What is the experience of the African diaspora in Germany? | Stories of Africans living in Berlin

This week in the 77% street debate when I moved here I called my dad and said: Dad, I don't think I can stay because people keep looking at me. In fact, a whole group of people attacked me. I'm sorry. I don't want people to touch my head, a kind of petting zoo, we are discussing racism, but you can contact someone only if you speak their language well. It would be great to get to a place where we are unapologetic about who we are, the 77%. is now in Berlin. I know it's strange for us to be in Europe, but we've been talking to a lot of young Africans who talk about the possibilities of

living

in the north and middle and the question is: is it worth all the fuss?

I'm going to ask a couple of people here who actually live and work in Germany and I'm going to find out

what

their

experience

has been in the

diaspora

specifically as Africans and I want to start with a personal friend, her name is Maureen, we know her. Here, she knows everyone, but she's been here for quite some time. A little more when you move to Germany,

what

will be your expectations and reality? You know, they have memes, what you expect, so what was it like? Well, the idea was to come here to study. work a little bit and then come home, but then you realize that after spending so much time creating a foundation here, you immediately want to be a part of representing the

diaspora

and the African

experience

here and now has become a bit like rebranding the African continent because like so many ideas that no longer belong or don't really exist in whatever is happening right now before you get into the ideas and kind of like what's happening now, what was the great point for you when you realized that this is actually not what I imagined? to be or this is exactly what I imagined it would be people's perceptions of the African continent of Africans people's perceptions of how we live here and on the continent being on the receiving end of Africans coming and not feeling at home I want to be a part of shaping that and changing it too, okay, he's just talking about the experience of being African and one of the most important things to her is perceptions, so I want to hear from you what it was like when you moved here.

Is that so maybe I mean, do people ask you if you have lions? Oh, actually, I think there are two sides. I mean, there are people who are actually starting to understand that Africans, actually, well-educated Africans, are actually intellectuals, and there are other people. I haven't actually had the experience of meeting even an African, so my experience was that the first time was in Finland. Oh, before I came to Germany, I met an old woman who just wanted to touch me because it was a very strange thing. but I think it's also about how we relate to people when they react a little strange because we will also react strangely when we see something strange and my experience was first: how do I accept a person who doesn't really know who? what an African looks like and how to really relate to an African and I think when I give him that smile and that start that's what changed everything, of course there are negative things that we have to say that happen here in Germany, there are people who are just negative. for past experiences, but it is time for us, the next generation, to change the mentality of these people.

Okay, let me talk to someone who has been here while Clem occludes the gentleman, who is actually part of the CDU, which is the conservative Christian party here in Germany, so you. You are sitting in Parliament right now, but you have had to build this reputation for 22 years. What was it like 22 years ago as an African? I have to say that is one of the reasons why I get into politics because I just realized that something was missing in society in terms of the African community being one of the first Africans to be nominated as candidates in The state parliament in Hamburg is a signal to society that we are not only German by origin, but that there are also people of African descent who live here, work, can also be involved in politics, are medical CEOs and simply highlight the aspect positive from the African community, so I guess it is a wonder, one of the reasons why I am committed, this is the second time we are hearing it Maureen said it before, the perception and we are hearing it from the CDU member of that racism existed and well, I want to tell you what your experience was when you moved here.

I mean, you're very striking, quite tall, where people were kind of taken aback or surprised by the people you met here, like by the way you present yourself and the confidence you have because I think at first glance yeah, I'm someone to who don't you see every day, but if you're really surprised just like the other person, I grew up with arms um, I'm pretty smart and you can communicate with me, he's pretty smart, I think so, because I actually think that racism comes from a place. scary and an unknown place and if you don't know something and you don't like it, then it's a matter of people not wanting to try something new, so it's like we don't know this, we don't want it, but then more contacts, more communication and I honestly think the gap is actually getting better.

People are more welcoming now, but of course we have some elements that say, I'll say you know, but I think it's actually getting better for me. Don't have. really negative experiences when it comes to racism or maybe like you say I'm too flashy, maybe someone is too scared to do something to me or say something to me, but I just want to open the question to the rest of the people here because I've heard people talk about racism and I don't want to assume that the experience of the African diaspora in Germany is related to racism.

Are you likely to have a racial experience if you are in Germany? Yes or no, yes, tell me. I would be very surprised if no one has experienced anything based on their race

living

in Germany because Mo just said that he has never had negative experiences. Well, I think, first of all, when people think of racism, they think of it as explicit. I hate black people to get out of my country but there are little things that people don't realize are being racist and I feel like everyone has experienced that and I feel like even touching your hair can come from a nice place but that's the way it is that they feel that way. just getting into your hair and touching it, that's some form of racism just because I know they're looking at you curiously doesn't mean that's not racism.

I feel like there are explicit things and then there are implicit things where they didn't do it. They would never do that with someone who looks like them, of course? Phillip and I'm also curious if racism is pointed out because you're African. Would it be different if you were African American or if you were of Indian descent? I honestly believe. Racism is not necessary, I'm just pointing that out and adding to what you said, as much as you said it, try to do it in a very positive way. I honestly think it's not that way, it's the little things that make it worse. because this one is below the surface you don't see them, everyone pretends they're not there, but it should make things worse.

Sorry, I don't want people touching my head, kind of a petting zoo. Sorry, I don't want people to ask. I do go to school in a lion if I don't know sit with the hyenas and I have a joke with them or something that is not the case if you want to know about me come and approach me in an open and honest way and you can learn, like this that we agree that racism is part of the experience of the African diaspora, particularly in Germany. Now I want to hear personal examples of what happened to you that made you think that wasn't right, so Shanna, I want to hear from you.

I actually have a slightly different opinion. I am Jamaican and I feel that prejudice is part of the human experience and racism is just one of the ways that people express prejudice and one of the things that Germany has really called me out on. what to do because when I moved here I called my dad and I said, dad, I don't think I can stay because people keep looking at me and he said, assume they're looking because they like what they see, and then the second doctor kuma. He's laughing, so I want to know what exactly he's thinking about.

Why don't you think she's good to look at, of course? So what is the problem? Don't you agree with what she says? That people don't necessarily watch out of curiosity, but more out of a prejudice, as she was explaining, may be in my experience I've been here for almost twenty years to be honest. I haven't experienced racism and it all depends on our mindset what you focus on and what you're stuck on. yourself, so to be honest I see the human being black and white plays no role for me I see the person as you are and the way you came, the way you, the way you approached others , that's how you're also going to be Received, don't you think it's a little naive?

Because I mean I could act like a queen, but if people see me as trash, you should be sexy, you're confident, okay, look, I was actually attacked by a whole group of people. In fact, in Finland I lost my shoulder because of it, simply because people thought I was a Somali who was just selling drugs and had started what we call a gang fight where I used to work for Nokia. I can tell you the first thing. that happened and I say it on television the first thing that happened the police who arrived first had a racial understanding that oh yes, it is this useless African who has triggered all this conflict, so the report was different, we reported it and we said it .

It's a gang fight until Nokia responded and said this was ours, he was actually on a work mission, then the story changed and this is something that for me, actually, one of the reasons I started Being an advocate was that I wanted to show the world that there are not only people who sit under a tree to smoke and relax, but there are also intellectual people who have the high intellect to be able to do equally the same thing that our white brothers and sisters can do and that's why I would say that racism there is no excuse for that, all we need is to have a different mindset and move towards that point where people can now accept us and realize that it's not what they used to do. think because of course all of this comes from a fear and also from ignorance, when people ignore the fact that you can do some things, they definitely build that hate and of course that's where racism really breeds.

This conversation is not about racism, so I just want to draw a line under it because hearing your experiences and if you all have backgrounds from different countries, the immediate question is, why stay here? Answer if it's so bad why not be in a better place? It doesn't have to be Africa, but I mean, Jamaica is right for me personally. Everyone has their own opportunities. So I come from Ghana. Ghana has its own opportunities and now I have the opportunity to be in Germany and personally for myself. reason why I am still here first of all I moved here to join my partner but for me I also see the opportunity to develop for me to be here is to take advantage of the opportunity there the advantage of the language the skills attitude towards work, take advantage of it, come back to home and then contribute to my community, whether I'm going to excel in my own restaurant or also in running it, and we couldn't take the idea to Ghana and improve it, so for me my Being here is to be the best that I can be and also I think for all Africans here, I would say there is an opportunity to grow, there is an opportunity to add a lot of value to yourself, so yes, there is racism, but don't do it.

Don't let that be your approach, don't look to offend them because you would be offended, but they also need the maturity to get over it. Develop yourself and when you have definitely developed, your competition will speak for you, whether you are here. Back home, okay, we've been talking about perception, but in a social space, but what happens when you have to prove your professional worth? Clem oh I wonder if this happened to you when you decided you wanted to become a politician, did people take you seriously? I must say that the beginning was difficult, but as you said, you have to prove yourself over time and let people know that you are not here just as a figure but that you have something to offer to society.

I really appreciate the Moses point. what I did before you know, when we came here to this country, I myself included at the beginning that we were thinking, okay, I'm going to spend five years, ten years, almost make money, go back to Africa and do this and that, and we will still be here 20 years 30. years 40 years people are dying and unfortunately there are some people who did not take the language seriously we are discussing racism we are discussing our existence in this society but you can counter someone only if you speak their language if you have something to say to prove your worth then my advice to the people in our community is okay we have a problem in the society we are in politics we are tryingto do our best to combat it, but we have a duty as Africans and as blacks, it is okay to do our homework starting with your language that we are speaking in, we have been talking about trying to go the extra mile, really making sure that you are doing your own work to integrate, but they are people who never had to do it and because they should never have done it because they are German, they are called Afro-German and Vanessa was one of them and I wonder if it's frustrating for you to constantly hear oh, your German is so good where you're from or your English is that good, yes, of course, yes, but basically.

I stopped taking it too hard on me because, as I am, don't focus on that type of racism anymore. I have different fights, like it's different races to fight, like education, work, I'm an artist, so I'm a makeup artist and a DJ, and it's very difficult for my field to work in this field, so that's my focus more if I they ask, talk to me like, oh you speak really well for a black person in German, I'm like yeah thanks, I'm just Lockette because it takes too much energy so I don't want to use my energy for that. and concentrate much more for the bigger fight, I think that is important for me because I think for the new future I like the new generation because I am ready to build the new generation because my brother is young and has the same face.

So that's why I stopped focusing on my hair, my color, I focused more on the job indication industry and all that. This has been your experience where people invalidate your German nests because half of one side of you has roots somewhere else, a Finnish embassy and a higher helical tone, yes, it's my new ranch, Hassan and when it starts in 30, mention here in Deutschland Schwarz, let's incorporate it all in such a way that we hear Cartman. I'll call skip act at penny house later. He votes North Africa has starts four hours each mr. Qadir best

african

asian music magazine the mentioned vice president gave me r4 grass music is much vaster.

African music wants asses, this is a mega cow, damn, he even said he understands if it's time to stop labeling people as Africans as Europeans because it seems like the world is so integrated. and so mixed up that pretty soon they'll all look like a D and what do you mean? Obviously, if you start labeling people as your African and your German, you're actually excluding them from being everything basically because or anything, you know what I mean. in that sense, that's the idea I think behind this and instead of saying "oh, you're African", it's when people, for example, ask me where are you from, I don't dare tell them from Kenya, I told them: "You know".

I'm a child of the world, you know, I love everyone the way I want to be loved and that's the important thing, but as soon as you obviously start labeling people, that also puts them in a place where they don't feel like they belong and that's the sense of belonging is important, okay, let me ask a different question, let me ask a different question and let me redirect it to this side of the crowd now because I've been stuck there for a while, the experience of the African diaspora or the In one of our debates black diaspora was used versus an adjacent word white where you are not quite black and you are not brown is it different?

I'm happy that you answered that question because I think what has been the ultimate experience for me and you asked earlier why we stayed in Germany and for me it's because immigration is a hero's journey for me and it has put me in full confrontation with my own prejudices and those prejudices are if it's race, if it's gender, if it's sexuality or religion, so for me it's not so much about our people being racist towards me. I asked myself who I'm being racist towards because I do it even if I don't want to admit it, even if it's not something that aligns with my politics.

The reality is that I'm also biased and not familiar with the term white adjacent or anything like that, so I'm not sure if there's something new and unique to the seventy-seven percent, but I also want you to say that because you asked before. it's about proving yourself and we live in a time where everything is subject to revision, everything is subject to redefinition and none of us have to prove ourselves anymore we don't need to prove that we can be doctors, that we can be doctors. Lawyer, those professions are eventually going to change because of technology, so I think the job for all of us is to think about how can I write the story that's being written right now.

Speaking of writing, Julia here is actually part of a magazine: um, which one. is specifically for the African diaspora, at least looking at African issues is what we are talking about here, it sounds familiar, some of the topics you cover in your magazine sound familiar, yes actually, we are not only targeting the diaspora but also society as a whole because we believe that we agree with you, as you said before, that it is important that the image of Africa, which is often talked about too often as a unit, as if it were homogeneous and the same and everyone there is the same, which is not the case.

It is a huge continent and there is a lot of diversity, as you can see here in the different opinions, authors and points of view, and there is a lot to talk about and we try to diversify. and to give a more differentiated view of what's happening on the continent and also within the diaspora itself, yes, because we think it's important for people to know about that, so I'll put you on the spot for a second, please, because you are the only ones. white person on this panel thank you, you felt it, so do you agree with some of the things being said?

Have you perhaps been part of some of the charges that have been made? Have some of your friends and colleagues said these things? What we do as a global society to correct some of these things, in fact we often have debates about it during our lunch breaks and stuff, so I have also heard the experiences of my colleagues and of course it is also a bit difficult and touching for me to be a German person. to hear that these things happen, but it is also very important to recognize them and know that this is happening and realize that yes, of course, there are differences and I think these differences exist in all societies, at least until now, and we have to deal with them in some way and we have to do our best to make people feel welcome and feel good being who they are and doing what they want.

Yes, at the beginning of this conversation I asked if it's worth all the hype. You know all these people. who are crossing the Mediterranean for reasons unknown to us, some of them are: is it worth living here? And I want to ask you, Moisés, earlier you talked about living in Finland and you alluded to the fact that you are going in so do you think you will ever return to Ghana? Is it an option for you? I believe it, are you even considering that it is a very difficult option? I tried it once, so when I was working with Nokia I decided it was time to go.

I came back home and guess what I was thrown into Nigeria because Africa is my home so I was working in Nigeria for two years but I can tell you that I felt like I was still missing something and guess what I came back and now I am of course. in Germany because here is my home I have to be very honest here is my home I go to God I go to Nigeria I go to Kenya more to visit because I feel more comfortable here like at home and again I refer to what she talked about you know we need to write that story, it's not about people, you know we are part of that story that is being written by others, we need to write a story so we need to be a part of changing the whole mindset, yes we may have done that. do three times what a normal average person would do and I'm going to change a little.

I mean, one thing I want to say is that we're all going to be prejudiced in one way or another. I was just saying something for my brother if we listen and especially those in the diaspora if we hear that there is a migration from a country and I don't want to mention countries in particular, we have some countries that when you listen to the citizens I am crossing the border with people. In fact, those who live in the diaspora are even the ones who are so passionate that they say we don't want them to come to our country and then you wonder, but you are living in someone else's country, so what we see is definitely when the fear It takes over. people become biased and so for me the important thing is that, to eliminate that fear, we must show that we must also integrate and make sure that people feel comfortable with us, for example, if we are in Germany and Let's not abuse of the system, but we actually improved it, people definitely feel comfortable and those prejudices will start to fade, but if we see that we are abusing the system, there will definitely be a level of hate that will arise, so for me.

Here is my home. I want to come back to you, Kumar, as we end by looking to the future and with you on CD you were saying that Africa's population is doubling, we are getting younger and globalization is not going to stop anytime soon, so what is it? a CD they are making to ensure that in 2050 another of their representatives will not be here with a young African asking the same questions. I have to admit that the German government through the Chancellor is doing a lot, you may have heard of the teacher. plan for Africa or compact, we have a master plan for Africa and compared to Africa, these are programs that are supposed to help economic development in Africa.

Someone has already pointed out what drives our young people from Africa to Germany. It is the lack of opportunities. work, so every time we try to send money home and this money goes to consumption, not investment, so we have to start building someone, I emphasized entrepreneurship a few years ago, I myself started the entrepreneur night Africans that takes place every year in Germany in In Hamburg, you know that we need to empower our community so that they can replicate that at home as well. I think the German government is writing which will take a little time, but we have to recognize that we Africans have to get involved in the process and It is not established, as you know, to sit on the side and criticize, but we have to get involved to help drive this opportunity back home.

I want to close this debate with one person. I opened it with Maureen. You've been here for over a decade, like we said, watching. the future, what are some of the things that you would like young people to experience when they visit not only Europe but the north in general and lose the fear that will have changed their ideal to... well, it would be great to be able to get to a place? where we apologize for who we are to get to a place where we can continue to contribute to the well-being of society to get to a place where we are not repeating and resetting what we represent who we are where we are from It would be great to have more allies to have these conversations with because Africans are not the ones having these conversations on earth.

You know, we have friends, we're building relationships, we're building families with Germans, with Europeans, so. It would be great to graduate from this level of conversation that we are still having or that the stars are likely to come back to themselves, well, at the beginning we asked what is the experience of the African diaspora in Germany. The answers have been complicated, non-binary, exhausting at times refreshing and it is a conversation that must continue to happen thanks to my panelists who join me here today, a place I call a second home and from Berlin we see shoes