The ongoing xenophobia attacks in South Africa are a reminder to each African to rethink what drives continental dreams. The attacks against migrant workers are not a South African problem but an African problem. This is exhibited by the radicalization of youth into militia and hundreds of fleeing Africans that perish across the Mediterranean Sea.

African unity is threatened because the continent’s oneness is built on the beauty of history but less on concrete economic reality. African leaders proclaim “one Africa” for the beauty and protection it affords them in international forums but they are not keen to grow a unified economic dream for people on the continent.

Horrifying scenes of Africans butchering and burning fellow continental citizens simply because they compete over job and economic opportunities must force a rethink of priorities. Is an African, African simply because he/she is black and was born on the continent? The xenophobia playing out in South Africa is but a tip of an iceberg; a consequence of Africans sold on beauty of continent and left out on juicy economic dream. Can the continent learn from history and forge way forward?

Historical legacies should offer proactive investment in a people to effectively participate in economic platforms. Unfortunately political leadership thrives on negative energy generated by such legacies. The tragedy unfolding in South Africa is a pointer to the weakness of having a developed country but excluded populations. Pressure builds when populations remain mere spectators of celebrated Growth Domestic Product performance that fails to meet their individual aspirations.

In “The Penguin Atlas of African History,” Colin McEvedy notes: “In the 1820s the mounting population pressure in black half of South Africa caused an outburst of political violence, the mfecane or ‘time of troubles’. In the eye of the storm was the dreaded Shaka.” Shaka (Ushaga) triggered massive movements of communities to as far as East Africa (the Ngoni). A close study of migratory patterns of ethnic groups in Africa is attributable to some “pressure” mostly economic and occasionally diseases. Africans, especially political and thought leaders must get their heads out of romanticized sands of the past and confront reality – it’s the economy, stupid!

The 1.2 billion African market need to be presented into digestible opportunities for African youth to participate and generate hope. Initiatives such as the Maputo Development Corridor and the Lamu Port – South Sudan-Ethiopia – Transport (LAPSSET) for example, should have a proactive engagement with youth to enable them grow a seed of hope on upcoming opportunities.

Discussions on open African airspace should be broken down into how they will translate into increased job opportunities in the aviation sector, hospitality industry and intra African movement of goods. Africans of goodwill should initiate “know Africa” campaigns, where African youth exchange programs facilitate families hosting foreigners across the continent. The continental unity narrative must go to the next step – economic opportunities; not unity by virtue of color of skin.

The irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries is fueled by African nation-states approach to lock populations in pockets of poverty for political expediency. If Africa has to grow its economic pie, democracy should cease being an avenue to nurture “herd mentality.” To be “African,” one must pass the test of having an “African Software” the Ubuntu. The plight of South African youth calls for a recalibration of economic order to spur growth in industry and work ethic on the continent. An African shared dream of economic prosperity part of the continent. I express my deepest condolences to all affected by the xenophobia in South Africa.

By James Shikwati. The author james@irenkenya.com is Director of Inter Region Economic Network and Publisher of The African Executive.