Most people out there, think they know, whom they are, pretty well. They believe, they very much, have an individual, identity. They know, they are someone, when they get up, early, every day, and also believe, themselves, to be pretty unique. They think, everyone else, out there, to be different, from them, and they hence have, high expectations, about their lives.
We all have, what are called, Group Identities. At the core of them, are our Drives, and Urges. Our Drives, especially, the sex drive, is at the heart, of our family, identity. Our family identity, is also very much, associated, with our money making, and wealth gaining, endeavours. Most people, tend to believe, they will one day, be very wealthy, not knowing, that their drives, determine this. With the drives, we deal, with what they call, the highest denominator; meaning, one is only as good, as the highest achieving, member, of the family, they identify with. Our Urges, especially, the sex urge, is at the heart, of our socialite identities. The people, we identify with, socially, and also, the kind of members, of the opposite sex, we are attracted to. When it comes, to the urges, the law, of the lowest denominator, holds sway. This means, we are truly as like, the 'nerd', in our social groups.
You have to understand truly, how the drives, and urges, shape one. They are responsible, for what, we identify with. If you identify, with Chinese people for instance, you are partly, Chinese.
One of the main goals, of our lives, which is associated, with self-growth, is our ability, to separate, from these group identities. This, might require, alot, of, psychoanalysis, if you identify, with the wrong people. If you identify, unknowingly, with Chinese people, due to eating, Chinese food, you will slowly, start to develop, the same issues, Chinese people have. Its really, that simple. In a world, which is mostly, in a mess, most people out there, identify, with just about everything, and anything. This includes, animals too.
One has to learn, how to separate, from these identities, inorder to grow, as an individual. This will be met, by resistance. Not only from yourself, as doing so, will somewhat drive you crazy, with regards, to finding meaning, but also, from those around you. However, this must be done, for one, to move on, with ones life. In the old days, one identified, with famous or legendary figures, in an attempt, to seperate themselves, from these identities. Famous ancestral figures, who went on, to achieve great wealth for instance, are identified with, to inspire one. Legendary figures, from the social scene, inspire one socially too, in the same way.
Today though, this issue, of group identities, is best dealt with, via cults. Its one, of the easiest ways, to move on, forward. Cults, historically, have had, religious figures, at their heart. A religious figure, that was worshiped. One of the most, famous cults, based on the drives, are the Knights of Malta. They were a cult, that were driven, towards creating wealth, for the masses. They were once, prominent, in Turkey. They, worshiped, the Virgin Mary, at their heart. You also have, the Knights Hospitaller, who were a cult, based on the urges. Their goal, was to do, social good, and be reknowed for it. They used, the Jesus, of Gethsemane, worshiped also, in Southern France, as the source, of their inspiration. One should not, imagine, that these cults, were sexless, as the cult, of Jesus, in Southern France, has him, having sexual relations, with Mary Magdalene.
If you really seek, to do something great, with your life, you have to deal, with these group, identity, issues. You have to free, yourself, from them, and attach yourself, to groups/cults, that are favorable. This means, doing things, in a certain way.
Group Identities in Africa:
Africa, is an interesting continent, when it comes, to studying, group identities. Thats because, these identities, are the only real existing identities, you find, in Africa. Africans, don't identify, with their national identity, while inside Africa. Nigerians, really become Nigerians, outside Nigeria. Africa, is an interesting continent, as a cultural complex, and one will see here, why uniting it, has been difficult, in the past. Africa, culturally, group identities, can be divided, into six, complexes: Southern/Eastern Africa, Central Africa, Cushite-Nilotic Africa (includes Sudan), Nigeria, West Africa, and Northern Africa. Some are similar, to each other, and different, from others.
Family identity: When dealing, with family identity, in Africa, you find that, S/E Africa, and Central Africa, have the same or similar, family units. Their family identity, is basically, the same. Cushite-Nilotic Africa, has a unique, family identity, separate, from the rest of Africa, but very old, in nature. Their family identities, are based on, pastoralism, a human practise, that predates, Agriculture. Nilotes, on the otherhand, practise, fishing, animal trapping, and other such old, human practises; more modern though, than pastoralism. The Cushite-Nilote family world, is an ancient one, dating back, to the times, of Ancient Egypt. West Africa, and Northern Africa, actually have, the same, family identities. This is why, Islam, is prevalent, in West Africa. Nigeria, has similar, family identities, to West Africa, but theirs, are far more developed.
Socialite Identity: This identity, driven by our urges, is what really, separates Africans, from each other. When Africans, meet each other, rather than using, their family identities, they tend, to use, their socialite identities. This has led, to many misunderstanding, as Nigerians for instance, falsely believe, S/E Africans, to be too, Westernized. When it comes, to the socialite identity, it is here, that Africa, faces, external influence. S/E Africans, tend to have socialite identities, that are American like, in nature. Central Africans, have socialite identities, that are similar, to old French. Napoleanic. West Africans, have socialite identities, that are similar, to South American ones. It is why, for instance, people think, Brazil, similar, to Nigeria. Nigeria, while having some influence, from South America, have their own, unique, socialite identities. In this case, Nigeria, is very much, an authentic, African nation. Northern Africans, have socialite identities, that are the same, as modern European identities. Thats why, some speak, of the EU, including, North Africa. Cushite-Nilotic Africa, mainly have, socialite identities, based on Islam.
It is the socialite identities, that are actually, responsible, in many ways, for destabilizing Africa. Unknown to many, Nigeria, is the most stable nation, in Africa, while most believe it, to be the most, unstable, and South Africa, the most stable. This is wrong. American socialite identities, once made a huge influence, in S/E Africa. The works, of Sidney Sheldon, for instance, which often featured, what Americans call, crooks, 'inspired', many S/E Africans, to become, conmen. A good work, of his, once famous, in S/E Africa, is, 'If tomorrow comes'. Nigeria, has the ability, to become, one of the more, reknowed, nations, on earth, due to having, a unique, African culture. Nigeria, does not have conmen, it really has, trickster figures. A good example, of a modern Nigerian socialite figure, that has its roots, in the past, is the modern Awo. An Awo, has historically, been a medicine man. Today, they are mainly, interdisciplinary scholars. They do, some excellent work, in critical thinking. Toyin Falola, is such a figure, and his works, are a must, for those who seek, to understand, Nigeria, and the African past.
Cults, on the family identity side, are driven, by gambles, conjecture and wager. Those, on the socialite side, are urged on, by bets, dares and speculations.
We all have, what are called, Group Identities. At the core of them, are our Drives, and Urges. Our Drives, especially, the sex drive, is at the heart, of our family, identity. Our family identity, is also very much, associated, with our money making, and wealth gaining, endeavours. Most people, tend to believe, they will one day, be very wealthy, not knowing, that their drives, determine this. With the drives, we deal, with what they call, the highest denominator; meaning, one is only as good, as the highest achieving, member, of the family, they identify with. Our Urges, especially, the sex urge, is at the heart, of our socialite identities. The people, we identify with, socially, and also, the kind of members, of the opposite sex, we are attracted to. When it comes, to the urges, the law, of the lowest denominator, holds sway. This means, we are truly as like, the 'nerd', in our social groups.
You have to understand truly, how the drives, and urges, shape one. They are responsible, for what, we identify with. If you identify, with Chinese people for instance, you are partly, Chinese.
One of the main goals, of our lives, which is associated, with self-growth, is our ability, to separate, from these group identities. This, might require, alot, of, psychoanalysis, if you identify, with the wrong people. If you identify, unknowingly, with Chinese people, due to eating, Chinese food, you will slowly, start to develop, the same issues, Chinese people have. Its really, that simple. In a world, which is mostly, in a mess, most people out there, identify, with just about everything, and anything. This includes, animals too.
One has to learn, how to separate, from these identities, inorder to grow, as an individual. This will be met, by resistance. Not only from yourself, as doing so, will somewhat drive you crazy, with regards, to finding meaning, but also, from those around you. However, this must be done, for one, to move on, with ones life. In the old days, one identified, with famous or legendary figures, in an attempt, to seperate themselves, from these identities. Famous ancestral figures, who went on, to achieve great wealth for instance, are identified with, to inspire one. Legendary figures, from the social scene, inspire one socially too, in the same way.
Today though, this issue, of group identities, is best dealt with, via cults. Its one, of the easiest ways, to move on, forward. Cults, historically, have had, religious figures, at their heart. A religious figure, that was worshiped. One of the most, famous cults, based on the drives, are the Knights of Malta. They were a cult, that were driven, towards creating wealth, for the masses. They were once, prominent, in Turkey. They, worshiped, the Virgin Mary, at their heart. You also have, the Knights Hospitaller, who were a cult, based on the urges. Their goal, was to do, social good, and be reknowed for it. They used, the Jesus, of Gethsemane, worshiped also, in Southern France, as the source, of their inspiration. One should not, imagine, that these cults, were sexless, as the cult, of Jesus, in Southern France, has him, having sexual relations, with Mary Magdalene.
If you really seek, to do something great, with your life, you have to deal, with these group, identity, issues. You have to free, yourself, from them, and attach yourself, to groups/cults, that are favorable. This means, doing things, in a certain way.
Group Identities in Africa:
Africa, is an interesting continent, when it comes, to studying, group identities. Thats because, these identities, are the only real existing identities, you find, in Africa. Africans, don't identify, with their national identity, while inside Africa. Nigerians, really become Nigerians, outside Nigeria. Africa, is an interesting continent, as a cultural complex, and one will see here, why uniting it, has been difficult, in the past. Africa, culturally, group identities, can be divided, into six, complexes: Southern/Eastern Africa, Central Africa, Cushite-Nilotic Africa (includes Sudan), Nigeria, West Africa, and Northern Africa. Some are similar, to each other, and different, from others.
Family identity: When dealing, with family identity, in Africa, you find that, S/E Africa, and Central Africa, have the same or similar, family units. Their family identity, is basically, the same. Cushite-Nilotic Africa, has a unique, family identity, separate, from the rest of Africa, but very old, in nature. Their family identities, are based on, pastoralism, a human practise, that predates, Agriculture. Nilotes, on the otherhand, practise, fishing, animal trapping, and other such old, human practises; more modern though, than pastoralism. The Cushite-Nilote family world, is an ancient one, dating back, to the times, of Ancient Egypt. West Africa, and Northern Africa, actually have, the same, family identities. This is why, Islam, is prevalent, in West Africa. Nigeria, has similar, family identities, to West Africa, but theirs, are far more developed.
Socialite Identity: This identity, driven by our urges, is what really, separates Africans, from each other. When Africans, meet each other, rather than using, their family identities, they tend, to use, their socialite identities. This has led, to many misunderstanding, as Nigerians for instance, falsely believe, S/E Africans, to be too, Westernized. When it comes, to the socialite identity, it is here, that Africa, faces, external influence. S/E Africans, tend to have socialite identities, that are American like, in nature. Central Africans, have socialite identities, that are similar, to old French. Napoleanic. West Africans, have socialite identities, that are similar, to South American ones. It is why, for instance, people think, Brazil, similar, to Nigeria. Nigeria, while having some influence, from South America, have their own, unique, socialite identities. In this case, Nigeria, is very much, an authentic, African nation. Northern Africans, have socialite identities, that are the same, as modern European identities. Thats why, some speak, of the EU, including, North Africa. Cushite-Nilotic Africa, mainly have, socialite identities, based on Islam.
It is the socialite identities, that are actually, responsible, in many ways, for destabilizing Africa. Unknown to many, Nigeria, is the most stable nation, in Africa, while most believe it, to be the most, unstable, and South Africa, the most stable. This is wrong. American socialite identities, once made a huge influence, in S/E Africa. The works, of Sidney Sheldon, for instance, which often featured, what Americans call, crooks, 'inspired', many S/E Africans, to become, conmen. A good work, of his, once famous, in S/E Africa, is, 'If tomorrow comes'. Nigeria, has the ability, to become, one of the more, reknowed, nations, on earth, due to having, a unique, African culture. Nigeria, does not have conmen, it really has, trickster figures. A good example, of a modern Nigerian socialite figure, that has its roots, in the past, is the modern Awo. An Awo, has historically, been a medicine man. Today, they are mainly, interdisciplinary scholars. They do, some excellent work, in critical thinking. Toyin Falola, is such a figure, and his works, are a must, for those who seek, to understand, Nigeria, and the African past.
Cults, on the family identity side, are driven, by gambles, conjecture and wager. Those, on the socialite side, are urged on, by bets, dares and speculations.
