I don't think so. Infact - i know so. But this is based on my individual belief.

This topic came into my head when a guy in my class, of East African parentage, overheard me talking to my friends about the caribbean and its cultural history. I must have finished with the sentence "i am not African" for some reason that i can't remember.

I recall him saying: "You are African". I wasnt really shocked at his afro-centric statement, but with all due respect i replied "no i am not - i'm caribbean". By now i got everyone in the class, including my tutor, to turn heads. Then it continued..

"You are African because your ancestors..." blah blah blah...you guys know the rest, "came from Africa..."

At this point I changed my voice to a solemn tone. " How can i be African? Yes i know my ancestors came from there but i am of Jamaican parentage..."

"And where do Jamaican people come from?" He challenged, as if he thought i was in denial of my African roots.

"Er...Jamaica?" I answered with sarcasm.

"Yeah...and Jamaicans come from Africa." Hold up wait a minute...he just generalised...doesnt he read books?

"In fact Jamaicans descend from other parts of the world aswell."

"You are African." He persisted with nonchalance.

"How can i be African? I am more close to Jamaica than Africa."

"You are still African." He repeated the ancestors thing.

"How can i be African? When i don't know what part of Africa i come from? How can i be African when i don't know the many dialects? How can i be african when i don't eat the food? Yes most Jamaicans have Africa in their music, blood, and food but you have to remember that other Jamaicans descend from Asia, Europe and the Middle East..."

I think we ended it there but i have to ask these questions to u guys...

Are Africans who tellcaribbeans that they r African trying to claim a part of our culture?

Why do some spend their time claiming to be african when they dont have much access to afro-centric books in their native countries?

Why are so many i approach bemused or curious at to why i know about african history prior the slave trade era?

Or is it just a way of uniting the black diaspora?

I'm afraid that if it is the latter then there is a slim chance this could happen. Even in Africa they and still have different tribes fighting against eachother. But as i said, this is MY opinion so let me see yours...