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Whose food is it anyway-African shops and the making of a Nigerian foodway in Belgium. Migration has been in existence since the origin of the human race. It does not matter whether your belief about the origin of man, is influence by religion or the evolutionary theory, migration has always been an integral part of human history. Most of the time, these migrations are directly linked to the quest for food or a means of acquiring it. Religions are filled with stories of people who moved either by divine instruction or by divine promise, in search of a better life and sustenance. The varied locations of archaeological excavations of early human settlements is proof that man, through his various phases of evolution was never sedentary. Migration as a 'constant and influential feature of human history, has supported the growth of world economy, contributed to the evolution of states and societies and enriched many cultures and civilizations'.( khalid kosher Dynamics of International migration perspectives , 2007). Despite various academic definitions of migration, because of its varied context, there is still no all encompassing theory of migration .As stated by Stephen Castle and Mark .J Miller 'it is a process which affects every dimension of social existence and which develops complex dynamics.'(Stephen Castle and Mark J Miller, Pg 21, 2003) it is these varied dynamics which make it difficult to define with one theory due to its 'extreme diversity, in terms of forms, types ,processes,actors,motivation,socio- economic and cultural contexts...'(Joaquin Arango Pg33 2004,).Having said this, it in no way underemphasises the importance or relevance of scholars' efforts to formulate theories in other to understand this trend. Stating that people have and will migrate is a certainty not an assumption but the process or circumstances that may initiate this migrations are complex and more difficult to determine. With globalization and modern information dissemination, people will always want to move to places they hope will provide a better life. The number of migrants worldwide increased from 105million in 1985 to 200 million in 2005, this new trend challenges the homogeneity of many nations. The population of most nations especially in Europe have been irreversibly changed. A total of 7.7 percent of the total European population in 2000 were born outside Europe. (R Pennix,M Bergher,and K Kraal.ed 2006) This increase in the flow of international migrants across borders in the post colonial world especially from Africa to Europe, has received a lot of interest, not just from politicians reinventing old rhetorics but by scholars too. However scholars are now aware that these African migrants and their new communities in Diaspora, are worth studying because now 'African Diaspora emerge not only in sites where relationships have been established through colonial ties but in new contexts often following the circuitous pathway of Ngos,religiuos organizations,transnational refugee networks and familial reunification'(Donald Carter Pg xii,2003) The focus of this paper is to understand what role African shops have played in changing the food pattern of Nigerians in Belgium. Of interest also is how Nigerian migrants were able to negotiate their way through the complex and sometimes ‘strange’ food culture of the other groups they encountered in Belgium. Their ability to network with other groups within their new environment and still produce a relatively authentic Nigerian foodway in Belgium. To be a migrant is to be open to change, not just in terms of location but also in socio- cultural interactions. Thus conforming enough to fit into their new society and being able to sustain aspects of their identity is always a challenge. This brings to the fore, the role African shops have played in assisting not just Nigerians but a cross section of migrants to sustain a 'distinct' foodway in Belgium. However there are other political, economic, social and cultural factors beyond the control of these migrants, which comes to play even as they negotiate for positions reflecting their identities through Food . How vital the impact of these outside factors were to the emergence of a Nigerian foodway in Belgium is also of interest. Forces that propel migration are now more complicated and varied. This makes migrants, their culture and their food an interesting focus for an academic investigation. As people move out of their original area of habitation, they take parts of their society with them. These are not necessarily physical objects but ingrained cultural traits which form part of their conscious or unconscious identification processes. These influence how they see themselves and how others see them. Most times migrants may have to redefine and realign these identification processes, with certain identity markers still retained either out of choice or through ascribed roles by their host communities.( Peter scholliers 2001,Anne Kershen 2002,Alison James 1997,P Caplan) The Routes from Nigeria to Belgium. Prior to the arrival of Europeans to the shores of Africa, Africans have been able to move from one region to the other. There were trade routes across the Sahara between the north and the west; through the sea between the east and the south. However the coming of Europeans introduced another dimension to migration in Africa. Not only was there increased internal migration, voluntarily or under duress to serve the colonial purpose, Africans were introduced to a new form of international migration . In this new international migration, they were either voluntary participants or forced participants. Nigeria,a former British colony situated in the west coast of Africa is made up of people of different independent ethnic groups. Under the administration of Lord Frederick Lugard, the diverse groups in the 2protectorates and 1 colony, were all brought together by the amalgamation of the protectorates and colony- North, South and Lagos in 1914.This was done to facilitate the economic and later political control of by British.(A.E Afigbo and Toyin Falola,2004 Pg 237) However before the advent of the British, internal migration necessitated by empire building and commerce among the various kingdoms was widespread. (Crowther Micheal 1962). Nigeria regained its independence from Britain on October 1st 1960. It is the most populated African nation covering a land area of 910,768sq kilometres with an estimated population of between 120 and 185 million people. Bordered in the north by Chad and Niger, in the west by Benin, Cameroon in the east and the gulf of Guinea in the South. The nation is divided into 36 states with one territory . There are an estimated 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria, with many divided into subgroups. There are as many languages or even more with a variety of dialects although English is the official language. (www.nigeria.org) Belgium with an ancient port in Antwerp had contact with Black Africans long before it became a colonial power in the Eastern part of Africa. By the 16th and 17th centuries Antwerp and Lisbon had the greatest African colony(settlers)in Europe.(Etambala 1993 Pg 6) most of these were slaves and servants brought back to Europe by their owners/masters .Evidence of this early contacts are also seen in the works, of some of the great Belgian painters at the Royal museum of Fine Arts in Brussels. Africans were painted in portraits or as part of various scenes,for example Peter Paul Ruben’s ‘vier studies van het hoofd van een moor’,Joos de Momper’Jachtpartij bij een kasteel, Hieronymous Franken’s Het Kabinet van de Kunstliefhebber etc. Like other colonialists in Africa, once King Leopold's Congo enterprise with Henry Stanley began in the late 19th century, people from areas under their sphere of influence and control were also brought back to Belgium either by the missionaries,colonial officers or as publicity for the Congo colony. Thus there were the petit boys,the students and Congolese royalty(see R Slade's Leopold's Congo,Zana Aziza Etambala's In het land van de Banoko ,Georges Nzongala-Ntalaja's The Congo from Leopold to Kabila:a People's history and Martin Ewans' European Atrocities, African Catastrophe:Leopold the Congo free state and its aftermath) Nigerians contact with Belgium, began in an indirect way through the King Leopold 11’s Congo colony. At the inception of the Congo venture, personnel were needed to help administer the colony and West Africans especially ex slaves from Nigeria were recruited. As early as 1883, a contingent of Hausas (referring to Nigerians of varied origins) commanded by an English Cpt Sawley(or Sanley)were sent to the Congo. This group of so called 50 Hausas was made up of mainly Yorubas with only 2 Hausas. By 1886 there was one whole company of Hausa Soldiers, thus making Nigeria the single source of recruitment from 1883-1901 with 5.585 or 45percent of the total force. This was made possible because at this time most of these freed slaves spoke some English ,which with French was the main languages of colonialists.(William .J.Samari.1989,pg44)The force Publique then was composed of, these ‘Hausas’ who were the elite of the new force and other Africans too. These men who were all hired,not just because they were used to the environmental conditions,but also to the ways of the white men etc, helped facilitate the Congo occupation.(L.H Gaan and P Duignan,1979,pg73)Later on administrative staffs were also recruited from Nigeria. Thus these Nigerians not only provided the services needed ,to build the foundation of the Congo Belge but also helped end the Leopold era in the Congo. As more colonial nations became independent, they made efforts to establish diplomatic relations with nations which they previously had no direct contact with.

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