Understanding Racism Through African Eyes

Racism is a tricky game. To really get it, we need to look at what my Yoruba ancestors call ìlara. In my culture, we say “ìlara ko gbo ògùn.” Ilàrá does not respond to medicine or treatment. It is wanting someone's essence out of deep admiration or love, but in a way twisted by scarcity. This leads to a desperate need to take it by all means. It is the sad journey of a lost spirit seeking the beautiful essence of another, not realizing it already has that beauty within its own Orí.

Afrilition opens up the African perspective. Even though the book has been published, life keeps changing through the lens it shows us. I recently heard about the upcoming release of the hardcover edition, which sadly coincided with the news of Professor Jason Arday’s passing. He had just left his position at Cambridge after being pressured for not having the qualifications for a PhD or a professorship, even though his award was confirmed by the university after an investigation. I wish peace and comfort to his family during this time.

Afrilition talks about how African love can create a space of plenty for everyone. It is hard to focus just on individual experiences. The core message of Afrilition is that we cannot shape the future just by reacting to racism or any other issues that distract us from our true purpose. But it is right to fight against anything that blocks us from reaching our goals.

We need to think creatively about the future that Afrilition envisions. At the same time, we must look closely at the racism that keeps hurting the lives of people with African heritage all over the world. The online ‘lynching’ of Jason Arday shows how universities, which have their roots in Africa, can be part of this issue. Between 857-859 BCE, long before Europeans thought of higher learning, a woman named Fatima-al-Fihri started what is now the University of al-Qarawiyyin in a mosque in Fez, Morocco. This is the oldest university in the world, still running today.

Ìlara has made the Western world twist desire into hatred to hide their own insecurities. It is shocking to see the way Neandertals have been rehabilitated after years of being looked down upon, just to accept their DNA presence in Europeans. It is even more puzzling to call Europe a continent when it does not fit the real definition of what a continent is. It is just a part of the Asian landmass. Yet, these same people claim to be the champions of fair standards.

It takes a lot of nerve to take an African idea and then become the judge of its worth. They claim that people of African descent are not worthy of access, power, or leadership without recognizing that Africans should own this concept. It is no surprise that the same global power that claims to protect democracy still manipulates votes based on race at home and thinks nothing of bombing schools with young girls in the name of democracy. The standards they set only serve to oppress others, while they never apply those same standards to themselves.

Racism is a tricky game. To really get it, we need to look at what my Yoruba ancestors call ìlara. In my culture, we say “ìlara ko gbo ògùn.” Ilàrá does not respond to medicine or treatment. It is wanting someone's essence out of deep admiration or love, but in a way twisted by scarcity. This leads to a desperate need to take it by all means. It is the sad journey of a lost spirit seeking the beautiful essence of another, not realizing it already has that beauty within its own Orí. This way of thinking makes people who are the most diverse, both genetically and culturally, become targets of constant attacks and ridicule based on their skin color.

Ìlara has made the Western world twist desire into hatred to hide their own insecurities. It is shocking to see the way Neandertals have been rehabilitated after years of being looked down upon, just to accept their DNA presence in Europeans. It is even more puzzling to call Europe a continent when it does not fit the real definition of what a continent is. It is just a part of the Asian landmass. Yet, these same people claim to be the champions of fair standards. Their history of changing accepted standards to maintain their superiority has no equal.

Mo Ló means effective use, and Afrilition provides ideas and options, not as a rival to the Western model of scarcity but as a different approach filled with abundance. It shows that there is space in the sky for all birds to fly. Africa is the birthplace of all modern humans. What it lacks in comfort, it offers two vital things for survival and growth: adaptability and resilience.

You cannot create a global system to violently oppress a people unless you are deeply intimidated by their essence. This system is driven by what my brother, Lawson Oyedokun Oyekan, and I call “cannibaligame.” At its core, racism is a system trying to consume and take the spirit of another group because the oppressor’s own spirit has become broken and detached from its source. Racism, understood as ìlara, is a deep, civilizational heartbreak. It is a violent tantrum that has lasted centuries, coming from a group that admired the spiritual and cultural essence of others, realized they could not have it internally, and decided to cage and consume them instead.

As Africans, we share part of the blame. This is not just because of the colonial experience and the harsh education we accepted, but also due to our egos that make us seek approval from the very system that wants to subdue us while it takes our essence for its own gain. For the sake of Jason Arday and all of us who aspire to be Barristers or Doctors, titles that mean little compared to the priceless value of our essence, we need to develop the Mo Ló of Africanness in all its diversity.

Mo Ló means effective use, and Afrilition provides ideas and options, not as a rival to the Western model of scarcity but as a different approach filled with abundance. It shows that there is space in the sky for all birds to fly. Africa is the birthplace of all modern humans. What it lacks in comfort, it offers two vital things for survival and growth: adaptability and resilience. Rest in peace, Jason Arday. Tomorrow will shine a light beyond ìlara towards Afrilition. Tomorrow will bring an African world where our love is enough and our approval is the true measure of our worth.