(Mis)-understanding Nation and Identity: Re-imagining Sport in the Future of African Development

Abstract

Athletics, its obsession and allure for economic empowerment (marathons, World Championships, Golden League track events) through skill and will, unlike any other sport in Kenya, has generated contestations in the emergence of national identity. Thus the crisis in the body Athletics Kenya (AK), the Ministry for Gender, Sports and Culture and among individual athletes in Kenya today is symbolic of the crisis of individuality, nationhood and identity in African development. Since the 'defection' of Wilson Kipketer in 1998, Kenyan athletes have negotiated and have 'run' for citizenship in the Middle East, Europe and the United States. At stake is whether athletes, athletics, sports policy and the governing bodies are witnessing an evolution or devolution in autonomy especially when citizenship changes necessitate identity changes as is the case of the Qatar/Bahrain 'defecting' athletes. The paper presents the case for this issue, while situating the practise of athletes 'defecting' within the global flows of movement and questions of identity. 124 AJIA 8: 1&2, 2005 lité, de statut national et d'identité en matière de développement africain. Depuis 1998 et la « défection » de Wiilson Kipketer, les athlètes Kenyans ont négocié et « courue » à la recherche de citoyenneté au Moyen-Orient, en Europe et aux Etats-Unis. La question en jeu consiste à voir si les athlètes, l'athlétisme, la politique sportive et les autorités gouvernantes sont en proie à une évolution ou un transfert d'autorité, particulièrement dans un contexte où le changement de citoyenneté s'accompagne de changement d'identité, comme ce fut le cas des athlètes qui ont migré au Qatar/Bahrain. Cet article présente ce cas de figure, tout en situant cette pratique des athlètes « migrants » dans le contexte des flux mondiaux et des questions identitaires.

Reimagining Sports: African Athletes, Defection, and Ambiguous Citizenship

“…The justification for this study lies in the lacunae of work in the area. Despite the proliferation of op-eds and journalistic pieces, Lukalo (2005) remains the only full-length paper on the subject of the defection of African athletes to other continents. Even on the broader subject of the brain drain, Andres Solimano's edited volume, The International Mobility of Talent (2008), deals with entrepreneurs, scientists, students, health professionals, and cultural workers, but makes no mention of athletes as part of this exodus.…”