Xenophobia as an impediment to the spirit of a united Africa in the 21st century

The tempo of migration has risen since the triumph of liberalism over the fascist ideologies of the 20th century. This results in xenophobic attacks on immigrant communities, making it critical in the lexicon of global racial relations. Ironically, xenophobia is not of recent origin; thus, using historical instruments, the paper interrogates the phenomenon in contemporary international relations. The analysis begins with a voyage into imperial Egypt when "a Pharaoh that knew not Joseph" ascended the throne and the implications of a xenophobe as sovereign on Judeo-Egyptian relations was witnessed. The discourse progresses to show that irrespective of context, all peoples could be xenophobic. Evidence exists in Anglo-American nationalism driven by the quest to preserve jobs for 'nationals'; a reenactment of the protectionism of the mercantile phase of pre-industrial societies. The essay climaxes with a focus on South Africa and its form of xenophobia, and its implications on African unity. The article relied on secondary resources to weave its perspectives and it recommends the imperative of cultivating the spirit of tolerance and love amongst Africans as the world becomes a global community.