Article by Unilorin student - Black Africa: Why such a name?

Date: 2012-05-22

Black sheep of Africa’ that is the way he addresses me whenever we are chatting on facebook" said a 22-year-old Nigerian girl, Yemi, whose friend is from England. Of course, we are not unaware that there are Arab Africans in the northern part of Africa as well as European Africans in the central and southern parts of Africa. What we don’t know is if it is proper, right or correct to refer to these parts of Africa as "white Africa" and the other parts of the continent as "Black Africa."

Come to think of it, "Black Africa" is a derogatory term. Just as we talk of the black sheep of the family or the black spot. It may also interest the reader to note that black is used to describe negative objects or things. For example, when a person is referred to as the "black sheep" of the family, he is perceived as being "a good-for-nothing" member of the family. "Black magic" means a magic used for evil purposes, while "black act" means bad conduct or failure. Similarly, "black market" refers to unlawful buying and selling. A person said to have been on a "black list" is considered dangerous. But "white collar job" means a non-manual labour, "White House" refers to the official residence of the U.S president and white paper" refers to a goverment report.

Have we ever heard of a "Black House"? If we have, it may not mean anything other than the official residence of criminals, the jail. We have heard of "Black Maria" and it is a vehicle used for conveying arrested criminals on trial.

In fact, human beings, whether Africans, Asians or Europeans cannot exactly be described by one colour as no  colour, particularly black and white, can exactly be used to refer to the colour of the skin. For example, if an African man wears a gown of black colour, the colour of the skin of that African is not the same or even similar to the colour of his garment. Likewise, if  European puts on a suit made of white materials, the colour of the skin of that European is not the same or similar to the colour of his suit. So, then, why the name black Africans and white people?

Assuming the name "Black" is good, why do supposed white people sue themselves to court when they refer to another as a "negro". We could remember the case of famous Uruguay footballer, Luis Suarez when he called Patrice Evra of France ‘negro’, the matter was tried in court. So, then, why black Africa? We see Africa as a continent and it will remain one. There is no Black Africa, but Africa!

Saka, Kehinde Maruff,
Zoology (300 Level),
Unilorin, Ilorin, 
Kwara State.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Olam Food Ingredients     NITDA     Vasolar Consultoria     Ilorin International Airport     Ilorin Amusement Park     Ayinke Saka     Muazam Nayaya     Mubarak Oladosu     Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Daud Adeshola     Muritala Awodun     Abubakar Baba Sulaiman     FOMWAN     Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat     Umar Adelodun     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Bello Abubakar     Onilupeju Of Ilupeju     Basic Education Certificate Examination     Millennium Development Goals     Ishak Mohammed Sabi     Yakubu Shaaba     Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Ilorin Emirate Staff Association     TESCOM     Olatinwo     2017 Budget     Umar Saro     Hassan Taiye Salam     Abubakar Aliagan     Senior Ibrahim Suleiman     Muhammed Danjuma     Olabode George Towoju     United Nigeria Airline     Y.A. Abdulkareem     Maimunat Oloriegbe     UNILORIN Alumni     Kwara Hotel     Alloy Chukwuemeka     Elesie Of Esie     Muyideen Ajani Bello     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Maryam Ado Bayero     Ahmed \'Lateef     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Ilorin Water Reticulation     Ayo Adeyemi     Aishat Sulu-Gambari     Nigerian Army     George Funsho Adebayo     Muhammad Yahya     Ahmed Bayero     Orire     IsDB     Kale Bayero     Aliyu Kora Sabi     Jimoh Saadudeen Muhammed     Onikijipa     Mahe Abdulkadir     Ejidongari     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd     Olajumoke Monsura Gafar     Vasolar     Sabi     Naira Redesign     GRA     AbdulRazaq Jiddah     Kwara Liberation Group     Sa\'adu Gambari     Onilorin     Kuliyan Geri     March 18     Sidikat Akaje     Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Ekiti     Oke-Ogun     Ibrahim Jawondo     Press Release     Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola     Apata Ajele Secondary School     CACOVID     NTA Ilorin     Bilikis Oladimeji     Summit University     Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi     Shehu Alimi Foundation     Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem     Kwara North     Wale Oladepo     Women For Change And Development Initiative     Abraham Ojo     Yakubu Gobir     Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board     Funmilayo Zubair     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     Timothy Akangbe     Neo Mundo Ltd     Kwara Polytechnic     Abatemi-Usman     Ajike People Support Centre     Moremi High School     Federal Road Maintenance Agency     Ahmed Idris Mohammed     Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet     Ibrahim Akaje     Facemasks     BECE     Kale Belgore     Emir Of Ilorin     Awoye     Mohammed Katsina Ahmed     Hassan A. Saliu     Afonja Descendants Union     High Court     Abdulrasaq Alaro     Suleiman Alege Kuranga     Saadu Yusuf     Amina El-Imam     Adeniyi Ojo     Omotoso     Kayode Zubair     Kwara Apc     Park     Lanre Badmas     Umar Ayinla Saro     Kwara State Television (KWTV)     Sobi Hill     Balogun Fulani     Bolaji Aladie     Busari Alabi Alausa     Lanre Jimoh     Bola Shagaya     IESA     National Party Of Nigeria     Sulyman Buhari     Awili Pedro     Ijakadi     Oluwatoyin Lukman     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Yusuf Abubakar     CLAY POT     M.Y. Abdulrahaman     Suleiman Ajadi     Shade Omoniyi     Bola Tinubu     Moses Rahman Popoola     AbdulRazaq Jiddah     Ella Supreme Tissue Paper     Matthew Babaoye     Olugbense     Ilofa