AFRICAN CULTURE AND MIGRATION IN CONTEMPORARY TIME

Leonard C. Opara, Bolaji Musa Agunbiade & Ajobiewe Jamiu Olatunji

ABSTRACT

African has a long history in terms of population mobility both regionally and internationally. Over the years African people have migrated in response to demography, economic, political and other factors, including environmental disasters and conflicts; Africa migration has been intra and inter (internal) movements of people within the region; movement of people from outside the region into the African continent and otherwise. The migrants have always considered the various sub-regions as single economic units within which trade in goods and services flourish. But more importantly intra-regional migration sustained by poverty, economic recession and the consequences of macroeconomic adjustment measures. The paper shall examine the impact of culture in African migration and the dominant trend of internal migration in recent times for economic purpose. It shall recommend that the import of migration of our intellectuals to other continent in search of economic power has reduced our empowerment and in promoting our African cultures and thus promoted neo-colonization in Africa. Furthermore, the migration of rural to urban areas is the hallmark of decency in our traditional heritage as it relates to culture and cultural values, conflicts, norms in our contemporary society by the future generation.

Keywords: Migration, Culture. Economic Factors, Conflicts, Contemporary Society.