Race, Identity and Citizenship in Black Africa: The Case of the Lebanese in Ghana

Abstract

As we approach the post-colonial half century, transnationalism has become a major reality in Africa and the wider world with the proliferation of immigrants, refugees and displaced persons. But transnationalism is not a new development, and diaspora and globalization – both historical processes – have long served as contexts for the remaking of identity, citizenship and polity. Today, concepts such as ‘cosmopolitanism’ and ‘flexible citizenship’ are in vogue in a globalized world, as transnationalism challenges statist concepts of political citizenship. In this article, using the case of Ghana, I revisit the historic presence of a Lebanese diaspora in west Africa from the 1860s, and the intellectual and political obstacles that have worked against their full incorporation as active political citizens. I seek to understand why the prospect of non-black citizenship was considered problematic in black Africa during the era of decolonization, interrogating the institutional legacies of colonial rule and pan-Africanist thought. The intellectual rigidity of pan-Africanism on race is contrasted with current notions of the constructedness of identity. I probe the ways in which the Lebanese in Ghana constructed their identities, and how these facilitated or obstructed assimilation. As African governments seek to tap into the resources of the new African communities in Europe and North America, the article suggests the timeliness of exploring alternative criteria to indigeneity when defining citizenship in black Africa.

Demystifying Chinese business strength in urban Senegal and Ghana: structural change and the performativity of rumours

“…The recent and ongoing influx of Chinese merchants to Ghana and Senegal has intensified negative attitudes toward them on the part of local traders, including from naturalised, long-term residents, such as Lebanese traders, who have been present in West Africa since at least the beginning of the last century (Akyeampong 2006;Garlick 1960;Looß 1999;408 L. Marfaing and A. Thiel O'Brian 1975;Thioub 2009). 6 This hostility centres around a set of issues that differ only marginally between our two country cases, with the core grievance being strikingly similar: the encroachment of Chinese merchants on the local market, and the subsequent endangering of indigenous businesses and livelihoods.…”

A Black Republic: Citizenship and naturalisation requirements in Liberia

“…The majority of Lebanese moved to the U.S. and Latin America, in particular Brazil (Winder, 1962), while a much smaller, but significant group migrated to (West) Africa. 8 Most scholars (Akyeampong, 2006;Bierwirth, 1999;Obi, 2008;Winder, 1962) concluded that Lebanese migrants' preferred destination was the U.S., and their arrival in (West) Africa can be traced to a number of factors; it was considerably cheaper and easier in that there were no or few hurdles (e.g., health requirements, immigration controls) to overcome (Obi, 2008;Winder, 1962). Winder (1962) also suggested that some Lebanese migrants ended up in West Africa due to "unscrupulous Marseilles shipping agent[s]" (p. 297) who put the hopeful future Americans instead on a ship to a coastal city in West Africa rather than to New York or São Paulo (see also, Leighton, 1979).…”

“…Winder (1962) also suggested that some Lebanese migrants ended up in West Africa due to "unscrupulous Marseilles shipping agent[s]" (p. 297) who put the hopeful future Americans instead on a ship to a coastal city in West Africa rather than to New York or São Paulo (see also, Leighton, 1979). The vast majority of Lebanese migrants to West Africa were of lower socioeconomic status and did not have a lot of (monetary) wealth (Akyeampong, 2006;Beydoun, 2013).…”

“…While there is little information on the exact year that the first Lebanese immigrants arrived in West Africa, scholars tend to agree that this initially happened in Sierra Leone and Senegal in 1890s (Akyeampong, 2006;Beydoun, 2013;Leighton, 1974;Winder, 1962). Winder (1962) cited 1899 as the year when Lebanese first arrived in Liberia.…”

“…Networks have also impacted settlement patterns. Regularly families from the same villages in Lebanon settled in the same area in the various West African cities (Akyeampong, 2006;Bierwirth, 1999). This practice has continued until today.…”