ORTOFOTOGRAFÍA DIGITAL

It is important to introduce the ten research participants for two reasons. First, while this thesis is a study of experiences, it is respectful of the participants to acknowledge through this introduction that there are people behind the experiences. A presentation and discussion of the experiences without a dedicated introduction of the individual participants almost amount to dehumanising of the experiences. Second, the participants are not homogenous. Highlighting their individual identities is in keeping with the core tenets of CRT that relate to the identity of people of black African origin.

In compliance with ethical commitments and in agreement with the participants, the ten participants are referred by pseudonyms derived from popular first names within their indigenous BWA culture of the participant. Henceforth, these participants are known as: Ada, Akwa, Nwadike, Yemi (females), Ade, Besong, Enow, Koffi, Obi, and Tunde (males).

While the participants share and African heritage, it should be remembered that they are individuals. They have individual identities and identity is an important feature

both of CRT and AF that this thesis draws on. More so, these participants live in a society that, as seen in various censuses, has sought to describe them under various ethnic categories. As such, in presenting their brief biographies, I have tried to highlight how they identify themselves. All the participants were born between 1985 and 1995.

Ada

Ada is approximately twenty-three years old and has been living in England since the age of eight. Her parents and four other siblings fled religious persecution in their West African country and have since settled in England as refugees. Prior to immigrating to England, Ada and her family stayed as refugees for one year in another African country where they felt was not safe for them.

Ada’s mother worked in Social Care while her father is a private hire-driver. Her parents had no formal qualifications when they moved to England but have since achieved qualifications to Level 3. Ada was in her second year in university reading for a degree in science and hopes to become a medical doctor in the future. Ada explained that by trying to go all the way to become a medical doctor, she is optimising the opportunities her parents never had. According to her, her parents are ‘very bright’ people and would have done better if they were not stalled by their asylum seeking and refugee status when they first came to England.

Ada self-identifies as a BWA British and explains further that

Sometimes I saw myself more as a refugee than anything else … may be I just got carried by the stories my parents tell me of how we were poorly treated as refugees….not having much because of restrictions and being called sort of

names. I know people who were called names but who were never refugees…a lot of these people think all black Africans in England are refugees if you see what I mean.

By “all these people” Ada meant non-blacks.

Akwa

Akwa is in her early-twenties and first came to like in England at the age of seven. Her father was already settled here in England before Akwa, her mother and siblings joined him. Akwa has since had a younger brother born here in England. Akwa’s parents are educated to degree level and are both in employment. Akwa was at university reading for a degree in social work.

In explaining that being British was important for her, Akwa said that

I was born in Africa and that’s it. My parents brought me here when I knew nothing about Africa. Most of the things I know about Africa today is what I have learned just like many other white kids that are born here. I have lived all my life here. My future is here. You can say there is an African twist to that but all I know is that I am British…. I find it funny when people think I am just African.

In addition to being a full-time social work student, Akwa was a relief support worker for adults with learning disabilities and mental health problems. Akwa does this job at weekends and during vacations. Akwa said that although her family is not desperate, she contributes to their financial wellbeing by earning some money herself.

She was very proud of this as she said “if I can help my family while I am still a student what more about when I graduate and get a good job!”

Akwa said she wanted to become an Advanced Mental Health Social Work Practitioner partly due to her belief that blacks are disproportionately represented in mental health diagnoses. She said that as part of her social work training, she had watched where a black man was wrongly diagnosed and sectioned. She feels the black man might not have been sectioned if he was white.

Akwa said she wanted to “go far in life” and getting a social work degree and a good job would only be the “start to that process”.

Nwadike

Nwadike is approximately twenty-five years old. She first came to England as an unaccompanied child, living initially with her extended family and later with her own parents who moved to England some years after. Her parents were educated to degree level in West Africa but since moving to England had gained no further qualifications. Only Nwadike’s mother is in full time permanent employment. Her father does manual labour on irregular patterns through recruitment agencies. Nwadike successfully completed her secondary school. She attempted to further her education at another local high school but dropped out in the first year. Nwadike likes singing and dancing and was working hard to become a popstar in the future.

Nwadike said that while she was black African British, she would like her music and dancing to be reflect her roots and have a universal appeal as well. In her words:

It’s not all about grime and free style even though that still needs women to join in …yes, it is male dominated…what I mean is bring in something like Fela Kuti but liven it up with some crazy dancing. That way you are jazzy and fresh. Tell me … who wouldn’t want a bit of that?

Yemi

Yemi is of the same age group as the other female participants but unlike the others who were born abroad, Yemi was born in England. Yemi has travelled several times to West Africa with her parents and like her parents, she feels West Africa is her ultimate home. Yemi is a single mother, not in employment, education nor in training. She hopes to one day go back to school as a mature student and to gain a degree so she can become a social worker. Yemi explained that “people might think I am a black woman … doing nothing with my life … having children and the rest … but I have a focus. Nothing can stop me”.

Yemi felt being ‘African’ was most relevant to her and stated that:

It was important for me to be seen as Black British West African because that is who I am. I was born here and have acquired British citizenship. But that does not mean that is who I am. I live my life as a BWA and that makes me who I am. I use the term West because there are a lot of people who are black and from Africa but who are different from me.

On one occasion that Yemi went to school having plaited her hair using hair extensions she was told by the student welfare officer to undo it before reporting to

through her hairstyle and that an attack on it was a statement against her person and race. Practically, she said it had taken the whole weekend and a lot of money to style her hair and was not able or happy to undo it overnight. Yemi said her parents were equally angered and decided she stayed at home in protest. She did not report back to school for three days and on the fourth day the matter was resolved in her favour. According to Yemi’s story, “soon after that incident other children…even whites started plaiting their hair with multi-colour extensions”.

Ade

Ade was the youngest participant in the research. Aged between eighteen and twenty-one, Ade was born in England. He moved to Africa where he completed primary school before returning to start and finish secondary school in England. Ade completed secondary school only a few years ago, was studying for a General Certificate in Education Advanced Level and aspires to become an accountant or lawyer. Ade’s wish was to open a school in his parents’ country in West Africa in the future. Ade’s parents are both educated to postgraduate level.

In explaining that she is both British and African Ade explained that:

Well, I suppose I kind of like was born here and stuff so I think like a black British but then at the same time I still kind of identify like where my parents have come from and that is like part of me like so I do identify myself with that because I am very proud like of my heritage where I am from and stuff and so I suppose I don’t want to pigeon hole myself too much.

While in school, Ade, like Besong, had friends close friends that were not only from BWA background. Some of his friends were Asian, white and mixed race.

Besong

Besong was born in England and until completing secondary school he had visited his parents’ country of origin in Africa only once. Upon leaving secondary school, Besong decided to attend further education to pursue training into a trade of his choice. He had no desire to go to university as he felt that, having struggled significantly to complete secondary school, higher education was not for him. Besong hopes that through his trade, he will become a business owner in the future, become as wealthy as some of the people who inspire him. Besong says that he is inspired by Aliko Dangote, Bill Gates, Yang Huiyan, Jack Ma and Richard Branson, entrepreneurs who are amongst the richest people in the world.

While Besong explained that he was not particularly interested in specific ethnic classifications, he said he was keen to be a ‘Black British’. In saying that “I hang out mostly with blacks, but I have good friends who are whites. I suppose I am more interested in likeminded people. You want to be around people who dream like you and inspire you… people you can share ideas”.

Enow

Enow, like some of the other participants was born in England but his parents sent him to complete primary school in Africa. He then returned to England to continue his education. He explained that in his school in Africa he was usually the first in his class in most assessments but when he came to England and started secondary school he started falling behind until he sat only three subjects at GCSE level. He abstained

assessments, he passed only one. Since leaving school, Enow has neither been in any education, employment or training. His plans were to engage in international wholesale business between Africa and Europe when his family can raise the necessary funds to start up.

Unlike Koffi who was officially excluded from school at certain point, Enow was not excluded; yet he explained that he felt excluded in school.

...because of the way I was treated and the vibes I gathered I always somehow felt I was not wanted around. When you are around people would say “go back” meaning you should go back to Africa. This is language that speaks a lot. They would say it as if It wasn’t directed at you … that is racist because white people

didn’t have to go anywhere… only black people or asylum seekers “go”.

Enow explained that his experiences “have made me feel stronger as a BWA… I don’t want to be something else that people won’t welcome you”.

Koffi

Koffi was born in England but moved with his parents to East Africa where he lived till about the age of twelve. Except for his father who returned to West Africa, Koffi’s family returned to England where Koffi then had the opportunity to attend secondary school in an English school. Since returning to England, Koffi has never visited East Africa. Instead, he has been to West Africa where his parents originally come from. In explaining that England is his home, he also made clear that he cherished the fact that he had the opportunity to “live in and see many other countries apart from the United Kingdom”.

Koffi’s mother later had a divorce from his father, something that Koffi blamed on unsuccessful attempts by his father to secure a visa to return to England. Koffi explained that the family separation compounded some of the difficulties he faced in school. Koffi explained that he was at some point excluded from school and sent to a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), on ground of his behaviour.

At the time of interviews, Koffi was a youth worker and was engaged in further training as he was planning to become self-employed as a life coach and motivational speaker. Seeing himself as a BWA British, Koffi explained that “I have seen a lot of kids especially black kids who don’t have direction in life. Some are confused and need help. If you can make a good living while helping them I think that is wonderful”.

Koffi explained that giving back to one’s community is not all about having too much money or the highest level of education. He explained that his own in life “got back straight” thanks to other people helping him, some of whom including members of his extended family who supported him by loving him and giving appropriate guidance.

Obi

Obi was born in Northern Ireland and his parents moved to England when he was five years old. His parents first lived in at least two other European countries before moving to Northern Ireland where they got married. Obi indicated that he did not recall much about his life in Northern Ireland. He had never been abroad since moving to England.

For those that know, when you see the marks on my father’s face you know he is from a certain tribe back home. My parents have told me stories why they had those marks and how important that was for them. It doesn’t matter much in England, but I suppose it reminds my father where he is from. I have never been to African, but I am an African at heart. That means a lot to me.

Obi has a network of acquaintances who are both white and blacks but explains that his closest friends are blacks with origins in West Africa like himself. Obi says this is not only a matter of convenience and shared culture but also one of principle as he says he would rather be betrayed by his own kind than give another chance to be trayed by “others”.

At time of interview, Obi had graduated with a first-class degree in geological sciences and aspired to live and work either in Scotland or in the Middle East. Obi explained that breaking into the next phase of his life was “going to be tricky” as it might not be all plain sailing. Obi said he was determined to work hard to achieve his goals, which would start with getting the right job.

Tunde

Tunde is one of six siblings and was born in England. He is the only male among his siblings who are all older than him. Both of Tunde’s parents have advanced degrees and hold management roles in their professions. After obtaining an honours degree in Education and Child development, he changed his mind on working as a teacher in primary schools and wanted to be a priest. He was affiliated to a number of national and international evangelical projects which he says “keep me going until I am more established”. Tunde indicated that even though his parents are Christians and “church goers”, they were not happy with his decision to pursue a career in priesthood.

He explained that he since had strained relations with his family. Tunde feels that his family will soon come round and understand that he was doing the right thing. According to him:

I have always wanted to use my education to serve people…especially those who not never have my level of education. At the end of the day my family always wanted me to grow up and help my people… to help other people. I want to one day prove to them that I can be an evangelical priest, be very rich and help my people all at the same time.

In trying to pursue his dream of becoming a priest, Tunde has travelled to many countries in Europe, Australia, South America and Africa. Tunde explained that wherever he goes, his identity as ‘BWA British’ is important to him. He explained that he is not happy to be known otherwise because “people thinking that you belong to some group is like giving you a different name. You have to feel disappointed and unhappy with that”.