First, skin colour is sometimes the only thing that unites black people born in different countries

First, skin colour is sometimes the only thing that unites black people born in different countries. A black man from the Bronx has far more in common with a white man from the Bronx than with a black man from London, and still more so than with a black man from Nigeria.

Second, black people living all over the world do not possess, by default, some set of givens that would allow them to count themselves among the communities of people living in Africa. An African American does not know or understand the mentality, the problems, the experience, the psychology and the other aspects of black life in Africa merely because of the colour of his skin. At times such understanding is almost unattainable, and at others it demands enormous effort.

Third, the constant emphasis on race does not unite people or make their common life any easier; quite the reverse.

Fourth, to start taking offence on behalf of an entire African people, it is not enough simply to change the name from Frank the American to Delmar Chinedu and dress up in brightly coloured robes.

Marlene Hadley, born in London, who took offence at a grandmother who asked about her origins, lived an ordinary English life until she became fascinated by African history and culture, changed her name to the invented Ngozi Fulani and changed into ethnic costume. But she did not cease to be British on that account, nor did she become African at a stroke. An ordinary woman from Britain with her own interests, merely concentrated on Africa. In this guise, wholly identified with a characteristic African ethnicity, she is approached by a perfect stranger, an old granny, and at an event devoted to the problems of Africans at that, who asks: where are you from? What is offensive in that? Since when has an interest in your background become an insult? She was not called names, was not driven away, but was simply asked, as one asks a person who in every outward respect ties herself to an African theme, where she came from. Is one supposed to apologise for that? It would mean that the very fact of perceiving a person as African is deemed offensive. Had she said: I am from London, born and raised in such-and-such a place, my ancestors come from such-and-such, I bought the dress of such-and-such a tribe on eBay for forty pounds, I have worked on such-and-such issues for so many years, and the matter would have been closed, and off you go to munch your way through the buffet