All hands on deck

Second generation Africans are a group of people who represent an untapped potential and who can play a significant role in ensuring that Africa becomes a major player on the international stage. Today, Africa stands at the precipice of an industrial revolution. Notably, increased globalisation has placed Africa centre stage on many global economic agendas. China’s move into the continent has represented new avenues of economic growth for the continent and the growth in Africa’s young and ready labour force all point to a burgeoning period in the continent’s history. If we are to ensure that Africa emerges victorious from this renewed global interest in its economic growth, it is important for all Africans to play a role in the continent’s growth both on the ground and in the diaspora. Enter a role for second generation Africans. This article therefore explores some challenges faced by UK second generation Africans, and ideas on how to better engage and support this growing generation.

DEFINING 2ND GENERATION AND THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS

According to Oxford dictionary, a second generation immigrant is an individual who was naturally born in the host country (here the UK) to at least one foreign-born parent. Ethnic minority individuals constitute a continually growing share of the UK population with a 50% increase in the African population over the last decade. Over one third of ethnic minority individuals are UK-born (36.5% in 2009) (Gregg, P. and J. Wadsworth, 2011)

For the UK African population, this second generation African demographic is growing. According to the UK 2011 Census, 1.8% of the total UK population of 56.1 million people identified themselves as ‘Africans’. The 2nd gen African tends to be better educated than their parents’ generation, and attain better educational achievements than their white native peers. Still, this does not translate through to the workplace with second generation ethnic minorities less likely to have jobs and earn on average lower wages, even where they possess the same academic and professional credentials as their white British born peers. As well, this group has a tendency to be more entrepreneurial than other ethnicities according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) UK 2011 report. It is therefore disheartening that amongst this growing population, many feel increasingly less connected to Africa.

BUT WHY ARE THE 2ND GENERATION AFRICANS IMPORTANT?

The world is undergoing significant changes in our interpersonal relationships and communication. Further, with increasing globalisation, individuals are less likely to attribute their identity solely to any one place. There are therefore increasingly blurred lines of identity amongst Africans in the diaspora generally. It is therefore important to harness a more unified picture of an African identity to which 2nd generation Africans can easily subscribe. To take forward action in this challenge to evolve from a developing to a developed continent, all participants must be able to equally access this notion of a unified African identity. Africa is about to enter an industrial revolution and several countries on the continent are identified as emerging economies. This type of industrial growth requires a ready labour force on the continent, innovators and entrepreneurs, and perhaps both most importantly, policy advocates for change both on the continent and in the diaspora.

Intuitively, second generation Africans, as a demographic, seem ready made to participate in and address Africa’s industrial growth needs.

Second generation Africans are well placed to participate in Africa’s economic growth both directly or indirectly. These individuals are fundamentally important because they are a well educated population, even more so than their first generation parents, that could in turn contribute their unique skill sets directly to the continent’s large labour force pool. Alternatively, where second generation Africans choose to stay in their adopted UK home, these individuals can still contribute indirectly through engagement in international development policies relating to Africa drafted by the UK government. Crucially, these individuals often have similarities with the donor country’s culture as well as a potential empathy for their ancestral continent. It is this empathetic knowledge that will play a significant role in ensuring beneficial policies are advocated for by 2nd generation Africans.

In defining second generation Africans, it is important to note that they have often inherited the ideals of the immigrant spirit from their parents and, as such, have a strong work ethic. The second generation African demographic is also younger and thus often tech savvy. They are better connected with UK culture. Taken together, these characteristics enable these individuals to act as intermediaries and ambassadors for Africa in the UK. As ambassadors or intermediaries, this demographic of second generation Africans can act from afar by utilizing social media and mobilising social networks much more rapidly that would have an immediate impact in the UK e.g. a protest in Africa versus a protest in the UK by second generation Africans. Indeed, we have already seen the power and effectiveness of activating a social media revolution on the continent recently through the Arab Spring.

Many second generation Africans find it challenging to tap into the pre-existing networks in their ancestral country. Their degree of integration into the UK society is significantly compared to their first generation parents. A difference in the way of living, cultures, traditions and norms have resulted in a significantly decreased like-mindedness among second generation Africans to their people living in Africa. So, for most second generation Africans, the key question they ask is: ‘Why should I bother?’

ABSENCE OF A PLATFORM

There remains no truly robust platform in the UK specifically targeted for second generation Africans to engage in development issues pertaining to their ancestral heritage. The platforms that currently exist for example, Africa-UK, which focuses on enhancing the contribution of the diaspora to Africa's development and fostering dialogue with policy makers, mainly comprises mainly of first generation Africans who have a direct link with Africa. This contributes to an inability to piece together an identity that encompasses their African roots. This is particularly true given the fact that many second generation Africans have either never visited the continent and thus grow up outside Africa, far away from the African culture.

To enable the development of such a platform, it is paramount to develop a better understanding of this demographic - their needs, wants and motivations. This in turn will inform and enable the development of targeted and sustainable engagement mechanism. In turn, this will offer second generation Africans relevant education in international development policy and empower them to become capable advocates in the promotion of Africa’s development goals. There is a need for dedicated networks and forums to build knowledge and build rich direct relationships with Africa.

Lack of a sense of entitlement to African heritage

Second generation Africans living in the UK face cultural and language barriers. This is reinforced when the first generation fail to effectively transfer such knowledge. Take for example the language barrier, understanding phrases, slangs, and their connotations acts as a form of barrier to identifying fully with their heritage. Some African countries also dissuade dual citizenship rights to diaspora and added to a lack of strong incentives of entitlement, the connection between African countries and second generation becomes weakened.

There is a real need for African countries to foster programs that enable the feeling of entitlement with their diaspora. Mechanisms such as the ‘right of nationality’ may be put in place to facilitate or encourage the reunion of the second generation Africans. Taking an example from the Chinese immigration experience, laws were established giving priority to overseas Chinese including many families who may have lived outside China for generations. A similar situation applies to Jews, who regardless of birthplace are guaranteed a ‘right of nationality’. This theme, common across many nations, culminates in thinking critically about integrating people in a more meaningful way.

THE NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL OF THE AFRICA IN THE MEDIA

Africa is usually portrayed in mainstream media as a continent continually dependent on assistance. This creates the notion amongst second generation Africans as helpers rather than collaborators that to a certain extent, alienates them. Although the main sources of information about Africa tend to be social media and the mainstream media, there is a limit to the experience that can be gained by living as a diaspora. Social media and video chat platforms have created new dynamics in how people communicate and share information but there is still a tactile sensory barrier.

Improving the perception of Africa in the media especially on two key issues: firstly, education about current developments and emerging opportunities where 2nd generation Africans can have a direct involvement in, and secondly, continuous reinforcement of the value of their involvement and their stake in the African development story.

POOR CORRELATION OF PRIORITIES AND EXPERIENCES

There is poor correlation between the daily living experiences and challenges faced by 2nd generation Africans and the experiences of Africans living in Africa. This inherently creates the scenario whereby second generation Africans cannot directly relate to challenges and the need for solutions faced by people living in Africa, even more so without having ever visited their ancestral country. Typically, the environment a person inhabits becomes their immediate concern and priority. But even when some try to look beyond their immediate concerns, they are still in a state of limbo where on one hand, they may be keen to engage but still feel alienated and treated like foreigners. Direct experience, a philosophical concept, denotes the experience, knowledge and skills gained through an immediate sense perception. African issues require African solutions, thus local knowledge and that sense perception is required to become even more effective in becoming a part of the solution.

There is an opportunity here to build schemes that create the opportunity and reason for second generation Africa to visit their countries of origin and rebuild the broken sensory and emotional connection required to galvanise full involvement. What’s more, there is a real need to encourage and empower second generation Africans to become leaders in the UK to help breach our mutual goals and challenges. A second generation African secretariat can become an avenue for African businesses to engage with the UK industry.

African countries struggle to successfully capitalise on the talent bank of second generation Africans. Many African countries have not taken adequate advantage to leverage the talents of second generation Africans and more can still be done. They still remain a dormant workforce in Africa’s development agenda at a critical point when we need all hands on deck.

There is a need to encourage and empower second generation Africans to become leaders both in the UK and internationally to help breach mutual goals and challenges. For example, a second generation African secretariat can become a channel for representation of African businesses here in the UK and also channel innovation through to the UK industry. There is an opportunity to invest into Africa’s future success but simultaneously, there is also to invest African driven ideas and solutions to the developed economies.

There is a significant duty here for the 1st generation parents who have that compassionate link to educate and carry though their culture and traditions in their families impacting them onto their second generation siblings.

Conclusion

We are at a critical juncture in Africa’s history, where we require all hands on deck to ensure growth and sustainability. As we venture through this period, successfully engaging the second-generation Africans will have a significant positive impact in our road to success. Second generation UK Africans are a well-educated population with huge expertise and a diverse skill set, exposed to global trends and best practices, and who embrace modernisation. Currently, the second generation Africans act as a non-activated population in Africa’s struggle to become developed and there is a huge potential and an opportunity for tapping into their resource and capabilities.

Several factors hamper and influence the second generation African’s ability to engage in Africa’s development agenda. An enabling and supportive platform to engage both directly with Africa and indirectly is either missing or currently insufficient to rekindle faded interests. The need to reinvigorate cultural experiences, coupled with a positive perception in the media about Africa can contribute to bridging the gap in knowledge.

The time is now for all parties – the first generation parents, host governments and African governments to understand better the second generation Africans and engage them more strongly and effectively. It is also a time for second generation Africans to realise the wealth of opportunities that are available to them in Africa and get involved.

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