Conversation Club 19 June 2009: Immigration
Do you see immigration as a positive or negative thing?
For Senegal immigration is seen as positive, 90% positive, as one participant put it. Immigrants do a lot for Senegal by sending money to their families who in turn use the money to help in the development of the country. Most of the Senegalese migrants, who are the “buyers and sellers” abroad, are not from Dakar but from the villages and do not have a substantial education. However there is a large portion of educated Senegalese who live abroad and who contribute to the development of other countries but not Senegal (more on this below).
In the 1980s, as agriculture begun to have less importance and yield less money, potential migrants looked for other opportunities, particularly in Europe. Migrants were encouraged and welcomed by the countries of Western Europe to work in factories, construction and do physical labor. Many of these migrants never anticipated staying in Europe but hoped to return to Senegal with their pockets full. According to a statistic cited by one of the participants, 3 million of Senegalese live outside of Senegal and send 500 billion CFA back to Senegal.
Why do people decide to take the pirogues to Europe?
The overwhelming response from the participants was that people in Senegal are living in poverty and see Europe as a place where they can improve their lives and obtain more opportunities. Unemployment in Senegal is a big issue and the shame of not having a job is large. In that same vein, “jom” plays a role. Jom is a Wolof word for a highly prized value that embodies courage and perseverance. Non-working people, especially men, are seen to lack jom.
Senegalese in Europe bring pride to their family because not only does the migrant have a job and is probably sending money home, but he or she has left Senegal. That is seen as an achievement.
As one participant asked rhetorically, what encourages Senegalese to stay in Senegal to realize their dreams?
Once abroad
One the Senegalese migrant is abroad; he or she takes a menial labor job that requires physical force, morale, and time. Many Senegalese migrants in Europe do work that they never would touch in Senegal; those jobs are given to migrants to Senegal, especially Guineans.
One participant, who spent seven years in France, told the group that Europe is not what immigrants expect. She noted that many of the Senegalese immigrants she met were forced to work in illegal sectors of society in order to make money.
She added that many immigrants who come home to Senegal boast about their life abroad but much of it is not true. She underlined how difficult it is to live abroad sans family or connections. Another participant added that the amount of money used to go abroad, an average of 1 million CFA per person could be used instead to start a business or work in Senegal.
The relationship between Senegalese and Europe
Police do not treat Senegalese immigrants well and thus they are frequently harassed. A participant added that a video had been put on the Internet of a Senegalese man being beaten by Spanish police in the airport. This exemplifies the tension between the two groups.
A participant noted that Senegalese welcome foreigners to their country with open arms. Senegal is known for being the country of terranga or hospitality. This kind of welcome is not reciprocated in Europe.
One participant added that colonization was a form of immigration. Europeans came to Africa, extracted the resources they wanted and sent them home to Europe. This kind of colonization/immigration is still going on in Africa where politicians broker deals with Europe businesses and leaders for African resources that could be used in ways to develop African countries. The example was given of Thomas Sankara former president of Burkina Faso who refused to bow to the imperialist wants of Europe but then was assassinated in 1987 by the current President, Blaise Compaore.
Brain Drain
One participant cited that 200 Senegalese professors teach and the best universities in the United States. The participant noted the amount of potential that is lost when a qualified person moves to work abroad.
Visas
The question was asked, why do European or American citizens travel abroad without the same visa dilemmas that Africans face? A participant answered by saying that the root of that mindset is that since Africa is a poor continent, it is believed that their citizens will stay in the country. Another participant answered by saying that the Embassies do not respect those asking for visas.
One participant shared his own visa experience by stating that the US embassy rejected his student visa application on the premise that he did not know anyone in the US, although he had already been accepted to an American university and had more than the required amount of money in his bank account. Another participant said that he knows of someone who during his interview, admitting to knowing people in the US and was rejected on that premise.
Another participant stated that he heard from an American who worked at the US Embassy in Dakar and used to sell visas for 3 million CFA. In response to that, a participant said, at least everyone wins.”
Would the club’s participants go abroad?
The moderator asked whether any of the participants were hoping to go abroad, about five out of the thirteen participants said that they wanted to and were in the process of applying to get visas. All of the five the participants want to go to the United States to study or work. Several participants cited the US as a place where people can achieve their dreams and would allow the participants to further their education.
LINKS
http://www.seneweb.com/news/article/23565.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sankara
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90778/90858/90866/6602087.html
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