Some time ago I was asked what does it mean to be African. As if I’m some expert. I asked the questioner for a little time to get back to them because I wanted to give some thought to the answer. To be born in Africa easily qualifies. But what does it mean to be African from a more Diaspora-tic perspective. It should go without saying that being an African in the Diaspora could mean something different to each individual asked. This is just my opinion.

About a week after the question was posed, Coming to America came on. I used to think it was an example of Eddie Murphy’s best work, and that’s not really saying much. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve seen the movie last. But I watched the opening sequence and I was disappointed by what I saw. It hit me that whoever did this movie thinks that wealthy people in Africa, or in Prince Akeem’s African country, model their weddings after European culture where men wear tuxedoes and women wear gowns that could easily pass for something out of Cinderella. And the wedded couple being carried away in a horse and carriage with all the finery seemed out of place.

And the dancers! All the men and women had medium to light brown skin. All the women had long hair and European features. The only person who looked like they may have stepped out of Africa was possibly the late great Madge Sinclair as Queen Aoleon. Not a very convincing display of genuine African culture.

Some of the most authentic looking African places that I’ve seen in the little corners of the Diaspora that I’ve visited have been the various Orisa houses that I’ve experienced. A lot of them have authentic looking African decorations and everybody dresses in authentic looking African clothing. And the clothes and decorations truly came from Africa. But I have also learned that the authentic African environment is by design to help foster an impression that the people there are indeed traditional African practitioners with a genuine sense of spirituality. Everything must be done by tradition otherwise the sanctity of the moment be disturbed. Yet, when it was time for payment for spiritual services rendered modern dollars were just fine.

And the dancers! I’ve actually seen people in these houses of African spirituality judge people’s connection to African on someone’s ability to dance or recite prayers or ability to sing or use of African language. Being someone without the ability to entertain and without the drive to learn rote prayers or African dialect, my devotion to the African ways was found wanting. I actually believed it was at one point. I never said I was the deepest oar in the ocean.

I wondered if being an African in the Diaspora is to have a genuine concern for Africa or a connection to African people. It is nothing that can be accurately quantified or measured. It is nothing based on an appearance or style of clothing. Some people who dress themselves in some of the most authentic African garb on the planet could give a rat’s ass about Africa or the African community. Some people whose mother tongue is one of the many African dialects could care less about Africa or African people.

I wondered if being African is to have a love and appreciation of nature, both the physical and the spiritual even though we may not completely understand everything we experience. I wondered if to be African is to be respectful of cultures different than our own. I know a lot of people think that I may not respect my American culture, but I have the utmost respect and appreciation for my national collective. My appreciation for my national collective does not blind me to the fact that it is neglecting and abusing the African American culture that I also have the utmost respect and appreciation for.

But again, there are Africans from Africa who don’t have much appreciation for the African cultures. I met an African, steep in the Christian belief system who thought I was foolish for my Ifa belief system rooted in Yoruba or Nigerian culture.

[b]Maybe to be African is to recognize that a successful, strong community is a collection of varying talents and abilities for common goals. A strong community isn’t one where only the strong do well and the weak are left to scrounge off the weaker. Everybody has a job to do. Call it socialism if you want but when we feed everyone, when we take the steps to educate everyone, when we work to make sure everyone is in good health, we become a stronger society for it. Maybe to be African is to recognize the fact that a community is a chain that is only as strong as its weakest link.

But then again, I know many Africans who strongly support an economic system that would allow a handful to become insanely wealthy while many wallow in stark poverty. I remember seeing a report that some African king with a failing economy and responsibility for something ridiculous like upwards of forty percent unemployment rate and rampant healthcare problems was in the middle of building his umpteenth royal palace. He claimed that the people wanted him to live a life of ultimate luxury while the majority of his people lived in abject poverty. And this was an African king. His leadership provides the model of behavior for many of his fellow Africans. So it really is no surprise to see so many examples of modern economic concepts not working very well in Africa for everyone. Countries with all the natural resources necessary to support its own people are raped for their riches while entire communities of people go without.[/b]

So now that I’ve thought about it, I’ve come up with a well thought out, carefully considered answer for the question, what does it mean to be African? To be African is to be from Africa and nothing more and nothing less. I’m sure that many people would like to think that Africans are people imbued with some kind of gift of humanity. But in the end, Africans run the gamut of human behavior just like everyone else. Ultimately, I guess to be African is nothing more than a geographical reference to someone’s place of birth.
http://brotherpeacemaker./2009/08/17/what-does-it-mean-to-be-african/

To be African is to be from Africa and nothing more and nothing less

ShyM-X:
Interesting thought from a savvy brother...

Personally, being an African is in-born and a way-of-life - it just depends on how we're able to operate in that realm... Africa has moved from just a geographical location to level of consciousness and understanding the science and mathematics of African-ness...

I'll explain further with quotes from two power and great African men of honour:

"You're not an African because you're born in Africa. You're an African because Africa is born in you. It's in your genes.... your DNA....your entire biological make up. Whether you like it or not, that's the way it is. However, if you were to embrace this truth with open arms....my, my, my....what a wonderful thing." - Marimba Ani

"Just because a cat has kittens in the oven, that doesn't make them biscuits." - Malcolm X

Egba girl: EOD.

You don't have to be African to be passionate about African cultures or to have a genuine concern for Africa - there are a lot of Europeans, Americans doing that already.

Shollypopz:

I didn't read our initial quote, too long and I'm lazy.

It ain't that deep. You are simply African because you were born in Africa or because your parents are Africans. I'm first a Nigerian before I'm an African.
It took me quite a while to accept being called African because I don't know sh1t about countries like Mozambique and neither do I give a sh1t about Cameroon who is right there at my backyard. Yep, we might share some similarities in culture. That's solely based on geography, it's simply expected that there must have been movement among cultural groups in the past, hence the little similarities in cultures. Not to talk about the colonial groupings and creation of African countries.

The only tie I have to somebody from Ethiopia is we both share a similar region on the map and skin color. Now, I don't believe your skin color makes you African, that's a ranting for another day.

What makes one European?? What makes one North American?? What makes one Asian?? This false pretense of "oneness" dey piss me off sef.

Shollypopz:
I didn't read our initial quote, too long and I'm lazy.

It ain't that deep. You are simply African because you were born in Africa or because your parents are Africans. I'm first a Nigerian before I'm an African.
It took me quite a while to accept being called African because I don't know sh1t about countries like Mozambique and neither do I give a sh1t about Cameroon who is right there at my backyard. Yep, we might share some similarities in culture. That's solely based on geography, it's simply expected that there must have been movement among cultural groups in the past, hence the little similarities in cultures. Not to talk about the colonial groupings and creation of African countries.

The only tie I have to somebody from Ethiopia is we both share a similar region on the map and skin color. Now, I don't believe your skin color makes you African, that's a ranting for another day.

What makes one European?? What makes one North American?? What makes one Asian?? This false pretense of "oneness" dey piss me off sef.

Egba girl:
Which is why the author concluded that you're African only if you are from Africa. There's no two way to it.

I agree that Africans in the diaspora have this "obligation" to speak on behalf of or defend Africa as a continent when we don't even know how many countries make the continent. I guess the reason for this collective identity is that we share a lot of similar cultural values and what not. Therefore, as it is with all other things, people tend to generalize and group us as one. Let's not also forget the African narrative that the media portrays. It doesn't help at all.

ShyM-X:


Erm.. Perhaps, we should embrace our different nationalities and disregard our unique unifying factor(the colour of our skin) - which makes us one people with almost the same struggle... though, we might have different experiences, no?

Egba girl:

See this is one of then tensions that I cannot seem to reconcile with - I do not want to and I cannot disregard my "individual" identity but at the same time, I am being forced to embrace this "collective" identity, which has made me realize that we are all different, yet the same and yes you are right that we are fighting the same battle but in different ways. I guess that is another unifying factor? It's not just the color of our skin but the experiences that we have as a continent (colonization, civil war etc. with the exception of a few countries obviously).

ShyM-X:


However, the experiences are somewhat similar as well...Almost all the countries on the continent were colonised(except for probably Ethiopia) and all the countries have been through civil wars at one time, or the other in their history...Also, people of black descent in the Caribbean went through the colonial experience and they still suffer the same thing we suffer today... Even AAs might argue that the period between the abolition of slavery, Jim Crow era, and the civil rights movements was also a form of colonisation....

So, our experiences are somewhat similar, no matter how you look at it, sis...

Egba girl:
I definitely agree but then we are still different. Even the colonization that all the countries (apart from Ethiopia and the few ones that succeded) went through was by different countries - France, Belgium, Britain, Spain, Portugal and you have to admit that the influences are not the same across all the colonized african countries. (In fact I think I prefer to stick to Sub Saharan Africa instead of the whole of Africa.)

I think it's about reconciling our similarities and our differences and working with them to create some kind of collective force to work with. All of this reminds me of the term "Afropolitan", which I sometimes use quite loosely to describe myself.

ShyM-X:


I like the bolded... Anyway, my personal definition of "Africa" includes of "sub saharan"/black Africa - not the conquered and arabised territories up North...

Can you educate me on "Afropolitan?" I like that word - and I might steal it from you..

Egba girl:

LOL. That's how I define Africa too, which in itself is problematic. lol.

But um, an Afropolitan is according to Urban dictionary, "An African who was educated in the US or Europe and spends a significant amount of time in those parts of the world. It doesn't matter whether they are born abroad or not; the important thing is their global perspective on issues, as well as their mixed cultural identity."

I first heard of the term from a CNN article called "Young,urban and culturally Savvy, meet the Afropolitans" and they described it as "multilingual Africans with different ethnic mixes living around the globe". Brendah Nyakudya (editior of Afropolitan magazine in SA) also describes it as "An Afropolitan is someone who has roots in Africa, raised by the world, but still has an interest in the continent and is making an impact, is feeding back into the continent and trying to better it"

The term actually came from the article "Bye-BYe Barbar" written by Taiye Selasi. (Here are link to both articles: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/17/world/africa/who-are-afropolitans/index.html | http://thelip.robertsharp.co.uk/?p=76 ) I describe myself as an Afropolitan cause I have lived in 3 African countries, I am multilingual, I am passionately interested in African development (even my major is tied to Africa) and a whole bunch of other reasons.

ShyM-X:


Great stuff - I might as well call myself an Afropolitan as well...

What languages can you you speak? - and what are the names of these African countries that were fortunate enough to have you domiciled there at one or the other?

Egba girl:
HAHHAHA nothing big o. it's not anything wow. Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Senegal and languages: English, Yoruba, French, Wolof (a lil bit). Don't ask about my Shona lol.

And yes, I think you might as well be an Afropolitan! lol

ShyM-X:


Perhaps, I need to employ you to teach me these languages...

What was it like in Zimbabwe and Senegal?

Proudly Afropolitan!

Egba girl:
hahahaha I'm not a good teacher at all. but um Zimbabwe was great and I totally loved it. I mean it wasnt all rosy especially during the last election period and the food scarcity but otherwise, it was a calm, beautiful, sane and orderly place. That was like four years ago o. I don't know about now but I've been thinking of going back there.

Senegal was just great! I had a real cultural and language immersion and it's one of the African countries I would totally recommend to anyone. Lots of touristic places and if you like adventure and you are very open minded, then Senegal is the place.

ShyM-X:


Lmao... Being a teacher isn't in-born thing - it's all about practising and perfecting the craft... Anyway, I'm a fast learner and my cognitive skills are on point...

That sounds great... I might try the same thing in the nearest future... I'm planning to live for a like 3-6 weeks in different countries and mingle with the local people, just to get first-hand experience(s) of what they're like...

However, I'm got this crazy idea in my head... I'm thinking about driving from where West Africa starts from in Eastern Nigeria - all the Western Sahara and Cape Verde - and back to Lagos...

Egba girl:
HEHEHEEHE I hear you o.

You should definitely do it!!! But bear in mind that you can know all of it in just that short period of time. In fact you might only get like a tip of the iceberg but it will still be a fun experience.

As for yoru adventure? you are on your own o. Please let me know when you make it back LOL. Haba! Sounds like something my bro would want to do. He has always wanted to backpack across Naija. I love road trips but this one is more than a trip lol

Egba girl:

Which is why the author concluded that you're African only if you are from Africa. There's no two way to it.

I agree that Africans in the diaspora have this "obligation" to speak on behalf of or defend Africa as a continent when we don't even know how many countries make the continent. I guess the reason for this collective identity is that we share a lot of similar cultural values and what not. Therefore, as it is with all other things, people tend to generalize and group us as one. Let's not also forget the African narrative that the media portrays. It doesn't help at all.

And like Shym-mx said, it's no longer about the geographical space and it is no longer a continent. it is a consciousness. There's a sense of solidarity that Africans in the diaspora in general have and it cuts across our different cultures. We are no longer concerned about our individual countries but about the continent as a whole.

ShyM-X:


Are whites from let's say South Africa and Namibia, or Asians from Uganda, for example - are more African than people of Nigerian ancestry from Europe, or people of Ghanaian ancestry from America?

Race should be the unifying factor and the state-of-mind should the parameter used to decide if one's an African or not...

Shollypopz:

It's not because of the culture. There are too many diverse cultures in Africa for anyone to group us as one because of culture. African culture ain't that similar at all!

The reason why we get grouped as one is because of ignorance. A lot of non-Africans see Africa as a country not a continent, hence the grouping.
Nobody knows sh1t about Nigeria. In the past, news reporters report event as, "Today in Africa, the Northern part of Nigeria, bla bla bla...." Ain't nobody going around calling people from USA North American, is there not a lil similarity in culture between USA and Canada??

Most ppl don't know enough about Nigeria or a single African country for it to stand alone in their minds, they group us in one little circle because we aren't big enough(economically, technologically, politically...) to stand alone.

ShyM-X:


So, I can call you my prospective teacher, no?

Anyway, I know I wouldn't be able to learn everything, however, having a first-hand experience of the food(real natural taste), the smell, the undiluted people and culture, their language, and experiencing how they lead their daily lives would be a plus... The experience would definitely give me an overview of the people and their unique way-of-life...

Why are you scared of my dreamland(might become a reality) road-trip? Anyway, we're going on that adventure together as Afropolitans lol.... Honestly, I just love nature and adventure - and that's something I've always wanted to do... and I just thought, why not start my journey into adventurism from the dearest place to my heart(West Africa)....

Lastly, I saw your post about finishing your undergrad degree in 3weeks - congrats on that... You're so young, yet you've lived in so many places - I'm jealous...

Shollypopz:
It's not because of the culture. There are too many diverse cultures in Africa for anyone to group us as one because of culture. African culture ain't that similar at all!

The reason why we get grouped as one is because of ignorance. A lot of non-Africans see Africa as a country not a continent, hence the grouping.
Nobody knows sh1t about Nigeria. In the past, news reporters report event as, "Today in Africa, the Northern part of Nigeria, bla bla bla...." Ain't nobody going around calling people from USA North American, is there not a lil similarity in culture between USA and Canada??

Most ppl don't know enough about Nigeria or a single African country for it to stand alone in their minds, they group us in one little circle because we aren't big enough(economically, technologically, politically...) to stand alone.

Shollypopz:
I agree with your first sentence.

Can you elaborate on the highlighted part??

Egba girl:
Erm... Erm... Lol no p.

Yea, I totally agree. The experience will be phenomenal!! Hey if you do do it, don't forget to take pictures and videos!!!

I love adventure too o but that kind of road trip?? Hmmm I'm afraid for my safety. Gotta check out the road sitch first lol. It would be fun though as long safety is guaranteed lol

Hahahaha it's not that many. I know people who've lived in 5 or more but yea. My life goal is to visit all the African countries. All I wanna do after grad is travel but my ass is broke thanks btw

ShyM-X:


I'll definitely take loads of pictures...

Is West Africa that dangerous? Apart from the terrorists and probably kidnappers in Nigeria - I personally think West Africa is pretty safe compared to many places... If tons of white people could pull it off, why can't I? lol....

Erm... You need to come to Europe as well when you start your globe-trotting - visit London lol... Anyway, you're a big woman - and money ain't a thing...

I saw your pic on your profile last year and, I absolutely love your Afro and Afrocentric looks... Keep it up, ma'am...

Egba girl:
I mean it might not be that dangerous but mehn I just don't mess around the safety lol.

As for Europe... we shall see where life takes me. Who knows, I might look for work in France or something and then I will most definitely visit London (never been there before )

and um... Gracias, Gracias