To date, many Africans prefer ethnic over national identities.

The articles resonated with many people and attracted a huge amount of feedback, yet amazingly, a number of those who responded, all African, saw racism as history or as violence on African-Americans by white policemen.

Part of this came from the divide and rule strategy, a British colonial method in parts of Africa - segregating ethnic groups and ruling indirectly through chiefs.

As we identify with protests against racism on African-Americans, we need to recognise current manifestations of ethnic divisions in Africa.

We will understand how we came to take for granted that white people should be served first, that police officers in Africa, who shouldn’t be beating up anyone, can beat up black but not white people, and Africans should always defer in opinion to white people.