The world has always fought against racism as evil of the past. While many African Americans, blacks and even whites are castigating this societal ill, questions have arisen over tribalism among Africans in Africa.
Speaking on this in a recent interview, Ivorian American, Kassianah Aya Joint (Kassy) who founded FrancoSuite Media, an outfit that highlights influencers, businesses and current events happening in and around Francophone communities describes tribalism as silly as racism.
“I think Africans hating on one another is a result of the oppression that I’m talking about. In the 1600s when colonizers started coming to Africa, their whole agenda from day one was to divide and conquer us all. By dividing, our resources & artifacts can be stolen easily. And the agenda worked. If we keep fighting each other, they can continue to come in and take from us & oppress us. We hate each other more than the ones that are stealing from us and making Africa the way it is. I think tribalism is silly just like racism & colorism. It is a distraction and what is setting Africa back from the being the most powerful continent that it once was.
She said she has experienced racism firsthand and explained how the death of many African Americans has affected her and takeaways from it.
“ Being that I am an African Immigrant that grew up in America, I experienced racism firsthand. When you are in Africa, what separates you is the tribe that you’re from & the language you speak. But when you come abroad, all of that changes. You are looked as black and a threat. I remember being called a nigger for the first time in America. I didn’t even know what it was until my cousin told me. It’s a different dynamic. There is oppression. And it is time for black people to come up off of that oppression. And it starts with us coming together. When we, as Africans/Immigrants continue to separate ourselves from one another, we are giving society an upper-hand at letting that oppression continue. We must start speaking up (even on the continent) to let governments abroad know that killing an innocent, unarmed black individual is not right. We must start looking at African Americans and many blacks in the diaspora as our brothers and sisters. Africa we can do more,” she stated.
Kassianah Aya Joint is an Ambassador at the Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the United Nations. She works for her community, the African Diaspora. Through her work domestically and abroad, she found inspiration for Franco Suite
After relocating from her home country of Cote d’ Ivoire, Kassy as she’s fondly called, settled in New York, New York, USA upon completion of her undergraduate education in Foreign Affairs and Finance at Peace University.
She noticed a gap in media companies that represent Francophone artists, interests, companies and culture. There are numerous outlets that publicize what’s happening in pop culture in the United States and many Anglophone countries, offering platforms to celebrities as well as up and coming artists, influencers and creatives in general.
This type of platform was lacking in her home country and Francophone countries in general, and she founded FrancoSuite for French-speaking people with African origin throughout the Diaspora. FrancoSuite is an English-friendly company that serves as a bridge between between Francophone and Anglophone Africa.
As FrancoSuite continues to build and grow its following, she is able to provide a hub, connecting those individuals now living abroad to things happening in their home and surrounding countries.
Kassianah is also a humanitarian with passion to work for the betterment of the black race. She runs an NGO called Kuziva By Kassy that helps young ladies finish their education and start their careers. She has also been advocating for Africans living in the Diaspora for years.
