Life across borders: a case study of Nigerian immigrant women in Durban, South Africa.
Loading...
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Using Nigerian Immigrant Women in Durban as a case study, the work contributes to the
existing literature on emigration, with appropriate consideration for contemporary complexities
in Africa, including split families due to migration. By concentrating on this relatively microcommunity,
the study acts as a probing ground for the verification of already established
propositions and theories of migration at the macro-level. For instance, it re-examines the
traditional theories, the push-and-pull within the Nigerian-South African context. The study is
problematised from this perspective and the intricacies and complexities surrounding the current
increasing rate of women emigration into South Africa from other African states. The theories of
intersectionality and gendered geographies of power are employed to examine and the challenges
of these women immigrants in the context of gender and migration. This study utilises, in
addition to secondary sources, carefully conducted oral interviews of selected Nigerian women
immigrants in Durban. Among others, the study reveals that the essential and underlying element
in the migration of these women is a new development in grassroots communities resulting in a
change of lifestyle and transformation, which the “push-and-pull” theory alone cannot totally
explain. It reveals an immigrant lifestyle is sustained by coping mechanisms, which include
entrepreneurship, resilience, reception of financial and psychological support from immigrants’
homeland, and a dedicated culture of remittance. These are primarily in response to challenges
emanating from limitations posed by habitat, ethnicity, language and race. It recommends that
the Nigerian-South Africa emigration scene can be improved upon and challenges of immigrants
minimised through the adoption of the approaches identified and discussed under conclusion.
Description
Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.