The migration of Africans within Africa has a huge untold story and that needs to change.
As I travel more across the African continent, I increasingly realize how widespread Nigerians are in places I least expected.
It’s not uncommon to stumble upon Nigerian communities even in the most surprising locations.
For instance, I was once astonished to find an Igbo kitchen in Guinea-Bissau, a Portuguese-speaking country. Who would have thought?
During my recent adventures, I made it a point to visit Nigerian embassies in each country I traveled to.
My goals were twofold:
- Announce My Arrival: As a foreigner in a new country, I sought vital information and support to navigate my surroundings effectively.
- Connect with Fellow Nigerians: My primary objective was to establish connections with other Nigerians living in these countries.
Regrettably, the second goal remained largely unfulfilled.
It seemed as though there were no associations of Nigerians in many African countries, or perhaps there was a reluctance to include me in these networks.
This lack of community became particularly evident during my time in Cameroon, where I spent an evening with the Belgian and Spanish communities, and in Congo, where I enjoyed a lively evening with the French community.
Despite the abundance of expatriate communities, I struggled to find even a hint of where Nigerians congregate in these regions.
I’ve heard there are at least 2,000 Nigerians in the Congos, yet I haven’t crossed paths with any of them.
The absence of a formal or informal network makes it challenging to connect with fellow countrymen.
Nigerian diaspora organizations should not be limited to those in European countries; they are needed across Africa as well.
When I walk into a Nigerian embassy in any African country, I yearn for a sense of warmth and community—a place where someone might say, “If you’re free this weekend, come here; most of us hang out here.
You can meet Chike from Anambra or Bisi from Ogun, who have been living here for five years.”
Creating strong, supportive communities for Nigerians and other Africans across Africa is crucial to shifting this mentality and fostering a sense of belonging and possibility within our own continent.
I believe in the legal migration of Africans within Africa.
Until we document and celebrate the success stories of Africans thriving on the continent, we will continue to perceive the West as the ultimate destination.
omotoke