Photo by Gilbert Anthony
Is there something wrong when people choose to leave their country of origin? Is there an impending warning sign that something is about to happen? Who stands to gain, and who stands to lose in the migration process?
Africa has long been associated with one of the highest numbers of immigrants, with most immigrants transferring across African countries and the rest to Europe as the most preferred destination.
While immigrating is a natural occurrence for both people and animals in their aim to seek better living conditions, it is when there’s too much movement that becomes an unusual and abnormal situation. In the case of one of the most colonized regions in the world, Africa takes center stage as a representation of the vital cause of concern for why Africans chose to leave their homeland and seek greener grasses in other countries.
In the book Sparrows of Senegambia by Charles Sampson, Ph.D., the author shares his story as he travels back to his birthplace and a dozen African countries, including South America, the states, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The author compared his journey to the flight of the sparrows – a symbol of rising above circumstances of reality, doom, and dismay.
The flight of the sparrows is akin to people’s choice for immigration and the goal to achieve a life that provides better economic opportunities and a safe and healthier living environment.
African Immigration: An Overview
Immigration is commonly described as the process by which individuals move to another country to become permanent citizens. This movement can be beneficial to one country and detrimental to another.
Many factors are behind the escalating trend of African migration, in what was known as the “push-pull” factors. The “push” factors or the common reasons that drive people away from Africa are primarily repressive and oppressive governance, constant cultural conflicts, limited economic opportunities, economic pressures, poverty, violence, and extreme weather climates.
Limited economic opportunities result in a lack of social services, including employment and healthcare access. Extreme weather conditions lead to floods, crop failure, extreme heat, or drought.
The “pull” factors are mainly driven by proximity reasons or the need to be closer to family ties. Some possible features for pull factors include higher employment, better services, better climate, fertile lands, and safe and secured governance and policing system.
To sum it up, people migrate to look for better employment, safety from violence and conflict, improved quality of living, and opportunity for better education.
Stemming the Tide
As mentioned, immigration can be a winning factor for one country and a loss factor for another. Either way, both countries, at some point, will be experiencing the impacts of loss and gain coming from this type of human movement. Both countries will be experiencing complex challenges if the number of people immigrating increases and becomes too much. There would be concerns arising from human rights, economic opportunity, employment, multiculturalism, and refugees and asylum seekers.
Countries cannot ignore the seriousness of the impact of severe immigration. Hence, policies should address the issues stemming from the increasing tide of immigration.
If people leave their country of origin, what happens to their homeland?
There would be fewer people paying for tax. There would also be fewer skilled or professional workers in what is known as a “brain drain.” Too many people leaving their country would also lead to gender imbalances.
What happens to the receiving country of destination?
There would be overcrowding. Diversity becomes extreme with language and cultural barriers, increasing racial tension, and discrimination—the pressure on natural resources increases, leading to a rise in pollution levels.
The flight and fight for a new and better life don’t ultimately necessitate people to leave their country of origin. Governments should make reforms and policies to entice people to stay longer, giving them no reason to go. After all, it is because of external circumstances and situations beyond their control that make most people seek to migrate.
People are not born poor, nor are they born rich. Circumstances are created by sectors charged with the people’s welfare and well-being.
Changing a country’s political and economic conditions may seem impossible but not insurmountable. Immigration and migration should not be entirely discouraged because movement is an essential human right.
Those in the leadership role should endeavor to avoid too much exodus. They should create inter-policies on a foundation of balance for all; there should be enough human and natural resources for both country of origin and the country of destination.
A new and better life in both countries could still work and be achieved either way.
Grab a copy of Sparrows of Senegambia by Charles Sampson, Ph.D., on Amazon or check out the author’s website www.charlessampsonbooks.com.
