The African Superiority Complex

We already live in a world where racism exists — black vs white — but racism among Africans creates its own caste system.

Money. Education. Accent. Skin tone. Fashion. Who you know.
It’s like we imported oppression into our own communities and called it “levels.”

That’s the African superiority complex in action — measuring worth by status, not humanity.

The “Level Pass Level” Mentality

The first toxic truth about racism among Africans is the obsession with status. Much of it comes from colonial leftovers — the old idea that status = worth.

So you’ll see:

  • Rich Africans thinking they’re “not on the same level” as the poor.
  • Educated urban Africans looking down on rural Africans.
  • Lighter-skinned Africans treated better than darker-skinned ones.

It’s classism mixed with an African superiority complex. In relationships, it’s “Not my type.” In everyday life, it’s “I just can’t relate to them.” But deep down, the message is the same: You no reach.

My Addis Ababa Airport Moment

A personal story that shows racism among Africans at play: I was in Addis Ababa airport, heading to Oman.

A black man was handing out sweets to a group of white travelers. I was standing right there… he skipped me.

Maybe he meant well — but it revealed how the African superiority complex flips into a white-approval complex. Too many Africans treat each other with suspicion or coldness while bending over backwards for outsiders.

Racism Among Africans in Dating

Dating is another place where racism among Africans hides under the cover of “preferences.”

I’ve heard sisters gush over a Nollywood star like Maurice Sam, then seconds later dismiss an ordinary man with: “I can’t marry that — he’s not good looking.”

Attraction matters. But when someone is dismissed before character, work ethic, or potential are even considered, that’s not preference — it’s superiority complex thinking.

This is how racism among Africans poisons dating — we judge each other by skin tone, looks, or accent, forgetting that every human is already a masterpiece worth more than gold.

The Irony With Whites

Here’s another toxic truth: racism among Africans shows up strongest among ourselves, but disappears around white people.

Among ourselves, we measure levels, mock accents, and shade darker skin.
But around white people? Suddenly we polish our English, laugh at every joke, and act like our divisions don’t exist.

Here’s the kicker: in their eyes, we’re still all black. The “levels” we obsess over don’t mean anything outside. That’s internalized racism working against us.

Africans vs African Americans: A Silent Superiority Complex

Here’s one more layer to racism among Africans that we rarely talk about: the tension between Africans and African Americans.

Africans sometimes look at African Americans and say:

  • “They don’t know their roots.”
  • “They’re too spoiled by the West.”
  • “They’re loud, soft, or lazy.”

Meanwhile, African Americans often look at Africans and say:

  • “They’re too local.”
  • “They’re behind, too submissive, or too desperate to fit in.”
  • “They don’t understand what we fought for here.”

Why Racism Among Africans is Dangerous

The final truth? The African superiority complex is killing us.

  • It kills unity.
  • It makes us easy to divide and control.
  • It traps us in endless competition to “look better” instead of be better.
  • It leaves people feeling “too local” for one group, “too African” for another.

That’s why racism among Africans is more than just pride — it’s poison.

Final Word

It’s okay to have ambition. It’s okay to have taste. But when “Not my type” really means “You no reach,” we’ve crossed from preference into pride.

And pride is just racism among Africans dressed as culture.