Dr. Yemi Farounbi, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the Philippines, has voiced strong criticism against the use of the term "tribe" in Nigeria’s national anthem.
In a recent report by the Tribune, Dr. Farounbi argued that this terminology perpetuates a derogatory perspective imposed by colonial powers and misrepresents the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria’s ethnic groups.
Dr. Farounbi highlighted the inconsistency in referring to ethnic groups in Nigeria as tribes while similar groups in the United Kingdom are recognized as nations.
He pointed out that groups such as the English, Welsh, and Scots are never referred to as tribes. By contrast, major Nigerian ethnic groups like the Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa, as well as smaller groups like the Ijaw, Kalabari, and Efik, are often mischaracterized in this manner.
"The ‘Nigeria we hail thee’ talks about tribe. Are there tribes in Nigeria? Tribe is a derogatory word used by that English woman to describe what, in her own country, will be called ‘nation’. Is England a tribe? Is Wales a tribe? Is Scotland a tribe? Is Yoruba a tribe? Is Igbo a tribe? Is Hausa a tribe? Ijaw, Kalabari, Efik, are they tribes? They are not tribes in Nigeria. So why must we take an anthem that begins to talk about our ethnic nations, that are so civilized that way?" Dr. Farounbi remarked.
He emphasized the historical sophistication and urbanization of Nigerian ethnic groups, referencing the surprise of early European visitors at the advanced civilizations they encountered. "In 1483, when the whites came to Africa, they said that the Yoruba were the most urbanized. They were shocked that we had things like Ife bronze. They were shocked that Benin had their bronze; they were shocked when they found in the Nigerian Middle Belt the Nok culture," he added.