Abstract
This article aims to constructively reconsider the accepted relations of the language of
alterity and hospitality, traditionally drawn from Levinas and Derrida, which have
been assumed to be applicable to xenophobia. A closer assessment of Levinas reveals
that his ‘structure’ fails to apply to recent sorts of xenophobic incidents. Just so,
Derrida's work upon hospitality does not apply, which Derrida was aware of. Indeed,
nor will Levinas and Derrida be disagreed with; a shadow-phenomenology will rather
emerge which allows for more sympathetic and applicable treatment of some
‘xenophobic’ incidents – in South Africa and globally.