Violence, Culture, and History in Africa
Violence in modern Africa is still often explained in the West as a result of persistent primitivism and tribalism in African cultures. This culturalist view of African conflict appears in some scholarly work as well as in much of popular culture, including the media. What such analysis misses is that European colonialism in Africa fostered non-modern, ethnically based societies through indirect rule, and post-colonial governments have largely relied on versions of the colonial system to maintain their power. Moreover, interventions by the West in post-colonial African affairs have only infrequently helped to reduce ethnic tensions. More commonly, Western intervention has been ineffective and selfserving and Western governments have been able to obscure their actions because of popular ignorance of African culture and history. African tribalism is real, but it is much more a result of modern historical events than age-old hatreds. Greater understanding of African history and culture and greater care for Africa can result in reduction of ethnic violence.