This article is the result of a reflection on the conditions for the achievement of national identity in Africa in the context of ethnic diversity. Starting from an effort to define ethnicity, with the horizon of answering the question of whether ethnicity is a myth or a reality, we have shown that beyond its reality, ethnicity has not escaped ideological and political manipulation in the construction and future of states in Africa. However, these manipulations should not make us lose sight of the fact that ethnic diversity, far from being an obstacle to the emergence and consolidation of national identity, rather constitutes a factor of enrichment of the cultural ecosystem. To this end, we have shown the need to base interactions between differences on recognition and respect for others.
Keywords: Ethnic diversity, ethnicity, identity, nation, pluralism, recognition.