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by Mathias Chinonyere Mgbeafulu (Author)
This book 'Here and There: A perspective in Igbo Diaspora' attempts to present a concise narrative of the worldwide migration of the Igbo-speaking people of Nigeria through the lens of its diaspora. The migration that produced the diaspora in its various forms is not just a response to the internal Nigerian environment, but also relates to the changing nature of the global forces. With historical insights, the author investigates the different phases in centuries of Igbo diaspora with notes on voluntary and involuntary movements. It highlights the ways in which new movements are connected to older flows, and how displacements across physical borders are intimately linked to the reworking of conceptual borders in both sending and receiving states.
The book cast some new lights on the contemporary history of the Igbo through the experiences of the larger Igbo people now settled mostly across the western world, largely in North America and Britain, and is gradually spreading to Asia and the eastern hemisphere. The progenitors of these migrations left centuries ago through the Atlantic world and there are recent arrivals too who are trotting through land, sea and air. Placing the migration and diaspora settlements in historical contexts, the book shows how the experiences of Igbo in various metropoles across the world have been shaped by the social dynamics and politics of settlement locations as much as the transnational connections and the economic forces of globalization.
Around the globe, people leave their homes to better themselves, to satisfy needs, and to care for their families. They also migrate to escape undesirable conditions, ranging from paucity of economic opportunities to violent conflicts at home. This book shows how the Igbo have spread globally from its original heartland in southern Nigeria. It examines the social, economic, and political factors that propel households to decide to send members abroad, along with the cultural beliefs and traditions that can limit migration and accentuates the connections between the different phases of Igbo migratory communities. 'Here and There' provides a valuable portrait of the Igbo in countries other than Nigeria and articulates how Igbo diaspora can better be engaged and mobilized for maximum advantage. Issues of diaspora transnational social practice and community building, identity, institutionalized racism and the centrality of culture and homeland euphoria are highlighted and presented as fresh perspectives on relocation and resettlement. It stands as a valuable contribution to the wider literature on migration and diasporas.
