Omodudu : Stereotypes May Reflect Smart Choices...

It's interesting to me as a white European to eave...

2007-06-13T02:24:00.000-04:00

It's interesting to me as a white European to eavesdrop on this conversation, having had a heated argument with an aquaintance on this very subject. The word tribe definately conjures images of primitivism and 19th century paternalism, and is not a word most Europeans would apply to themselves. You only have to look at the conflicts in Northern Ireland and the former Yugoslavia though to see that 'tribalism' is a fundamental human trait.

@ijebuman, after reading the article, I must say I...

2007-06-09T15:03:00.001-04:00

@ijebuman, after reading the article, I must say I do not get it but because it is unfamiliar territory and I assume that some folks have devoted their energy into these studies. I will use the term people from now on then. Thanks for pointing that out. Abi.

@omoduduthis is not about activism, its about how ...

2007-06-09T10:41:00.000-04:00

@omodudu
this is not about activism, its about how we see ourselves. it's a bit like a black person refering to himself as "coloured"

The question remains would you refer to the English, Welsh, Serbs, Albanians, Polish as a tribe or as an ethnic group?

As regards to your post about stereotypes, A stereotype is simply a distortion of what may be a small truth of a few stretched over the entirety.

The thing is that, the steretype thing is a very p...

2007-06-09T04:26:00.000-04:00

The thing is that, the steretype thing is a very powerful weapon in the hand of our so called leaders.

When a sensitive decision does not favour a certain tribe, the impressions, the so called leaders normally give their people back home is "it happen simply because the beneficiary is from a particular tribe".

But the common man knows better.

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2007-06-08T08:52:00.000-04:00

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I believe that stereotypes stem from certain aspec...

2007-06-08T02:34:00.000-04:00

I believe that stereotypes stem from certain aspects of truth. Certain traits are relative. I concur with Nyemoni's observation regarding tribes/Ethnic tribes. Think about it: The Ijesa's and Ife people are known for their stubborn attitude; the Ijebu's their stinginess, Ibadan people their flamboyance.

That's my opinion.

I obviously didn't that memo Ijebuman, I will look...

2007-06-07T20:02:00.000-04:00

I obviously didn't that memo Ijebuman, I will look into it and form my own opinion of the tribe group controversy. I am hoping its not one of those activism for the sake of activism, the crusade hijacked by the Afrocrusaders.

Ethnic groups.In any event, stereotypes are meant ...

2007-06-07T16:30:00.000-04:00

Ethnic groups.

In any event, stereotypes are meant to be trashed. They lead to all sorts that I'll talk about when next I come this way. Not in the mood to yarn too much now.

For most people in Western countries, Africa immed...

2007-06-07T16:25:00.000-04:00

For most people in Western countries, Africa immediately calls up the word "tribe." The idea of tribe is ingrained, powerful, and expected.
Few readers question a news story describing an African individual as a tribesman or tribeswoman, or the depiction of an African's motives as tribal. Many Africans themselves use the word "tribe" when speaking or writing in English about community, ethnicity or identity in African states.

Yet today most scholars who study African states and societies--both African and non-African--agree that the idea of tribe promotes misleading stereotypes. The term "tribe" has no consistent meaning. It carries misleading historical and cultural assumptions. It blocks accurate views of African realities. At best, any interpretation of African events that relies on the idea of tribe contributes no understanding of specific issues in specific countries. At worst, it perpetuates the idea that African identities and conflicts are in some way more "primitive" than those in other parts of the world. Such misunderstanding may lead to disastrously inappropriate policies.
read more:
Talking about "Tribe"
Moving from Stereotypes to Analysis
http://www.africaaction.org/bp/ethall.htm

Tribe is a derogatory term when used in describing...

2007-06-07T16:12:00.000-04:00

Tribe is a derogatory term when used in describing African ethnic groups
I'll give a quick explanation. would you describe the English as a tribe or the Welsh or the Germans as a tribe.
Europeans classified all African groups as tribes when most of these groups were nations in their own right (e.g the Yoruba kingdom)

I'll direct you to a great article by Robert B Moore reproduced here
http://naijaman.cfmxdeveloper.co.uk/diary/2006/04/great-article.html

@ijebuman You will have to convince me on this one...

2007-06-07T13:53:00.000-04:00

@ijebuman You will have to convince me on this one, I am open and listening.
Tribe: any aggregate of people united by ties of descent from a common ancestor, community of customs and traditions, adherence to the same leaders.
Ethnic group: referring to the origin, classification, characteristics,being a member of an ethnic group, esp. of a group that is a minority within a larger society.
Do people have problem in all Ibo, Yoruba, and Hausa people being viewed as one and the same.

i'm paying a return visit : - )you've actually hit...

2007-06-07T13:09:00.000-04:00

i'm paying a return visit : - )

you've actually hit on something i feel very strongly about and i hope you'll revise your post. We are not tribes, we are "Ethnic groups"
Tribe is a derogatory term when used in describing African ethnic groups

Some of the stereotypes are spot on, some I think ...

2007-06-07T13:02:00.000-04:00

Some of the stereotypes are spot on, some I think stuck because they've been recycled over and over again..... people brand a certain sect with a particular trait because time and again, they've proven that a whole lot of that sect act in a particular way... for e.g a particular tribe in Nigeria are known to be very industrious, a particular state in a particular tribe are known to be very much into school...the men of some tribes in Nigeria are known to be layabouts... etc...

It's worth knowing, but not worth judging people over...

Most of the stereotypes are valid with some hard e...

2007-06-07T12:19:00.000-04:00

Most of the stereotypes are valid with some hard evidence to show for it.