Dante Sisofo explores the concept of “tribe” through his personal experiences and philosophical reflections, particularly drawing from his time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia. In his blog post titled “Freedom is the Elimination of Choice”, he observes the communal dynamics of Zambian village life:dantesisofo.com
“The everyday life of a Zambian tribe fascinates me. Mothers come home with babies on their back and firewood on their heads. Men are building homes and churches, the boys are building bricks with sand and mud, and the girls are sweeping the floors, preparing the food for the day. Everybody in the tribe, the village, the family, has a role to play.” dantesisofo.com
Sisofo reflects on the centrality of communal structures, such as the church and the well, which serve as vital sources of unity and purpose. He suggests that modern society lacks these unifying archetypes and posits that the future may see a resurgence of tribal structures:dantesisofo.com
“My theory is that the future will become tribal, new religions will form, communities, and tribes, will be scattered throughout the world.” dantesisofo.com
Through his lens, “tribe” embodies a return to interconnectedness, shared purpose, and the embrace of communal roles, contrasting with the individualism prevalent in contemporary society.