How welcoming are Continental Africans to Diaspora Africans?

[kdub83]

I've been doing research to see where I wanted to visit for a vacation and possibly a place to take up residence. So far I am looking at Ghana and South Africa. While doing my research, I did come across a few articles/websites that stated that they weren't always welcome in some places. Now I will say in most cases these were white people who said this, but I did come across a few also that had the same experience and they were black. Now I won't lie and say that would deter me from at least visiting, but I would like to know experiences from people from the Diaspora how they were received when visiting and more importantly when they lived there for any extended period of time.

[Akua Ma'at]

I think, as with other places, you'll find people at both extremes and all points in between. I've visited Ghana, Ethiopia and Egypt and have felt welcomed in each place. Now, as we say here, "come see me and come live with me are two different things" however its been my experience so far that continental Africans for the most part welcome the development opportunities, help and support repatriating Africans can bring. What they may not necessarily welcome are people repatriating to be a burden on the resources or people of the area.
Additionally, continental Africans don't appreciate the condescending attitude some people from the West bring when they repatriate. Whether they are conscious of it or not, some folks come with an attitude of superiority, I-come-to-teach-natives-how-to-be-civilized attitude that at once creates a "them" vs "us" relationship between those repatriating Africans and continental Africans.

[NyameNti]

I think, as with other places, you'll find people at both extremes and all points in between. I've visited Ghana, Ethiopia and Egypt and have felt welcomed in each place. Now, as we say here, "come see me and come live with me are two different things" however its been my experience so far that continental Africans for the most part welcome the development opportunities, help and support repatriating Africans can bring. What they may not necessarily welcome are people repatriating to be a burden on the resources or people of the area.
Additionally, continental Africans don't appreciate the condescending attitude some people from the West bring when they repatriate. Whether they are conscious of it or not, some folks come with an attitude of superiority, I-come-to-teach-natives-how-to-be-civilized attitude that at once creates a "them" vs "us" relationship between those repatriating Africans and continental Africans.

Akua Ma'at this sentiment seems to be vast amongst continental Afrikans. I often wonder what Afrika would/could be like if they took the same position collectively towards whites-who show in action that they CONSIDER themselves superior. Please explain to me how a continental sister/brother have obvious 'forgiving attitudes' toward whites? (this is not a conclusive statement, however it is a fair statement). I understand that you do not speak for all.
Nonetheless, I think it is more about conditioning then it is "acting better" or "superiority"

This is not to say that this has not occurred. Perception is everything. However, I wonder why seeing another person of color who holds their head high and displays a sense of pride, information or opinion for that matter have to be interpreted as having a 'better than' attitude?
Surely continental Afrikans see the difference in lifestyle in their area.
They see who shows in every way, form and fashion a line drawn between the haves and the have-nots.

Unfortunately, this perception is what continues to support the "us" vs "them" mentality...while it should be ALL of us against these sadist and narcissistic groups.

At the very least continental and Afrikans in the diaspora should have a patience toward people that reflect them in some way.
Further, maybe a slow-to-assume attitude would allow a conversation to take place with the end result of both sides understanding the others' struggle.

When we see each other sister, we should reached out with welcoming arms-whether a visit or a long-term stay.
You don't owe me and I don't owe you. We both are required to avenge the pain and suffering endured by the ancestors....
This is our common ground. It is all we need to know.

[Akua Ma'at]

Indeed what you've said makes sense but I think you assume here and there. Firstly, it seems you are assuming that continental Africans are interpreting Africans from the diaspora who "holds their head high and displays a sense of pride, information or opinion" as feeling superior to. Most, if not all, the repatriated Africans who I know personally hold their heads high, display their cultural pride, share their knowledge and opinions freely yet haven't been received as having an attitude of superiority. Its certainly not been my experience that continental Africans display this view in response to the self-pride exuded by Africans from the diaspora. Having said that, there are Africans in the diaspora who, display an attitude of being better-than... note, I'm not referring to somebody being proud of their African-ness (two youtube videos come to mind as I type this... both posted here in different forums).

As you rightly said, "Further, maybe a slow-to-assume attitude would allow a conversation to take place with the end result of both sides understanding the others' struggle.

When we see each other sister, we should reached out with welcoming arms-whether a visit or a long-term stay"... this is precisely what is needed.... from both Africans from the continent and diaspora.

[Obadele Kambon]

I think the answer to this question is "how long is a piece of string?"
It depends. It would be like asking what are diasporan Afrikans' view of continental Afrikans. It's completely dependent on the level of knowledge and understanding of the diasporan Afrikan which could go from "that's an African booty-scratcher" to "that's my brother/sister". I agree that how one presents oneself will have an impact, but I think the most significant factor is which particular continental Afrikan is doing the welcoming and his/her level of knowledge/understanding.

[Asentwaa]

I think the answer to this question is "how long is a piece of string?"
It depends. It would be like asking what are diasporan Afrikans' view of continental Afrikans. It's completely dependent on the level of knowledge and understanding of the diasporan Afrikan which could go from "that's an African booty-scratcher" to "that's my brother/sister". I agree that how one presents oneself will have an impact, but I think the most significant factor is which particular continental Afrikan is doing the welcoming and his/her level of knowledge/understanding.

I agree, which is why I really do think there should be some kind of integration effort here in Ghana for diasporans when they come here. Both sides (continental and diasporans) have a lot to learn and understand about one another and when/if diasporans start coming back in much larger numbers, this lack of understanding can sometimes become problematic. For instance, many continentals do not understand the hardships of Blacks abroad and many diasporans feel that when they come to Africa they are coming to teach people how to live "better" (better meaning more westernised) and do not know that they would actually learn a lot from the continent if they stopped thinking of themselves as teachers all the time. It is ok when our numbers are small, but when we become a much larger group misunderstandings between newcomers and continentals can become problematic, particularly when diasporans are generally more financially privileged in Africa (whether we like it or not) than the majority of those who grew up on the continent. Hence I really do think we should have a reintegration effort which teaches both continental and diasporans about one another's experiences.

We could have workshops, teach-ins, festivals school events etc etc dedicated to educating continentals about people of African descent all over the world and the experiences of repatriates as well as the experiences of Africans receiving repatriates. The main problem is this lack of understanding on both sides and the fact that the Ghanaian governement encourages repatriation without any thought to programs to actually integrate people and make continental Ghanaians better ready to receive diasporans is seriously problematic.

[Obadele Kambon]

I agree, which is why I really do think there should be some kind of integration effort here in Ghana for diasporans when they come here. Both sides (continental and diasporans) have a lot to learn and understand about one another and when/if diasporans start coming back in much larger numbers, this lack of understanding can sometimes become problematic. For instance, many continentals do not understand the hardships of Blacks abroad and many diasporans feel that when they come to Africa they are coming to teach people how to live "better" (better meaning more westernised) and do not know that they would actually learn a lot from the continent if they stopped thinking of themselves as teachers all the time. It is ok when our numbers are small, but when we become a much larger group misunderstandings between newcomers and continentals can become problematic, particularly when diasporans are generally more financially privileged in Africa (whether we like it or not) than the majority of those who grew up on the continent. Hence I really do think we should have a reintegration effort which teaches both continental and diasporans about one another's experiences.

We could have workshops, teach-ins, festivals school events etc etc dedicated to educating continentals about people of African descent all over the world and the experiences of repatriates as well as the experiences of Africans receiving repatriates. The main problem is this lack of understanding on both sides and the fact that the Ghanaian governement encourages repatriation without any thought to programs to actually integrate people and make continental Ghanaians better ready to receive diasporans is seriously problematic.

These are good ideas. What's left is the implementation. Speaking of such festivals, will you be participating in ACAWF?
When you say the government encourages repatriation, do you mean through rhetoric or policies?

[Asentwaa]

Yes, I am kind of thinking about starting some kind of newcomers of Afrikan descent collective in Ghana (meaning Afrikan diasporans as well as those moving from other Afrikan countries to Ghana), which continental Ghanaians could be a part of too which would address these kinds of issues and also do educational and edutainment events. Why I think it should be more broadly focused on newcomers, rather than only diasporans is because I think in Afrika we generally do not try to learn from and work with our neighbours enough and this also leads to a lot of misunderstanding and many of the same mistakes being constantly repeated up and down the continent. For instance, whilst living in Sierra Leone, I realised that few of my uni students knew much about any of its neighbours and a lot more about the USA and europe. I have found the same problem with my students here in GH. In Ghana we feel that we are completely immune to things like war because we have never had civil war, but many of the issues that led to the wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia, or even what is happening in Northern Nigeria (even Ivory coast was a shock to Ghanaians) is definately a possibility here if we do not understand one another, learn from eachother's mistakes, act as one and become seriously attuned to what is happening with other Afrikans on the continent and around the world. I mean so many do not even know what is happening next door in Ivory coast! Many of us feel we are the exception until we become the rule.

I actually meant to find out if a group or a few groups like that exist here in GH kind of generally focused on these issues. I was told AAAG has sometimes acted within this capacity for diasporans but not as much as it apparently could??? I have been meaning to discuss starting a group like this further with people here who might be interested. Yes I am volunteering for ACAWF and it is only since I moved here a few months ago that I hear from African American and Carib repatriates that the Ghanaian government's repatriation program is more rhetorical and less practicalised through policies. I was really surprised that gaining permanent residency was so tough. I had been proudly telling my carrib friends about how GH was the only Afrikan country at present that had a law which encouraged diasporans to become permanent residents and that they really should come over. Man was I wrong! Lol!

[kdub83]

Thanks for all the replies. This certainly did open my eyes to relations between the two groups.

[yaa ashanta]

Hello everyone thanks for accepting me into our African family so that I may finish educating myself and my son