Fighting Afrophobia: #Singabantu an Afrophobia Awareness Film launches on Africa Day

With the recent spate of violence against foreign African nationals in South Africa, an aberration that seems to have become normal, Afrophobia has become a commonly used term used in the continent. The attacks on African immigrants meted by South Africans has occurred far too often, with little effort to curb such repeated attacks.

University of South Africa (UNISA) theology professor, Rothney Tshaka said the antagonism against non-South African blacks is not xenophobia, but rather Afrophobia. The difference between the two terms if fundamentally on the victims. To pass as xenophobic attacks, the recent assaults would have been directed to all foreigners, regardless of their origin. But Afrophobia, Tshaka argued, is the fear of a specific other, in this case the black other from the north of the Limpopo River. The attacks particularly targeted Somalis, Nigerians, Zimbabweans amongst others but not Asian, European or American immigrants.

Read: ‘Afrophobia’: How a continent hits itself in the face

The continent celebrates Africa Day, and commemorations come with the reflection of what makes us Africans, the challenges we face and how we should address these issues. It is also a day where we encourage each other in the journey towards a future Africa that’s better. It is for this reason that a youth organization in Johannesburg, South Africa Sophie A Kanza Foundation, which uses pan-Africanism to spread love and tolerance shot an Afrophobia Awareness video.

Read: Afrophobia: South Africa betrays legacy of Ubuntu and Pan-Africanism proponents

The short video is powerful, and speaks to the heart of Afrophobia. Hopefully this video will encourage us embrace each other as Africans, as brothers and sisters.