore because it’s staring deep into our faces and we’re all affected. I am praying that this is the end.

My heart and prayers goes out to every family who has suffered a loss during this period,may God heal you deeply and for every person still in South Africa,may his protection be with you.