Assimilation and Nationalism Free Essay Example, 13250 words

The Berbers in North Africa has been suffering linguistic imperialism through the systematic control of their language both by the West and by the Arab majority through the process of Arabisation. But what distinguishes imperialism to other kinds of subordination in all forms of the language is that there is a greater attempt to appropriate the psyche and the cultural practices of the colonized. Africa has become a place of rapid colonization since the scramble for Africa by various imperial countries due to vast economic promises and little resistance from multi-ethnic and linguistic communities. As the spirit of nationalism was more relaxed, it helped the French to divide and rule or for the British Company at first to indirectly rule the masses through their tribal leaders in most cases. Post independent Africa drew these instances of multi-ethnic separations of the African people that had given rise to colonization in Africa in the first place. This, till today, remains a big i ssue for political leaders to enhance African nationalism and not give much importance to ethnic claims to their independent heritage. Thus sometimes multiple ethnicity and nationalism seem opposing forces that have become another serious issue in the context of the Berbers. We will write a custom essay sample on Assimilation and Nationalism or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now North Africa comprises the countries of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara. Close relations in culture and linguistics also make Eritrea and Ethiopia a part of North Africa. North Africa is generally included in common definitions with the Middle East due to similarities in religion and culture. My object of study is the Berbers of Northwest Africa. While Northeast Africa had been home to the Egyptians, Ethiopians and the Nubians, they were in constant contact with the Berbers. The Muslim-Arab conquest of the 7th century spread Arab culture and language, though the Berber and the Arabic languages are distantly related, both being members of the Afro-Asiatic family.