Many Africans in the Diaspora plan a return home. This new trend is the result of the attraction impacting the growth and the great prospects that the continent offers. There is also a lot of amalgam around this “homecoming” choice, often made of received ideas and far from the new realities of the African continent.
Most of them, with many qualifications on hand and a promising career path in Europe or the United States, including large salaries, have chosen to return to the country.
Going against the prevailing ideas of a Western “Eldorado”, of the unknown factors in the new experiences or of the land “of all uncertainties”, the African Diaspora has no hesitation in seizing the new possibilities offered by the motherland, regardless if some do not understand this choice.
Macoumba Diouf definitely left Montpellier (France) for his native Senegal more than ten years ago.
He confessed in a French radio:
“It is true that the income level of wages in France is significantly higher than in Senegal. But compared to what I gain here and the living conditions, I can’t complain (…) I saw my whole family and being close to my relatives, seeing them, hearing them, sharing a lot of things together … that’s priceless”.
“At one time we become aware and just think of going back home, feeling the happiness, the emotions, the conversations, the family”.
Nowadays, many ideas about Africa as a “land of failure”, where unemployment is chronic and the risk of failure “almost obvious”, are erased from the mentalities. The Diaspora quickly realized that the heart of globalization is in Africa, in several sectors. The continent is booming and needs the contribution of its expatriate population.
But whatever the reasons for these returns, it is not easy to always be understood by his relatives. They have to answer to the question “why did you come back? ” over and over.
At worst, after returning to Africa, “if you do not have a financial recognition you will have at least a social recognition,” says Mr Diallo, another ex-immigrant.
“There is a wave of people who realize now that it’s really about time for a homecoming”, he points out, before adding:
“African youth must believe in their skills, believe in Africa to try to develop it.”