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24.12.2014 Feature Article

Shai-Osudoku, My Motherland—Get Out Issues Of Tribalism, Particularism

Shai-Osudoku, My Motherland—Get Out Issues Of Tribalism, Particularism
24.12.2014 LISTEN

Renner Awatey Noah an ark to save Shai-Osudoku land has called for change in the shai-Osoduku land but it appears the elder was more concerned about issues of tribalism and Particularism when he was having a one and one chat with me in my office. So I decide to delve into these issues in this column.

Let see what Wikipedia has to say.According to Wikipedia Tribalism is the state of being organized in, or advocating for, a tribe or tribes. In terms of conformity, tribalism may also refer in popular cultural terms to a way of thinking or behaving in which people are more loyal to their tribe than to their friends, their country, or any other social group.

Tribalism has been defined in engaged theory as a 'way of being' based upon variable combinations of kinship-based organization, reciprocal exchange, manual production, oral communication, and analogical enquiry. Ontologically, tribalism is oriented around the valences of analogy, genealogy and mythology. This means that customary tribes have their social foundations in some variation of these tribal orientations, while at the same time often taking on traditional practices (including through religions of the book such as Christianity and Islam), and modern practices, including monetary exchange, mobile communications, and modern education.

The social structure of a tribe can vary greatly from case to case, but, due to the relatively small size of customary tribes, social life in those kinds of tribes usually involves a relatively undifferentiated role structure, with few significant political or economic distinctions between individuals.

Tribalism implies the possession of a strong cultural or ethnic identity that separates one member of a group from the members of another group. Based on strong relations of proximity and kinship, members of a tribe tend to possess a strong feeling of identity. Objectively, for a customary tribal society to form there needs to be ongoing customary organization, enquiry and exchange. However, subjectively, intense feelings of common identity can lead people to feel tribally connected. The distinction between these two definitions for tribalism - objective and subjective - is an important one because, while tribal societies have been pushed to the edges of the western world, tribalism, by this second definition, is arguably undiminished. A few writers have postulated that the human brain is hard-wired towards tribalism due to its evolutionary advantages, however this claim is usually linked to equating original questions of sociality with tribalism.

Many tribes refer to themselves with their language's word for "people," while referring to other, neighboring tribes with various epithets. For example, the term "Inuit" translates as "people," but they were known to the Ojibwe by a name 'Eskimo' translating roughly as "eaters of raw meat."

Shai-Osudokuas a theorywas in the past, it still in existence, and it will surpass and succeed the present generation of people in the Shai-Osudoku land. Shai-Osudokuconsequently as anindependentdistrict in the dangme lands, is a community entity in eternity. Chiefs, leaders and people of different political parties and co or patterns will come and go, but Shai-Osudoku as a district in the dangme land will survive and endure!

This is where I say itbefits us all to be loyal and unselfish by doing our best for present-day Shai-Osudoku state, for future to enjoy our rich inheritance and involvement to the district building process. As I see in this light, tribalism, favoritism, corruption, excessivecovetousness, and greed become absolute enemies of community progress.

Shai-Osudokuas a view is branded by a certain geographical area, a distinct set and unique group of people with a common history, differentbehavioural characteristics, and unique cultural practices, among others. The concept of Shai-Osoduku as I read is palpable and impalpable, spiritual, everlasting, temporal or secular, economic, and geographically connecting in Ghana

I wonder why there are bitter tribal opinionsespecially when it comes to the political terrain when it comes to those contesting for political position. It is very difficult if you not a shai forget it they will not give you the nod. But I think whether the person is an indigene or not if the person is capable I see no reason why there should be a problem. It looks like those who fan tribal sentiments, and trade tribal insults on the theShai-Osudokuland just enjoyed that and dent our image in the shai land.

I think some people have just embraced a particularistic culture of basing everything on narrow relationships rooted in tribe, we are here before you came, homeboyism, ethnicity, favoritism, and who you know rather than what you know. In contrast, in the more progressive western cultures, we find that they ply the rational and fair Universalist culture based on rules, procedures, laws, and achievement. They eschew progress based on ascription or tribal and familial relationships, choosing to deal with people on merit.

For those of you who really don't get the concept, according to the Wikipedia, Political particularism is a concept used in political sciences to describe "the ability of policymakers to further their careers by catering to narrow interests rather than to broader national platforms." It is often characterized by its opponents as the politics of group identity that trumps universal rights and therefore the rights of minorities or any other kind of "other".

In a political system governed by particularism, sooner or later, the decisive factor of politics becomes religious and ethnic identity and the interests of the communities defined by these bonds. This stands in contrast with the ideas and values of political pluralism, with its emphasis on universal rights, separation of religion and the government, and an ethic of religious and ethnic tolerance

The people of shaiobsession with tribalism are due to greed, self-insecurity, and excessive materialism. All this narrow-mindedness and political/inflexible corruption occurs because so many shai people are educated but raw individuals have not developed proper and deep education which has logical and traditionalfoundations.

I wonder why we choose to behave like this when in fact we need every many people to come on board in the community-building exercise. To me, all I know is that shai-osudoku is for us all.

This is very sad indeed, because community-building should be grounded on merit and not mediocrity. I think only people who are narrow-minded engage in tribalism. I think to move on as a community unity in multiplicity should be our slogan because in our oneness, we derive strength. Each one inshaihas something special to contribute to the communitywelt and embroidery.

Inter-marriages and work-related chemistry have fusedus together, thus distorting tribal limitations. Sometimes people refer to other tribes as being inward-looking or xenophobic. Aren't we all human to identify spontaneously with one of our own?

In conclusion, to move on in the community I think in this current day, we must change our attitude and make the community more competitive because the concept of tribe is slowly dying a natural death because of socio-politico-economic dynamics, social engineering, intermingling and inter-marriages, and internal migration. The shai –osudoku land belongs to us all and we must wake up. Long live the shai land. RennerAwatey wishes you a merry Christmas and happy New Year!

Dr. Raphael NyarkoteyObu:ND,MSc
Integrative Oncologist
Registration no: TAP 00396
Founder of Dangmes without Borders
E. mail: [email protected]
Tel: 0541090045

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