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Immigrant Tales

I am an immigrant.

I’ve been an immigrant for as long as I can remember. My ancestors were immigrants too, and their ancestors before them made what was then a very long journey from the north west of the Niger River to settle in what is known as today’s central Ghana.

Presently the word immigration has an almost negative undertone – it’s no longer about the geographical movement of people, it’s about who has the right to live where. Actually I’m being naïve; mankind has always fought over land – and this is an evolution of the land battle.

Today, May Day has become the unofficial day of immigration matches and polarizing debates in the US.

I’ve lived in many places but I only ever chose to live in one place, and that’s where I am right now.

My father used to say every immigrant has a story – is a website that tells some of these tales.

I found , a podcast on immigrant stories and was fascinated to hear who’s had to move several times. I identified with a lot of things he said having also moved within Africa and then to Europe and North America.

Here are some of my favourite books on the immigrant story:

The Namesake – Jhumpa Lahir

Brick Lane – Monica Ali

The Second Life of Samuel Tyne – Esi Edugyan

White Teeth – Zadie Smith

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