NATIONS
- NAZORA
- Jan 12, 2022
- 1 min read
A nation is often defined as a community of people formed on the basis of a common language, history, ethnicity, a common culture and, in many cases, a shared territory, but is this definition an objective reality?
The question of who is from a nation is usually debated each time the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)comes around. There are varying opinions about who is African and the questions are even more complex today. Africans today identify with cultures, nationalities and identities beyond those native to the continent.
Can someone be considered French because they are born in Canada, France, Mauritius, La Réunion, Senegal or Madagascar? Likewise can one identify as an Arab because they were born in Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria or Iraq.
Kwame Nkrumah is quoted as saying "Africa is one continent, one people, and one nation”. If that is true who then defines what nation is your heritage and is it necessary for a nation to have a common language, a common territory and common culture?
As the definition of nations and where we come from become more complex and the lines blur, one thing that remains true is that we are all humans and share the same humanity. Our individuality, diverse customs and cultures is a gift for all to share, or the world would be boring and there will be no beautiful game to watch. It’s your heritage, write the narrative.
Photos: by Nothing Ahead from Pexels
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