--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: African history is filled with…" description: "\"African history is filled with experiences of people shooting their way to power and then splintering into factions, like in Somalia and Liberia.\" — Ge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/george-ayittey-17835_factions_african-history-is-filled-with-experienc_1101966.png" --- # African history is filled with experiences of people… ![“African history is filled with experiences of people shooting their way to power and then splintering into factions, like in Somalia and Liberia.” quote by George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/george-ayittey-17835_factions_african-history-is-filled-with-experienc_1101966.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/george-ayittey-17835_factions_african-history-is-filled-with-experienc_1101966.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/george-ayittey-17835_factions_african-history-is-filled-with-experienc_1101966.png) > “African history is filled with experiences of people shooting their way to power and then splintering into factions, like in Somalia and Liberia.” [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. African politics often involve violent power struggles that fragment societies into rival groups. **In simple terms:** Power struggles cause division and conflict in Africa. Key Takeaway Promote inclusive governance. Themes politics conflict history Mood analytical serious Type political historical When to use this quote - policy making - conflict resolution - academic study Key Concepts statebuilding ethnic division Questions to Reflect On - What policies can reduce factionalism? - How can economic development stabilize societies? A Different Perspective Violence is not the only driver; economic factors also matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-history-993698/) [Factions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/factions/) [Filled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filled/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Liberia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberia/) [Like Somalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-somalia-2731184/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting/) [Somalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somalia/) [Somalia Liberia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somalia-liberia-2892924/) [Splintering Factions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/splintering-factions-2892925/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The main thing that gives me hope is the media. We have radio, TV, magazines, and books, so we have the possibility of learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/the-main-thing-that-gives-me-hope-is-the-media-we-have-radio-tv/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) > [It was a slow understanding that the lack of education in a country like Somalia creates these huge social problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/it-was-a-slow-understanding-that-the-lack-of-education-in-a-country/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [My message was 'Think African. Make schools read African history.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-kuti/my-message-was-think-african-make-schools-read-african-history/) [Fela Kuti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-kuti/) > [Of course, all students should learn African history, as they should learn the history of other continents and major civilizations. But this history should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ravitch/of-course-all-students-should-learn-african-history-as-they-should/) [Diane Ravitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ravitch/) > [Slavery is not African history. Slavery interrupted African history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mutabaruka/slavery-is-not-african-history-slavery-interrupted-african-history/) [Mutabaruka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mutabaruka/) > [“South African history did not start in 1652.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wood/south-african-history-did-not-start-in-1652/) [Nick Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wood/) > [I was taught about slavery, but it was the ancient Egyptians. 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You can't love your country by putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-johnson-jr/patriotism-is-love-of-country-but-you-can-t-love-your-country-by/) [Henry Johnson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-johnson-jr/) > [“the sense of a small courageous community barely existing above the desert of trees, hemmed in by a sun too fierce to work under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/the-sense-of-a-small-courageous-community-barely-existing-above-the/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [The people of Liberia know what it means to be deprived of clean water, but we also know what it means to see our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/the-people-of-liberia-know-what-it-means-to-be-deprived-of-clean/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [“Put an End to "CHILD" Pedophilia in Liberia. Our Boys and Girls must learn, not be taken advantage off, by men/women, perhaps, "SOME" government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-johnson-jr/put-an-end-to-child-pedophilia-in-liberia-our-boys-and-girls-must/) [Henry Johnson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-johnson-jr/) ## More by George Ayittey > [There was free trade in Africa. There was free enterprise in Africa before the colonialists came.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/there-was-free-trade-in-africa-there-was-free-enterprise-in-africa/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [The only good dictator is a dead one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/the-only-good-dictator-is-a-dead-one/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [Hippos kill more people in Africa annually than any other wild animal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/hippos-kill-more-people-in-africa-annually-than-any-other-wild-animal/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [Socialism is always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/socialism-is-always-wrong/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [Look at the history of peace accords in Africa. They have a terrible record. They are shredded even before the ink on them is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/look-at-the-history-of-peace-accords-in-africa-they-have-a-terrible/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [The richest persons in Africa are heads of state, governors and ministers. So every 'educated' African who wants to be rich - and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/the-richest-persons-in-africa-are-heads-of-state-governors-and/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [Traditionally, Africans hate governments. They hate tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/traditionally-africans-hate-governments-they-hate-tyranny/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [Back in the 1960s Africa not only fed itself, it also exported food. Not anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/back-in-the-1960s-africa-not-only-fed-itself-it-also-exported-food/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [Just because a group does not take its decisions by voting does not mean they have no understanding of the essence of democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/just-because-a-group-does-not-take-its-decisions-by-voting-does-not/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [Africa's salvation doesn't lie in begging and begging for more aid, and as an African, I find it very, very humiliating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/africa-s-salvation-doesn-t-lie-in-begging-and-begging-for-more-aid/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [Africa is poor because she is not free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/africa-is-poor-because-she-is-not-free/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [Dictators cause the world's worst problems: all the collapsed states, and all the devastated economies. All the vapid cases of corruption, grand theft, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/dictators-cause-the-world-s-worst-problems-all-the-collapsed-states/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [Getting rid of the dictator is only a first step in establishing a free society. The dictatorship must also be disassembled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/getting-rid-of-the-dictator-is-only-a-first-step-in-establishing-a/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [If NATO goes in and solves the crisis in Darfur, when the next one comes along Africa's leaders will just sit back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/if-nato-goes-in-and-solves-the-crisis-in-darfur-when-the-next-one/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [There's a belief that since Africa got a raw deal from the colonial West, then the Chinese must be Africa's best friend. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/there-s-a-belief-that-since-africa-got-a-raw-deal-from-the-colonial/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) [Explore all 36 George Ayittey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) ## More Factions quotes > [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) > [The thing about Iran is there are many political factions and it's not quite the dictatorial, authoritarian state with one person always making every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hooman-majd/the-thing-about-iran-is-there-are-many-political-factions-and-it-s/) [Hooman Majd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hooman-majd/) > [“Good Lord, what madness rules in brainsick men When for so slight and frivolous a cause Such factious emulations shall arise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/good-lord-what-madness-rules-in-brainsick-men-when-for-so-slight-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Women lead in ways different from men's. Men, I think, have been programmed to give orders. Women have been programmed to motivate people, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-fox/women-lead-in-ways-different-from-men-s-men-i-think-have-been/) [Muriel Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-fox/) > [Restoring nature to its natural state is a cause beyond party and beyond factions. It has become a common cause of all the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/restoring-nature-to-its-natural-state-is-a-cause-beyond-party-and/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Senses of humor define people, as factions, deeper rooted than religious or political opinions. When carrying out everyday tasks, opinions are rather easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/senses-of-humor-define-people-as-factions-deeper-rooted-than/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [The Shield had run its course as a three-man group, and we'll go down in history as one of the greatest factions of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rollins/the-shield-had-run-its-course-as-a-three-man-group-and-we-ll-go-down/) [Seth Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rollins/) > [It is amazing how pretending to be in a different faction changes everything -- even the way I walk. That must be why it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/it-is-amazing-how-pretending-to-be-in-a-different-faction-changes/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [And he’s right to say that every faction loses something when it gains a virtue: the Dauntless, brave but cruel; the Erudite, intelligent but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-he-s-right-to-say-that-every-faction-loses-something-when-it/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [American Green Berets have been on the ground reaching out to some of the factions there. But don't confuse them with combat troops. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bowman/american-green-berets-have-been-on-the-ground-reaching-out-to-some-of/) [Tom Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bowman/) > [Liberty is to faction, what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. 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