Who is really an African?

THE EDITOR: There is an online debate going on presently in an international Web site about diasporic peoples of African origin using the word “African” to describe themselves. Some scholars think this is inaccurate and erroneous. Interestingly enough, many people here use the word African to describe people from our country, instead of saying or writing — “peoples of African origin.” I know quite a few people from countries in Africa who do not see themselves as Africans which to them is inexact and inaccurate although others use it to describe themselves moreso in the Caribbean. My friend, a professor from Liberia describes himself as a Liberian when he is in social circles and also  another, who is a proud Egyptian.

Do not call him African or any other national description as he gets offended and starts to speak words in his own language that I cannot translate. The same is true of Nigerians, Rwandans and Ethiopians — some of whom I had the pleasure of working with in Trinidad. They insist that they be addressed by their country’s name first before referring to them as Africans. In Trinidad it is a different story; every “Rasta” and “Ratsa” erroneously calls himself African not referring or probably not knowing his country of heritage in West Africa. With all the grandstanding and long unkempt dreadlocks, they cannot spend a good month in any African country including Ethiopia or the sub-Saharan countries without bad talking the place and the people, before running back to sweet Trinidad. I have heard it said so often!

Dr Chris Mahadeo
Port-of-Spain