10/12/2022
Powerful words on so many fronts.
First, European colonists arbitrarily
divided Africa into "North" and "Sub-Saharan" Africa, pushing a divide and conquer strategy that pit the continent's constellation of communities against one another. These categories are imperial constructions, imposed on colonised peoples.
Second, this divide and conquer tactic caricatured North Africa as "Arab" and the remainder of the massive continent as monolithically "Black," despite the rich milieu of peoples that occupy northern states (Amazigh tribes, Coptic Egyptians, and more), and the diverse and distinct range of peoples from the Fulani in the west to the Oromo in the east; the KhoeKhoe and San nations in contemporary South Africa and the Nubian peoples in "North Africa."
Third, Coach Walid's comments offer a firm rebuttal to the desire on the part of elements among the broader people to separate from ; a position fueled by a mix of modern anti-Black racism and deeply internalized colonialism that, sadly, is pervasive throughout many Arab nations and societies.
Fourth, by "waving Africa's flag high" Coach Walid is explicitly repositioning , and its ethnically and culturally eclectic people, firmly into the center of Africa. Challenging the notion that it is fringe, and its people any less African than Nigerian nationals or citizens from Sudan.
Fifth, Coach Walid understands the importance of this stage, and the history every nation that qualified for this World Cup have collectively made. The five African nations tallied a record 8 victories; Cameroon was the first African team to beat Brazil in a World Cup; Tunisia beat defending champion France; and Morocco became the first African team to win its Group in the 21st Century. Africa shined in Qatar.
Sixth, and perhaps most powerfully, Coach Walid's response smacks at flatheaded notions that being Arab or Amazigh is inimical to Africanness. With elegant simplicity, he raises up the complexity of African identity flattened by European colonists and reduced into caricatured categories.
Morocco is a transformative team, and Coach Walid is a transcendent coach.