Racism, Financial Remittances And Brain Drain In The ‘Japa’ Syndrome: Shaping New African Identities In The Diaspora
By
Dr. Omonigho Simon Umukoro
Gender Seminar Series Presentation Report
The first edition of the 2024 Gender Seminar Series, organized by the School of Women and Gender Studies at Makerere University, took place on the 29th of February, 2024. The venue was the Smart Room within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) at Makerere University, Kampala. The presentation began at 2:00 pm. The seminar was also broadcast virtually via Zoom, enabling wider participation.
Presenters and Attendees:
Presenter: Dr. Omonigho Simon Umukoro, Department of Psychology, University of Lagos, ARUA/Carnegie Research Fellow with the Centre of Excellence in Notions of Identity at Makerere University.
Chairperson: Dr. Anna Ninsiima
Discussant: Prof. Peter Baguma
Dean of the School of Women and Gender Studies: Prof. Sarah Ssali
Presentation Title: Heritage across Horizons – Role of Socializing Entities in Nurturing African Ethnic Identity
Dr. Umukoro delved into the concept of “Japa,” a term gaining prominence in Nigeria, referring to emigration as a response to challenging circumstances. This phenomenon has become a defining feature of the modern African experience, particularly among the youth.
The presenter highlighted the positive aspects of the Nigerian diaspora, including achievements in various fields and substantial financial remittances. However, Dr. Umukoro emphasized the negative consequences, such as brain drain, hardships, financial losses, fraud, and racism. Importantly, the erosion of ethnic identities, despite its significance, has not received adequate attention.
Dr. Umukoro presented a study examining the role of familial socialization and social resilience in shaping the ethnic identities of African adolescents born abroad.
The cross-sectional survey involved 212 college students from Nigerian migrant homes in the United Kingdom. Results indicated a significant predictive relationship between familial socialization (both covert and overt dimensions) and ethnic identity. Social resilience emerged as a significant moderator in this relationship.
The findings suggest that African migrant parents and extended family members should actively nurture and preserve the ethnic identity of their children through familial interactions and community involvement.
However, striking a balance between preserving ethnic identity and integrating into the host culture, particularly in Western settings, presents challenges due to career/work pressures, media influence, peer influence, and limited cultural resources.
Dr. Umukoro proposed practical recommendations for Government and non-governmental agencies to formulate and implement strategies to assist Nigerian migrant families in preserving their cultural heritage. This, he said, could be achieved by leveraging digital technologies, in developing an ‘African Heritage Kit,’ to be introduced during the formative years of African children in the diaspora.
The African Heritage Kit, containing edutainment modules that highlight elements such as cultural artifacts, history and folklores, language resources, traditional music, recipes, games, art crafts, family tree templates, cultural events calendars, and African dance videos, specific to a particular ethnic group, would go a long way in facilitating covert familial ethnic socialization processes within the home.
Dr. Umukoro’s presentation highlighted the crucial need to address the erosion of ethnic identities within diaspora communities and provided tangible recommendations to preserve African heritage.
The proposed ‘African Heritage Kit’ was described as a significant project worth considering by the African Research Universities Alliance CoE in Identities.
The seminar concluded with a discussion and Q&A session, where attendees engaged in a thoughtful exchange of ideas, further enriching the exploration of the topic.
About the researcher:
An early career researcher, Dr. Omonigho Simon Umukoro is an accomplished scholar and educator with a diverse background in Organizational and Social Psychology. He was born on the 9th of March 1983 in Ibadan, Nigeria, and hails from Delta State.
Umukoro holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Ibadan where he received commendations and a prize for the publication of his doctoral thesis. With an impressive academic journey that includes a Master’s degree, a Bachelor’s degree, and a Professional Diploma in Statistics; Dr. Umukoro has consistently demonstrated his commitment to scholarship. He is an active member of various professional organizations, including the Nigerian Psychological Association, the American Psychological Association, and a host of others, showcasing his dedication to advancing the field of psychology. His research contributions are extensive, covering a wide range of topics, across domains of organizational and social psychology, which have been widely published in renowned journals and book chapters.
In addition to his research contributions, Dr. Umukoro has actively participated in conferences and workshops, presenting his findings and engaging with fellow professionals. He has attended various training programs and workshops, including the University of London and Birkbeck’s course on managing people at work and the Carpe Diem Workshop under the auspices of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
Dr. Umukoro is highly proficient in the use of statistical packages for psychometric analyses across quantitative and qualitative research.
Currently, Dr. Umukoro serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Lagos, where he imparts knowledge to the next generation of psychologists. With a wealth of extensive research experience and a strong commitment to professional development, Dr. Umukoro has established himself as a reputable expert in his field.
