IGWEBUIKE PHILOSOPHY AND THE DREAD OF DIVERSITY

Résumé

A cursory glance at the different epochs in the history of mankind will reveal the idea that human history has always been saturated with an obvious dread for diversity. One would normally think that we often stick together with others like us, and exclude others whose difference provokes antipathy towards them. However, if you look at some of the fiercest and bloodiest rivalries in history, what is sticking is not how different the opposing groups are, but how similar. Sure, they often hold different beliefs, but they live as neighbours, share ancestry, and hold similar customs. Indeed, what many fail to acknowledge is that, consciously, we exclude others who are different, but unconsciously, we hate sameness, and avoid it by creating delusional differences. Over the years, Nigeria as a multi-ethnic and culturally diverse society, has witnessed several conflicts arising from this same ethnic and cultural diversity. Ideally, one would expect that since Nigeria is a society where the ideals of federalism and constitutionalism are still in transition, it should override all ethnic, tribal or religious clashes. But it seems rather, that these factors have become dominant in weakening and dividing our country. How did we get to this point? I will argue that our diversity is failing because we have entrenched among us, the various dominating ideas of sameness. I will insist that antipathy is more rooted in sameness than in difference, and I will also employ the idea of a more complementary approach that brings together the ideas of sameness and difference, and integrates them into a unified diversity.