africa portfolio - zambia great britain - second generation immigration

Postcolonial Portfolio Zambia & Great Britain 15.1.14

Chibeza Amanda Mumbi: A Second-Generation Immigrant

Country Profiles: Zambia & Great Britain

Presentation of Ideas:

1. Our Initial Process

2. Finding our interviewee : Equality & Diversity Committee, Southampton University

3. Angle : Second-Generation Immigrant

4. Aims of our portfolio : immigration as both a current and historical issue, perception of

immigration in Britain (stigma & discrimination) , second-generation immigrant

identity, Britain as a multicultural society

5. History of Zambia

6. Britain & Immigration / Multiculturalism

7. Chibezas parents immigration story : first generation immigrants

8. Media Perceptions

9. Chibezas Biography

10. Equality & Diversity Committee : Chibezas role

11. Chibezas experience/influences


Initial Process: Initially we wanted to find someone that had emigrated from an African

country to Spain but as we don't speak Spanish we found this hard. Due to the language

barrier and the limitations this entailed, we decided to adapt our portfolio idea to examine

immigration in Britain. We thought this would bring a different angle to our portfolio, and so

the comparison of our findings with other groups in class, would be of mutual interest to both

us and you.

Finding Our Interviewee: We contacted the Equality and Diversity Committee (which I will

go on to say more about) that runs at our University in England, the University of

Southampton, to ask if any of their members had a close association with an African country.

To our luck, the Committee Head, a Miss Chibeza Mumbi who is a second generation

immigrant whose origins lie in Zambia, accepted our invitation to be interviewed. This was a

turning point in our project as it gave us an angle to explore which is:

Angle: The Second-Generation Immigrant (OXYMORON): a child of first-

immigrant parents who were born in one country but relocated to another. Oxymoron: as

the child in question has been born into one country, in our case Great Britain, but has parents

native to another country, in our case Zambia. Therefore, is not an immigrant but a British

national. However, still seen as having immigrant status? This sense of ambiguity is

interesting to explore as it calls into questions notions of national identity, heritage and the

very definition of immigrant itself. Chibeza was fine with us exploring this angle as she said

although she is not actually an immigrant, due to her race and her familys association with

Africa she often feels foreign or other. This informed our questions. Her response to many

of our questions bolsters this sense of ambiguity surrounding national identity and heritage,

especially as her parents are first-generation immigrants: I'm a British national but when

people ask me where I'm from they rarely want to know whether I'm from London! So I

would also say I'm Zambian despite no longer having a Zambian passport.

Aims of Our Portfolio: How does a second-generation immigrant identify with

themselves? Does a second-generation immigrant feel any tensions between their heritage

and a new found dual-nationality? What are the feelings towards the multiculturalism debate

in Britain? We used Chibezas own personal experience to gain an insight into these universal

socio-political questions. Immigration in Britain is part of our history as a nation but remains


a highly contemporary issue in todays politics, and so our project aims to gain a small

insight into the complexity of this issue.

History of Zambia: The Republic of Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa,

neighboring the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east,

Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and

Angola to the west. The capital city is Lusaka, in the south-central part of the country, where

the majority of the population is concentrated.

British Colonization: The eighteenth century saw Zambia colonized by European explorers,

firstly by the Portuguese, and towards the end of the nineteenth century Zambia became the

British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia, during Britains golden-age of empire. From 1911-

1964 Zambia was known as Northern Rhodesia, a colony rich in minerals, part of Britains

vast empire. For most of the colonial period, the country was governed by an administration

appointed from London with the advice of the British South Africa Company.

Politics: On 24th

October 1964, Zambia became independent of the United Kingdom. The

socialist United National Independence Party (UNIP) maintained political power from 1964

until 1991, under President Kaunda; a single-party state as the sole legal political party

prescribing to the motto One Zambia, One Nation. The reign was totalitarian and highly

militaristic, endorsing guerrilla warfare as a means to maintain power. However, after

numerous riots and attempted coups, 1991 saw a change in political power towards a social-

democratic Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, beginning a period of social-economic

growth and government decentralization, continuing in the present day.

Social: The official language of Zambia is English, and the official religion is Christianity,

and due to British colonization around 70,000 expatriates from Britain lived in Zambia until

1964, the majority leaving post-independence. Due to this colonization Zambia has adopted

many European cultural traditions and is highly urbanized. However, traditionalist art and

culture is still very visible. Free schooling is offered until age 12, and the adult literacy rate is

80.6%. Chibezas thoughts on Zambia: Zambia is quite similar to England: girls are

encouraged to go to school, to work and also have children and a husband. Although if your

skirt is a little too short an old woman might tell you off. The British economy is better and in

terms of education and resources I have a lot more access in Britain.


Britain & Immigration: Britain became the most powerful nation during the Victorian

period, with one quarter of the worlds surface belonging to the British Empire, coining the

popular phrase: the sun never sets on the British Empire. The late eighteenth century was

only the start of this golden-age of empire for Britain, with colonization continuing until

the late 1950s. Britains image as the Motherland meant that many colonized nations saw

Britain as the land of opportunity and many seized the opportunity after the Second World

War to emigrate over. The post Second World War era saw Britain gradual decolonization as

it no longer has the political or economic power to maintain such a vast empire. The

Commonwealth of Nations started in 1949, an inter-governmental movement of 53 former

British colonies that now practised self-governance, but still maintain strong links with

Britain, namely with Queen Elizabeth II as their symbolic monarch. They are united by

language, history, culture, and their shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule

of law.

However, despite Britains historical links with their former colonies, such as Zambia, and

the relationship that the monarchy maintains with the Commonwealth nations, it is a

relationship that can been seen to be disingenuous in the sense that once members of these

former colonies start to emigrate over to Britain, tensions start to arise. Britain has a history

of being a white nation and so identifies with a history of racism and discrimination.

Although Britain can be argued to be a highly multicultural nation, particularly London;

ethnically and racially diverse, there is still a sense of the immigrant being treated as the

other. The fear of the foreigner is an issue constantly debated in British news, the us

versus them phenomenon. British fears concerning immigration are of course linked to the

economic climate; high unemployment, strains on the benefit system and NHS healthcare are

the most prominent reasons why many British people worry about immigration and display

discriminatory tendencies. However, using Chibezas own personal experience, we can see

that even as a British citizen and second-generation immigrant, she still feels a sense of

otherness surrounding her familys identity perception: my parents will always be

immigrants whereas I was born here and I have that. But it still feels like a slap in the face

when people talk about negatively about immigrants. I empathise strongly with the concerns

of immigrants because I although I don't know first-hand how hard it is to migrate to another

country (especially one so hostile) I know it was hard for my parents.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNg51DSefeo)


British Multiculturalism: Definition: Multiculturalism is the cultural diversity of

communities within a given society and the policies that promote this diversity. Britain is

often described as a multi-cultural nation, given is strong history of empire and colonization

that have resulted in an ethnically diverse population. It was a term coined by British

politicians in the 1970s and 1980s wanting to embrace a policy of community cohesion that

was united and entirely accepting of all races, ethnicities, religions, and cultures. However in

a 2011 speech by Prime Minister David Cameron, he stated that state multiculturalism has

failed in light of the increased stigma against Muslim communities in light of the terrorist

threat. This line of argument is echoed in Chibezas response to our question: Do you think

Britain is multicultural? Not Britain as a whole, but some British cities, like London. I go to

some places in Britain where I don't think they've ever spoken to a black girl before.


Interview Questions:

1. How would you describe your national identity?

I'm a British national but when people ask me where I'm from they rarely want to

know whether I'm from London! So I would also say I'm Zambian despite no longer

having a Zambian passport.

2. What is your definition of heritage?

The legacy and history of your parents and ancestors.

3. Could you describe your parents reasons for immigrating to Britain and give a

brief account of their experience?

They were trained pilots in the military and were stationed in a small village in

Greece before they came to England. They moved because English was their second

language and they learnt British history and read various English novels at school so

they were more familiar with England than Greece, also the people in Greece were

really racist. My mum felt quite lonely, especially when she found out she was

pregnant and my mum's sister and her family had moved to England a couple years

before. So they moved in with them until my mum had me and my twin sister. I think

it was easier coming to London because it was slightly less alien but it was difficult

having to switch jobs, adjust culturally and have two babies all at the same time!

4. Do you feel that you have a dual nationality, and if so how does that define you

as an individual?

I do. I had a Zambian passport before I had a British one and then I had both! I just

think of myself as a British Zambian which sounds like a contradiction but it works

for me.

5. Do you feel you have a connection to Zambia, or only to Great Britain?

I have a connection to both despite only going to Zambia twice. Zambia is my family,

it's the flavour of the food I eat at home, it's the way I move my body. Britain is also

my family, friends and my boyfriend, being in London makes me unbelievably so

happy! I itch when I'm away from the stink and smog. I happily engage in both

cultures although I didn't always. At school they only taught us about slavery and only

talked about Africans like they're all poor, savaged and diseased. I was embarrassed,


my name was so African and my skin was so brown I couldn't escape it but I grew up

very quickly and realised that it wasn't true at all and I embraced being Zambian.

6. For you, does Zambia belong to the limited African stereotype of Third World

Country? What is your reaction to this limited stereotype of Africa?

Yes it does, people always talk about Zambia being a 'developing country' so close to

the Western model of modernity but not quite. They never realise Zambia didn't need

colonialism in the first place. Zambia and other 'Third World' countries can never be

like England or France or the US and shouldn't be, it's not working.

7. How does your experience as a second generation British citizen compare to that

of your parents?

My parents will always be 'immigrants' whereas I was born here and I have that. But it

still feels like a slap in the face when people talk about negatively about immigrants. I

empathise strongly with the concerns of immigrants because I although I don't know

first-hand how hard it is to migrate to another country (especially one so hostile) I

know it was hard for my parents.

8. Would you describe Britain as multicultural?

Not Britain as a whole, but some British cities, like London. I go to some places in

Britain where I don't think they've ever spoken to a black girl before.

9. What opportunities does Britain offer for you as a young woman that Zambia

does not? (Vice-Versa)

I think I'd actually know how to cook properly if I was in Zambia! But Zambia is

quite similar to England: girls are encouraged to go to school, to work and also have

children and a husband. Although if your skirt is a little too short an old woman might

tell you off. The British economy is better and in terms of education and resources I

have a lot more access in Britain.

10. Do you have a desire to live in Zambia at any point in your life, or in any other

part of the world?

I don't think I've been enough times in my adult life to know. I think just because my

parents left it's never been in my mind to leave England and live there! I definitely

want to live somewhere else, even if only for a while. Somewhere less wet and more

exciting.


12. Can you give examples of art, literature or other forms that you feel represent

your experiences?

Ngozi Onwurah and Isaac Julien's films are amazing. Zadie Smiths books such as

White Teeth were extremely informative and Tsitsi Dangarembga's Nervous

Conditions was so close to home. Lynette Yiadom-Boakye and Chris Offili's pieces

are gorgeous and rich in different ways. I feel like these artists represent Africa,

blackness and Britain in very interesting and refreshing ways. Although set in France

Sembenes Black Girl is also wonderful.

Extra Details on Chibeza

Equality & Diversity Committee: I go to the committee with things that can be improved or

issues to discuss relating to race and ethnicity, if a group has an issue I can bring it to our

student union and the issue would be addressed. Also I collaborate and create events and

relating to ethnic minority student but I also help out with things regarding to LGBT+

students, students with disabilities and other minority groups as of course there are

intersections within these groups.

Dissertation: And I'm doing my dissertation on the representations of mixed race women

with a black/white background in British cinema. In previous years the White British public

thought that mixed race children were a bi-product of a diseased society and they were

largely oppressed and marginalised. Mixed race people are now the largest growing ethnic

group in Britain and the media heralds them as examples of a post-racial society. I found

that mixed-race women are often fetishized, hypersexual used and made invisible.

africa portfolio - zambia great britain - second generation immigration

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