The Moral Dimensions of Xenophobic Incidents

History reminds us that xenophobia is not an entirely South African problem. Indeed, across Africa, it has been used as a policy instrument by governments, time and time again.

Written by Adekunle Falade

Dec 18, 2019

JANAH HATTINGH

Earlier this year, in September, there was a wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa on Africans from other countries. Businesses owned by Nigerians, Zimbabweans, and other African nationals were burned, destroyed, and looted. These unfortunate events did not end in South Africa but led to reprisal attacks in countries like Nigeria. The xenophobic attacks and the reprisal attacks were disheartening, and the events prompted me to reflect on the value of African humanism today, the idea that cultural norms and system of beliefs can be used to solve human problems to appeal to our humanity. Africans can use ideas within humanism and concepts such as Ubuntu and Ọmọlúwàbí to understand that, as Africans, an attack on other Africans is the same thing as an attack on ourselves.

Etymologically, xenophobia is derived from two Greek words: xenos which means stranger or foreigner, and phobos meaning fear. Put together, xenophobia is the deep-seated fear and hatred for foreign nationals. It is a desire to rid one’s country of its immigrants because one holds them responsible for existing traumas and socio-economic conditions, for example, rising unemployment levels. Xenophobia is dangerous because it is a threat to peaceful coexistence between African countries.

XENOPHOBIA AS AN AFRICAN PROBLEM

The African Centre for Migration & Society at the University of Witwatersrand monitors xenophobic threats and violence across South Africa. According to data from ACMS, violent attacks in South Africa against foreign nationals peaked in 2008 and 2015. The BBC reported that ‘the violence is often triggered by local disputes, with migrants being accused of taking jobs away from South Africans.’ Indeed, South Africa has experienced poor economic performance, and the current unemployment rate stands at nearly 30 per cent. Rather than blame the government for the unemployment woes, many South Africans focus their anger on foreign nationals, who are believed to be taking their jobs. This kind of sentiment has brought about an attitude of the mind that makes South Africans see other Africans as usurpers.

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About the Author

Adekunle Falade

is an African philosophy researcher with a Bachelor and Master's degree in philosophy. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Ibadan.

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The Moral Dimensions of Xenophobic Incidents

XENOPHOBIA AS AN AFRICAN PROBLEM