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African Americans now want to return to land of ancestors
2008-06-18 09:28:17
By PETER TINDWA
Africa and its Diaspora are quickly approaching a critical time in history when the development of critical economic, political and social opportunities for African nations and citizens of African descent are not only a realistic possibility, but the opportunities for both are inextricably intertwined.
African governments should look for a possibility of implementing policies which will allow all persons of African descent are not only a realistic possibility, but the opportunities for both are inextricably intertwined.
``The passage of policies which will allow all persons of African descent to return to their respective ancestral homelands as citizens, while maintaining their current citizenship status, is one of many steps that will make this development a reality,`` said Reverend Jesse Jackson from the United States of America.
As a result of exponential advances in communication technology and global business transactions, social mobility is far more common and accessible in recent years.
Accordingly, the economies of the world are becoming more interrelated and interdependent based on the model of globalisation.
Expert economists and political scientists agree that Africa\'s development is central to the development of any successful world economy.
``For African governments to fully take advantage of this opportunity to build out its society, it must first take advantage of the opportunity to integrate the power, capital and talents of its representatives abroad in the Diaspora.
To do otherwise, would be a misguided and miscalculated step that will hamper Africa`s ability to fully develop and integrate its societies,`` stated Ambassador Andrew Young from US.
Majority of Africa Americans are of the opinion that African states should adopt national and regional immigration policies to ``Re-naturalise`` its progeny in the Diaspora.
They suggest that issues like implementing the proposed dual citizenship policies should be addressed by African countries.
African states should understand and work to implement a system of ``re-naturalisation`` for its kith and kin, who want to be reconnected with their ancestral homeland.
As a result of the various Partitions of Africa, African colonisation and forced emigration by the Transatlantic Slave Trade, many Diaspora were ``forced`` to see themselves as distinct and ``different`` from their continental kin, but through education and cultural exchange, this belief is changing, according to African Americans.
Not only are Africans in the Diaspora rediscovering and accepting their cultural roots, but many are likely to cling to them as a means for their own survival in this global environment, said the co-ordinator of the Tanzania Coalition for Sustainable Development, Damas Nderumaki.
Envisioned dual citizenship is seen as being not only an asset for Africa`s development in the global age, but also an answer for those in the Diaspora, who psychologically long for a connection to home.
African dual citizenship could meet the many varied needs of the Diaspora that the ``Back to Africa`` movement could not.
Indeed, while some recipients of dual citizenship might return ``home`` others may remain as global representatives of their home in the Diaspora.
Dual citizenship is a ``Symbolic`` connection, especially for non residents, who make significant investments in African nations. For others dual citizenship is a ``Passive connection`` as they would come and have substantial investments in Africa.
Part of Diaspora would need dual citizenship as an Active connection.
These three citizenship classifications could allow Diaspora to reconnect on a less formal or more formal basis depending on their desire to participate within a given society.
The concept of full African unity is not a new one nor is the concept of dual citizenship original. African descendents would be re-naturalised through dual citizenship.
Thus, there is no question that in the modern world, which is becoming increasingly free and democratic, Africans are looking for ways to become unified in this globally interdependent environment.
The history of Africans is a shared one, and any struggles which have been undertaken to bring about a more viable world in terms of political rights for Africans are seen as valid and justified struggles.
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