The number of African Americans leaving the United States for Africa has been on the rise in recent times, but what exactly is forcing them out of a country where many across the world would want to live in, but have no chance?
Al Jazeera has established that thousands of African Americans have moved from big cities like San Francisco, Chicago, and New York to Africa and have refused to return.
They are said to be running away from the increased racism and prejudice in the United States. For instance, an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 African Americans are now residing in Accra, the capital city of Ghana, where they are now working as teachers or entrepreneurs, and, although they say its tough living in Ghana, they feel free and safe.
Muhammida el-Muhajir is a digital marketer, who was based in New York City before quitting her job to move to Accra. She says that despite her education and experience, she was always treated like a second-class citizen and she felt that relocating to Ghana would present her a chance to fulfill her potential and avoid being racially targeted.
Speaking to Al Jazeera about her story: “I grew up in Philadelphia and then New York. I went to Howard, which is a historically black university. I tell people that Ghana is like Howard in real life. It felt like a microcosm of the world. At university, they tell us the world isn’t black, but there are places where this is the real world. Howard prepares you for a world where black people are in charge, which is a completely different experience compared to people who have gone to predominantly white universities.”
“I can’t say what’s happening in America today is any worse than what’s been happening at any other time.”
On her first trip to Africa and how she felt: “The first country I went to was Kenya. I was 15 and traveled with a group of kids. I was one of two black kids. I saw early that I could fit in and wasn’t an outsider. Suddenly it switched, I came from America where I was an outsider, but in Africa, I no longer felt like that. I did graduate school in Ghana in 2003 and went back to New York and then moved to Ghana in 2014.”
“I have no connection to Ghana. Some people in my family did tests, and we found ties to Senegal and The Gambia, but I don’t think you can ever figure it out. No matter where you were sold or left the port, Senegal or Ghana, no one can be certain where you came from.”
She narrates what life is really like for black people in the United States.:”Even when you live in a place like New York as a black person, you’re always an outsider.
“You hear stories about the richest black people, like Oprah Winfrey, getting shut out of a store or Jay-Z not being allowed to buy [an apartment]. Those things happen. It doesn’t matter if you’re a celebrity, you’re a second-class citizen. This was the biggest issue for me.
“In America, you’re always trying to prove yourself; I don’t need to prove myself to anyone else’s standards here. I’m a champion, I ran track and went to university, and I like to win, so I refuse to be in a situation where I will never win.”
On her new life in Ghana, she says: “There are amenities that I am used to at home in New York – like parties, open bars and fashion, so when I realized I could do the same things in Africa as I could back in the US, I was sold. There is also a big street art festival here, and that was the difference from when I came [as a student]. I saw the things that I love at home here, so I decided that now is the time.”
On how Ghanaians take it after hearing she moved out of US to settle in Accra, she narrates :”When Ghanaians find out that I live here, they’re usually confused about why I chose to live here as an American. There is definitely certain access and privilege being American here, but it’s great to finally cash in on that because it doesn’t mean anything in America.”
She has produced a documentary titled ‘Blaxit’, which highlights a number of African Americans who have moved out of US. “In my documentary, I chose five people that I’ve met since I’ve been here and every one of them went to a black college in the US. It’s something that prepares you mentally to realize you aren’t a second-class citizen. Something like that can help you make a transition to live in Africa.”
“I made Blaxit because of this wave of African-Americans moving to Africa. This trend started to happen around independence of African countries, but the new wave [comprises] people who come to places like this. This new group has certain access in America and comes here to have that lifestyle in Africa.
“Unbeknown to us, we’re living out the vision that [Ghanaian politician and revolutionary] Kwame Nkrumah set out for us, of this country being the gateway to Africa for the black diaspora.
“I don’t want people to think that Africa is this magic utopia where all your issues will go away. It’s just that some of the things you might face in America as a black person – you won’t have to suffer with those things here.
“You might not have electricity, but you won’t get killed by the police either.
“I want people to understand that they have options and alternatives. Most black people in America don’t know that these options exist; they think they have to suffer because there’s nowhere else to go. But no, there are other places.”
There is also reported influx of African Americans in other countries such as Senegal and Gambia.
And then you have people…
And then you have people like Akombe who are running away from Africa to America. Ha! Go figure.
Many people like to travel…
Many people like to travel. If there are no barriers they’ll often try to find other countries that they fit into better. That’s how populations of the Americas mostly got there — except for Africans.
It is not just a money matter; plenty of people in richer countries are much happier in poor countries that they somehow match, and will stay if they can, often finding opportunities that the locals don’t at first understand, and helping to develop the economy.
The problem is that security of residence and business ownership is often shaky. If you have that, then everything’s fine. If the place does not offer it, or policy changes suddenly, then things become very precarious.
I moved from Canada to Nepal nearly fifty years ago, was very happy of a decade and would probably have eagerly stayed for life, but the government policy suddenly changed, all foreigners were pressured to leave, and not only did my girlfriend take advantage of this and steal my factory (which was in her name), but when I left I thereby lost the economic value of my years of experience producing goods in Nepal. It was great while it lasted though; I’ve missed it ever since, and wished it had been economically secure enough to stay.
Congratulations to the brave…
Congratulations to the brave African Americans who have enough courage to move back to the unknown. It has been a great challenge to my African Americans brothers and sisters who have endured about 400 years of European Americans arrogance, mistreatment, colorism (racism) since the fist Africans landed in the US as a slaves in 1619. The first Africans to land in the US as slaves were from Angola.
This migration is similar to the Jewish people from all the corners of the world who have decided to return back to Palestine (occupied by the Israelis) after spending many years in diaspora.
I ask all the 54 African countries to offer automatic citizenship to our African American brothers and sisters who wish to migrate back to Africa. Their technological know how will propels Africa to new economic great successes.
My simple advice to my African American brothers and sisters is to learn the local languages and not act like the African Americans who settled in Liberia! The best contribution you can make to Africa is improving the infrastructures wherever you settle.
Please get a lawyer and sue the Roman Catholic church for initiating the African Atlantic Slave Trade especially after Pope Nicholas the 5th declared that, “Africans have no souls, therefore they can be sold as slaves.” Ask the current Catholic church to help you settle back in Africa by paying you a minimum of 100 billion dollars. After all, your ancestors built USA without receiving a penny for several centuries.
Any thinking mind that takes…
Any thinking mind that takes time to really reflect what America truly is cannot fail to observe and feel the alienation that materialism has wrought on this military-industrial complex. Add this to racism and attendant evils and you’ll clearly see why some are giving up on an otherwise prosperous society. It isn’t limited to black Americans – millions of white folks feel disillusioned and have taken to drugs like crazy, making it a huge epidemic (the opioid crisis) For thousands of years, human beings lived like human beings – in familial and communal relationships with very strong bonds and belonging. It’s only in the last 250 years or so (Industrial Revolution & the modern economy) that materialism has trumped these values leading to alienation especially in the west. Africa and Asia have been doing ok but increasingly, they are becoming part of this dangerous trend….I hope we all find a way and avoid the pitfalls of the west
Ha! Then, afterall, the…
Ha! Then, afterall, the west is a ‘shithole’ region that labels and makes others believe that they are (west) are better off ….what did i hear you say again?
Let them move back and…
Let them move back and contribute to society but not import their alien ways.Do not grab land earn an honest living that is no drugs or other stupid shit and pay taxes.Make an effort to learn the local lingo I doubt many of you can hack it but you are welcome to try.We do not have racism in Africa but Tribalism.
Knowing them, only a few…
Knowing them, only a few might hack it….most will try to pull a ‘superior’ card on the locals. A jungu will fit more easily in, say, Kenya, than a miro…me thinks.
@just me i agree with you on…
@just me i agree with you on the pulling of superior card.Case in point, Liberia.
Agreed. They pull a superior…
Agreed. They pull a superior card in the US when they’re with Africans. What would stop them from doing the same thing in Africa?
What alien ways are you…
What alien ways are you talking about? Do you even realise what it takes to up and leave America to move to Africa? Do you actually believe some educated middle class person is going to move to Africa and deal drugs? The average black American moving to Africa is not of that caliber. How stupid can you be? We will leave the drug dealing to the whites you so love. BTW Africa does have it’s fair share of racism; it comes in the form of colonised mindsets that still bow to whites whilst ignoring other blacks. Backwards mindsets!
Bravo bravo my sister.Most…
Bravo bravo my sister.Most of Africans who have moved to the western world continues to worship the wazungus culture talking shit about their countries of origin n yet themselves r the shitholes trump is taking about Coz they forget home,don’t invest home,leaves their wives husbands children back n never come for them giving stupid empty excuses ati hawana mapapers!U plan n if u cannot get those mapapers after a while I go back to yr family especially kids???Life is Simple in Africa aslong as u change yr mentality n altitude?U don’t need a car or a big hse like in the west??Simple life less stress in Africa!Am glad I came back.I Thank mwene nyaga ngai wiitu Wa gikuyu na mumbi for opening my eyes after spending 8 yrs modern slaverly in shithole wazungus territories
My fellow African Americans…
My fellow African Americans brothers and sisters, welcome back home. However, be prepared to meet totally lost Africans who believe in “everything” European. These African Europeans have no respect on anything African. They have European names, believe in the European total way of life. They have totally abandoned anything African and speak European languages to their children and family members, have birthday a totally alien construct to the African culture. Stay away from these lost and mentally dead Africans. Unfortunately, majority of them are in power!
…and those are only the…
…and those are only the Luopeans……
@Imara you forgot praising…
@Imara you forgot praising and worshipping the white jesus.
When they come back to…
When they come back to africa, can they give me their green card and i go with it to america nitoke hii shithole .. ngugitura nungaga thigino
Where would we be getting…
Where would we be getting this “green card” from seeing as we are citizens and have been for generations? We were not naturalised!
Oh, they have green cards? …
Oh, they have green cards? How so?
It does not take one to be…
It does not take one to be of high Calibre to do drugs.The opiod crisis was not started by a low calibre loser.Doctors prescribing these drugs are aware of what they are doing furthermore Africa has a magic sieve to eliminate or pick who comes back to the motherland really.Stop putting this former slaves on a pedestal frankly it does not take much to move to Africa just like the USA as long as their is a flight going there you will get all types.High calibre my ass how come Liberia is still poor after importing all those high Calibre blacks ?Or do you think safaricom will collapse once that high Calibre black is let go?
@Mugi. You are right. I…
@Mugi. You are right. I don’t understand Africans who are followers of the two Middle Eastern religions! One of them is based on the son of Mariam and the other on the son of Aisha. Both religions sold Africans into slavery. Their followers don’t respect Africans at all even know.
These two religions are very arrogant. The one which is based on son of Mariam arrogantly claims that “the son of Mariam” was the son of “god.” What am I then? The son of “Satan?” We are all sons and daughters of the CREATOR!
I always say this, If you meet an indigenous African who claims to be a follower of one of the two religions, just say “Hi” and “Bye.” Why? If you hang around long enough, “Utaona cha mtema kuni.”
Welcome back to ur Homeland…
Welcome back to ur Homeland.
African leaders should look into this and offer them automatic citizenship.
They deserve it.
America is great but it depends on the interpretation of Great and is it great yo ALL people?
Not at all.
As a recent African immigrant to US most may agree with me that it is NOT what you initially thought that it is great.
It also depends on what you get and accomplish but whether you like it or not, Racism I’d Open Check and has been normalised accross the board.
I’m late to this…
I’m late to this conversation. I’m an American through and through. I’ve always wanted to visit Africa and I’m finally making that happen. I’ll be in Tanzania this December and will be staying in Arusha for several weeks. Being an American comes with it’s benefits, but I’m sure living in Africa does as well. Hopefully in the next short years, I’ll call Africa my home.