ABSTRACT
The problem of social disintegration is so recurrent in Africa that the existence of many of its countries as viable national entities is subject to doubt. The threats to national cohesion assume many forms, including ethnic, regional, religious and class cleavages, to name a few. Africa does not have a monopoly of this problem, but it is fair to say that it has exhibited the most acute cases in contemporary history.l The persistent social discord and instability renders meaningless the numerous attempts to find lasting solutions to the problems that pervade African societies: poverty, pestilence, illiteracy, inadequate social infrastructure, poor health, unemployment and political disenfranchisement. All this and more make difficult the building of structures for solving these problems on solid ground.2
