Identity vs. Perception: the case of Chidimma Adetshina and South African opinion on migrants
The case of Chidimma Adetshina, who came under national scrutiny between August and September, sheds light on the levels of xenophobia and anti-immigration sentiment in South Africa. The 23-year-old model—born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and South African mother—was forced to withdraw from the "Miss South Africa" competition due to online abuse and the wave of hatred that followed her entry into the...
SIHMA Press Review for September 2024
PRESS REVIEW – SOUTH AFRICA 01 Beauty queen row exposes xenophobia towards immigrants in South Africa Rachel Savage, The Guardian, 09/07/2024 Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old Nigerian-South African, withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition after facing xenophobic backlash due to her Nigerian heritage. Despite living in South Africa since birth, her nationality was questioned, leading her to drop out amid safety concerns. She later won Miss Universe Nigeria. Her experience highlights the xenophobia faced...
Insights and recommendations from the "The need to belong: pathways towards durable solutions" Conference
Between Wednesday, September 25, and Friday, September 27, we held the conference “The need to belong: pathways towards durable solutions”, focusing on the integration and documentation processes for young migrants and Children on the Move. The event highlighted the challenges related to social and school integration, as well as the acquisition of South African citizenship for unaccompanied minors.
Migrants in South Africa are celebrating Heritage Day, but full integration is still far away
Heritage Day is the national holiday that acknowledges and values cultural differences in South Africa. The choice of date for the celebration is not coincidental: September 24th is recognized as the date of death of King Shaka Zulu, the unifier of the Zulu nation, in 1828. The decision to establish Heritage Day as a national holiday dates back to 1996, when the...
Presentation of the "Pathways of Wellbeing and (un)Belonging" report
SIHMA is proud to annunce the finalization of the "Pathways of Wellbeing and (un) Belonging - Understanding the Experience of Migrant Youth in Alternative Care and Recently Out of Care in Cape Town" report, written by Dr. Glynis Clacherty, Dr. Rachel Chinyakata, and Dr. Cletus Muluh Momasoh, and edited by Fr. Filippo Ferraro. The report's results will be launched on Thursday, September 26th, during the "The Need to belong: Pathways Towards Durable Solutions" conference in Cape Town. The conference will focus...
The new issue of the African Human Mobility Review (AHMR Vol. 10, No. 2) is now available!
We are delighted to announce the release of the second issue of 2024 of the African Human Mobility Review (AHMR). This issue features current, high-quality, and original research, including a book review and articles focusing on various aspects of human mobility in Africa. AHMR benefits from the expertise of a skilled editorial board, a global network of scholars, and an interdisciplinary approach,...
