The second generation homecoming is the return of the Diaspora to their home country. The term Diaspora refers to people that are dispersed and spread out to other countries. Their origin is located in a separate geographic area. These people very often tend to share common, familiar and regular heritage as long as they come from the same country. They also have universal legacy and tradition shared by all their relatives who reside back home, for example, in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Diaspora has common ethnicity, or culture, but is dispersed across different parts of the world. Records show that most of them reside in the US as students or employees in different enterprises or as owners of businesses. Being too busy, some of them find it hard to come back to their country of origin to visit relatives and acquaintances. But, others come to Ethiopia on a regular basis attracted by the natural endowments, historic significance and heritage of the country. They have become sources of foreign exchange for their country of origin. They do influence others to visit the country.
Initially, the global dispersal of Ethiopians might have occurred due to various reasons such as political conflicts, lack of economic opportunities, or forced migration. In the past, the Ethiopian youth had migrated to neighboring countries and then to the developed ones for political reasons. The concept of political opposition is misunderstood in Ethiopia where the slightest opposition had been considered inimical, adverse and hostile to the government.
Traditionally, most leaders of the country came from humble origins and rejected any opposition to their rule, until they were overthrown by force. This practice reveals that the concept and application of democracy in the country is still in its infancy. Some political scientists are of the opinion that democracy could not be practiced in a country where dictatorial rule had been the rule for centuries. Even those developed countries that boast of being the origin of democratic practices have not yet fulfilled its requirements as reflected in their Constitutions. Ethiopia has yet to assimilate democratic principles into its traditions of leadership.
Apart from the political factors, the lack of economic opportunities is a major cause for the global dispersal of Ethiopians. Economic development and growth has been constrained by lack of peace, law and order that have been averse to investment. Both domestic and external investors found it difficult to invest in some parts of the country due to conflicts and bureaucratic hurdles. This practice has rendered Ethiopia a country that could not exploit its resources to accelerate its economic progress. This has become a bottleneck for a country’s growth that has enormously been endowed with human resources and natural wealth.
Aid has been an instrument of weakening the country, making the majority of its poor people dependent on food aid. Donors have been intent on feeding the poor without limit rendering the poor negligent of farming and self-help. With aid have come religions influences that subdued the traditional religions in Ethiopia to external influences. Thus, religious and cultural identities in the country had to undergo severe changes due to external factors.
Added to the political and economic factors, another disastrous element that led to the global dispersal of Ethiopians has been forced migration. As the country’s economy became weak, unable to provide employment for its job-seekers, the people, mostly the youth has been subjected to emigration. The emigrants have been engaged in various activities abroad, including education, employment or investment. Some have become successful investors, creating output and employment in the country of destination, mainly in Europe and US.
The Ethiopian Diaspora community has become prominent and visible in the countries of destination. They engage seriously in political, economic and social issues related to their country. They even run for elections in their “country” for high posts. A few have succeeded, giving green light for the second generation Ethiopians to participate in any activity that concerns their rights.
The second generation homecoming to Ethiopia is their major objective of life. Their parents, members of the Diaspora communities, are intent on participating in the economic development and growth of their country of origin. In this endeavor, the major actors would be their daughters and sons, who would go back to Ethiopia first as tourists, next as investors in the field of their interest. Here, the Ethiopian agencies concerned should provide all information including areas of settlement, investment, and free movement to exercise their rights as second generation Ethiopians residing abroad.
The Ethiopian youths residing abroad should have a feeling of strong attachment to the origin of their parents. The responsibility for creating this attachment, connection and affection in the youths is the responsibility of parents in Diaspora. This responsibility is not an easy one, since it consumes time and resource of the parents to inculcate an Ethiopian identity in their children.
History reveals some examples of Diaspora communities including the Jewish and African Americans. The Jewish Diaspora resulted from the Babylonian exile and the dispersion after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The African Diaspora refers to the descendants of Africans who were forcibly taken as slaves to the Americas and other parts of the world. This occurred during the transatlantic slave trade.
Another example is the Indian Diaspora, which comprises people of Indian origin living outside of India. Most of these people migrated during the British colonial period or seeking economic opportunities in recent times. Most of these Diaspora communities often maintain connections with their homelands in Africa and Asia. They endeavor to contribute significantly to both their countries of origin and their adopted countries. This is reflected in their cultural exchange, economic ties, and social networks. This is very common among Ethiopian Diaspora, whose economic ties with their relatives in Ethiopia are expressed through remittances.
The second generation homecoming reduces the negative impacts of remittance on the growth rate of the Ethiopian economy. However, remittance has also a positive impact of reducing poverty, increasing welfare, providing foreign currency that enables the country to pay for essential imports and to service external debt. This in turn improves Ethiopia’s access to international capital markets. In this regard, the second generation homecoming is a reflection of hope that the descendants of Diaspora communities return to Ethiopia with an accumulation of wealth in foreign exchange. This helps the country to improve its status of accessing the international capital market. In the broader context of Ethiopia, this could mean individuals or families of Ethiopian descent or the Diaspora who return to their country come with money for investment. In the process, they reconnect with their roots and contribute to the country’s development.
As mentioned earlier, Ethiopia has a significant Diaspora community, with people of Ethiopian origin living in various parts of the world. This happened due to historical events such as political unrest, economic crises, or seeking educational opportunities abroad. Most of these Diaspora maintain strong attachment to their homeland. They also feel a strong sense of belonging and attachment to their cultural heritage.
The second generation of these Diaspora often grows up with a blend of Ethiopian heritage and the culture of their adopted countries such as the US. However, as they grow mature and educated, some may feel a desire to explore their roots. They may feel more deeply about the country, leading them to consider returning to their homeland. There may be several reasons why second-generation Ethiopians might choose to return to Ethiopia. One reason could be cultural connection. Most of the second-generation Ethiopians are raised with a strong sense of Ethiopian identity. Returning to Ethiopia gives them the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture. They may be inspired by the language and traditions of their ancestors.
Another reason for intending to return to Ethiopia is the economic opportunity that the country may provide to the Diaspora investors. They may hope to access significant investment opportunities that contribute to economic growth and development thereby creating output and employment in various sectors.
Some second-generation Ethiopians may see potential business opportunities in the country. They also see career prospects and decide to return to Ethiopia to take advantage of them. Some individuals also feel a sense of responsibility to support their ancestral homeland. They may want to contribute to the development of Ethiopia through several initiatives, including business entrepreneurship, or involvement in community projects. They get involved in social projects to support the poor people of their country of origin.
Some second-generation Ethiopians may have family ties in Ethiopia. They may also have personal connections in the country, such as relatives or childhood memories to which they are seriously attached. Returning to Ethiopia allows the Diaspora to reconnect with family members. This helps them to identify and explore their heritage. In other words, they simply rediscover their roots in the country.
Ethiopia has also undergone a major political change in recent years as a result of which some second-generation Ethiopians may be aware of major events in the country. The Diaspora may feel compelled to engage in the country’s political affairs, advocating for positive change. Consequently, they may be introducing real democratic processes in the country.
However, returning to their country of origin also presents challenges and adjustments for second-generation Ethiopians. They may face cultural, linguistic, and political hurdles as they manage their life in the country. As Diaspora, they may be unfamiliar with these factors, despite their familiar ties in the country. Generally, the concept of second-generation homecoming to Ethiopia reflects the complex interplay of identity, heritage, opportunity, and personal aspirations among individuals of Ethiopian descent living abroad.
BY GETACHEW MINAS
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2024
