Intercontinental migrations, forced or volitional, are not new to Africans. While several research and studies have been conducted on the impact of migration on host countries as well as the brain-drain experienced by African countries, there is a scarcity of research on the real experiences of African migrants. This chapter proposes such research, using the life course perspective and qualitative research strategy in order to get a broader understanding of the lives of African diasporas. The life course perspective highlights the transitions, social meanings, and cumulative nature of the migrants' experiences, while the qualitative approach allows for tapping into the lived experiences of individuals through their personal narratives. Both are necessary for a more purposeful examination and realistic understanding of the African diaspora.
TopThe African Diaspora
The term, African Diaspora, was initially used to describe the forced displacement, abductions and kidnappings of African and other nationals to the Americas and Europe. Of recent, the term has been expanded to include those who identify with a “homeland,” such as Africa, yet live outside of it. The “Diasporas” include the first-generation emigrants, the foreign-born children of these individuals, as they uphold a cultural, linguistic, historical, religious or affective link to the homeland. Diasporas are a transnational population (Jaw, 2017) and are still connected to their home countries either through family ties and economic interests (Cohen, 2002).
The African Diaspora is not a homogenous group. In studying this group, there is a need for clarity in the definition of the “African Diaspora.” There are mixed definitions of African Diasporas since the concept came into being. Safran (1991), for instance, indicates that the word “Diaspora” is used to refer to commonalities like foreign residents, refugees, expatriates, immigrants, and ethnic and racial minorities. The scholar provides the criteria for classifying people as belonging to the diaspora: