Opinion
Part 1: A Viable Development Model for the Black World and Diaspora
Conversely, a case could be made for the Diaspora staying put.
Olara Otunnu, who served as an undersecretary at the United Nations for donkey’s years returned to Uganda, got elected to head Uganda People’s Congress in its competition against the sitting president, lost and then also got embroiled in all kinds of shenanigans. Nonetheless, this could happen to anyone. Alacrity, notwithstanding, Otunnu’s presence in Uganda probably raised the profile of his party and his people. Either way, we will not know his value until his role has run its course.
To the rest of us, going home is a scary thing. We think of our current rat race life and wonder if we can afford to live away from our commitments, possessions, luxuries and this state of mind brought on by this newfound home.
Have we become soft? No. Things away from home are, indeed, different and people do dance to a different rhythm. We work and get paid either weekly or biweekly. And of course, it also helps that the conversion rates for dollars, pounds or euros – into kwacha or shillings are pretty good.
Once you start the process of sending money back home, the feelings associated with bringing positive change to your people are intangible. Closely attached to this, the enthusiasm with which casual laborers, nurses and even glorified chambermaids travel back home during the holidays, is charmingly ego boosting. This, too, can be addictive in terms of giving one something to look forward to while bearing the indignities of their Western or Eastern existence.
However, there is another reason we are still here: It’s the Stockholm syndrome, you see. Yes … Our new homes have gotten into our heads and are actually replacing the soil of the motherland. Many of us have children here. Our children have friends here. We have friends here. We have property, jobs and even rhythms.
Yes – we might have had all these hopes and dreams of returning home. But these are simply hopes and dreams. The reality is that we have new homes, new lives, new identities that would not have a place if they were supplanted into the heart of the dream.
