What was the influence of the modern African diaspora on African culture and society?

1. What was the influence of the modern African diaspora on African culture and society?

2. Defining ‘African diaspora’ • The African Union defines its diaspora as “consisting of people of African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality and who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union.” • Colin Palmer’s definition

3. ‘Modern African Diaspora’ • The term ‘diaspora’ was originally used to refer to the Jewish dispersion. • Today it is used to describe alien residents, expellees, political refugees, expatriates, immigrants and ethnic and racial minorities. • Akyeampong  “the nature and composition of the African diaspora has undergone considerable changes over time.”

4. Estimating the size of the diaspora… Difficult because data is often incomplete. According to the World Bank (2011) the total diaspora from African nations was 30.6 million in 2010 . About half left for another country in Africa. Europe was the primary destination for the rest.

6. Useful concept? • Anthony Pinn serves a useful purpose within contemporary scholarship, but this concept has been far from problem free. It has been debated in terms of the geographical arrangements envisioned and the time frame of concern it suggests. • Certainly limitations to the concept. • Complex situation of contact and exchange encompassing Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean and Europe. • As such, this notion of the African diaspora is not synonymous with Paul Gilroy’s notion of the ‘Black Atlantic’

7. Historiographical Debate • Traditionalist view – negative impact of the diaspora on African society  skills, knowledge, and entrepreneurial capabilities are lost . • But perceptions are changing. Revisionist historians are beginning to realise that even the loss of skilled workers has an upside. Most importantly, perhaps, members of the African diaspora are playing a role in helping their homelands develop, and African countries have begun efforts to tap the skills and resources of emigrants and their offspring.

8. Culture • Traditionalists have emphasised the birth of a new culture and society in the host country as a result of the modern African diaspora. • Revisionists – maintenance of ties with the homeland. • Continuing desire held by the dispersed Africans to invest knowledge and ideas in the development of their homeland.

9. Economy • Akyeampong diaspora has had a negative effect on the African economy due to the loss of its skilled and even unskilled labour force. • Emil Rado, for instance, has estimated that by 1985 ‘Ghana seemed to have lost between half and two-thirds of its experienced, top level professional manpower.

10. John Arthur  importance of remittances. • Remittances to Africa amounted to US$ 5.9 billion in 1990 and reached a total of US$ 14 billion by 2003. • Positive influence of these remittances on the Balance of Payments and GDP of migrant-sending countries • Stimulate homeland development.

11. Diaspora bonds • Unique way to tap into the wealth and goodwill of the diasporas from developing countries.

12. Skills and technology transfer • Professional associations • Temporary assignments of skilled expatriates in origin countries • Distance teaching • The return of emigrants with enhanced skills.

13. Gender Relations • John Arthur highlights the liberation that Ghanaian women, for example, experienced when they migrated to the United States. • Immigrant women are increasingly directing their remittance to matrifocal-based households and diverting their funds away from the men.

14. Conclusion • Varied influence • Improvement in gender relations • Short term – positive influence  remittances but “temporary solution to the gigantic task of nation-building.”