Emigrating from Africa to any country abroad is considered a triumph by the natives of this continent. But let’s face it; does the hype carry any amount of truth? Do Africans who leave their native land for greener pastures abroad triumph once they set their feet in the so called, “land of great opportunities?”
Well, as professed by Africans in Diaspora, most of the Africans abroad work as house maids, clean toilets or look after the mature citizens of the West. The lucky few usually find coporate jobs in private or public institutions, but it’s not all “heaven” like some Africans are fond of putting it. So, unless you have more than it takes to make you a star abroad, your green card is not an equivalent of a lottery. Why?
Of course, according to the majority of Africans overseas, being in Africa is way better than relocating to a foreign country. And regardless of their different fates oversees; these Africans expressed how badly they wished they could get their return ticket to Africa and never look back. Worse yet, these Africans couldn’t hesitate from hiding their deep fears about Africa–which, when heard, can give any African a second thought about moving to any country or state overseas. Here are such fears of africans in diaspora:
(1) How can I return to Africa when am not successful?
This is one of the common fears of africans in diaspora. If you’re an African in Diaspora and you’ve never asked yourself this question, then I probably know you; you are a son or daughter of an African Tycoon, right? For the rest of the Africans oversees, returning home without massive amounts of wealth is not something you’re planning to do, right? possibly your whole village will be waiting for you at the airport, and you’ll be buying lunch and paying bus fares for thousands of your loving villagers? To be safe, just continue staying abroad if whatever you’ve made is not enough to take care of everyone in your rural community.
(2) Will the political instability in Africa kill me?
Returning back home may not be a difficult thing for the lucky few who have accumulated a significant amount of wealth abroad. But returning to Africa immediately after an election or just before election is not something a wise person would ever think of doing.
(3) What will I do without a health insurance?
It was recently discovered that there are two types of racism: inborn racism and acquired one. And while inborn racism may be as simple as, say, “being black and resenting all the whites or vice versa”. Acquired racism, on the other hand, is far worse.
First, you travel abroad and then forget everything about your childhood. And regardless of how black you are, you start viewing yourself as white; as a result, you resent your own kind–the black something.
Now, if I’m allowed to ask, did you have health insurance while you were growing up (somewhere near a stream or in the middle of a maize plantation). And since you didn’t, are you dead?
(4) I have married a European. How will I convince him (or her) to come with me back to Africa?
Simple; don’t convince anybody. Just come and let your “white” wife or husband follow you. If she/he doesn’t follow you, you were never loved in the first place. Jilt. And that, in fact, is enough an excuse to get yourself an African Queen or King (if we have any).
(5) Will I find a good school for my kids in Africa?
Really? Did you study in Africa? If you didn’t, that’s fine–to some extent. But if it’s your African education that got you that job abroad, your kids should be somewhere in Africa walking barefooted to school. And if you were unlucky to study abroad all through, don’t be too self centered. Your kids need an opportunity to study in Africa.
(6) Will my professional experience be acknowledged in Africa? Will the work conditions favor me in Africa?
Okay, the working conditions in Africa may not be that favorable compared to western world, but believe me; they are not as worse as, say, working in a sugar cane farm from morning to evening, or milking and taking cows to a field full of grass to graze. And if you’ve been cleaning toilets somewhere abroad, aren’t these jobs a bit classy?
(7) How will I find an apartment in Africa?
Well, this is a conceivable reason to extend your stay abroad for a couple of days, since finding an apartment in Africa is the hardest thing anyone can do. But hold, I was joking. If you had initially moved straight from the village to the US or Europe, without getting an opportunity to experience the urban life in Africa, then am here to tell you that there are plenty of apartments to buy or rent in Africa. And since you’re not part of obama’s family (the only African family to have stayed in the White house), you’ll definitely find an apartment that’s way better than the one you’ve been living in abroad. Just come, return home.
(8) I don’t want to live in my parents’ house when I get back home. More so, I have a family. Where will I get the money to get my own place?
I can spot a number of people who are sympathizing with you; of course, they are morons too. At this point, a simple question will suffice: have you been living in your parents’ house abroad? Were you paying rent? If so, ask your landlord (landlady… whatever) to refund your full deposit and goodwill, since you’re going back to Africa. You can then use that amount to find a nice apartment for yourself–just don’t live beyond your means.
(9) How will I find a job in Africa?
You probably know the internet, right? If not, that’s what is making it possible for you to read this article. Now when you have the internet, you can type “Google.com,” somewhere up there. Then search for jobs in your country. However, if the only experience you have is washing the elderly, sorry! In Africa the elderly don’t pay to get washed. Most of them even know how to take care of themselves, in fact.
(10) How will I overcome the social pressure, or run away from people asking for money?
No answer please. Now that’s what we call, “your own problem.” You can lie or tell the truth, just choose. And since your trip back home will be lengthy, you’ll definitely have plenty of time to figure out which lie best suits the occasion or how diplomatic you want to be.
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