THE AFRICAN DIASPORA in GHANA BARBARA Mcdade GORDON

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GOING BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE AFRICAN DIASPORA IN GHANA BARBARA McDADE GORDON I want to thank the Center for African denied them through the experience of the Studies and the College of Liberal Arts trans-Atlantic slave trade. It is estimated and Sciences for partial funding to that 3,000 residents from North America attend the First Biennial Conference of and the Caribbean live in Ghana. My field the African Studies Association of Africa work included interviews with respon- (ASAA) at the University of Ibadan in dents from the U.S., Canada, Trinidad, and Nigeria, October 13-17. Jamaica who moved to Ghana permanently. Scholars from throughout the African They ranged in age from 21 to over 60, and Continent, Europe, the United Kingdom, have lived in Ghana from 6 months to over the Americas, Caribbean, and Asia attended 30 years. Most had favorable experiences the first ever event. The opening ceremony although they cautioned that Diasporans featured several keynote speakers: former considering immigrating to Africa should Nigerian president Olusugun Obasanjo, inform themselves and prepare to adjust to renowned geographer Akin Mabogunje, differences in cultures and living conditions. ASAA president Lungisile Ntsebeza Most reported that they felt their quality (University of Cape Town), and professor of life was the same or better than in Toyin Falola (University of Texas-Austin). their origin countries. I plan to expand my On the panel, “African Diaspora,” research to include Diasporans in Ghana I presented the results of empirical research from regions other than the Americas; and, conducted in Ghana during my sabbatical eventually, to those living in other African last year. The paper was entitled, “Going countries. Back to the Future: The African Diaspora in Ghana.” The research looks at the Barbara McDade Gordon is associate pro- experiences of members of the African fessor of geography. Diaspora who express the feeling of “re- turning” to Africa although most had never been to the Continent. A common theme was that moving to Africa connected them with a historical/cultural past which was CENTER FOR AFRICAN STUDIES Research Report 2015–2016 19.

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