Why More African Americans Are Moving to Africa And What It Really Means?
- Julius
- Aug 5
- 4 min read
People look similar to me or you can say they look like me. It is not like going to Europe or going to some Latin American countries where there are not many Black people and I think God just wants me here, it feels like I’m at home, I fit in here, states Auston Holleman, an American YouTuber who found a sense of belonging in Nairobi after decades abroad. For a growing wave of African Americans, the journey back to Africa is not merely about a change of scenery it’s a powerful drive to recapture history, seek stability, and find peace in troubled times.
The motivations for this backward movement are deeply individual but also extremely ubiquitous. Others refer to a need to reconnect with ancestral roots, to walk on the same earth as their forebears, and to be part of a group of people where the color of their skin is an asset and not something that invites suspicion. Kenneth Harris, a retired veteran now running an Airbnb business in Nairobi, captures this feeling: “I have always had that adventurous spirit, especially when I joined the military and got to go to different countries. So I am taking the opportunity to venture out to new places. That is what allowed me to make a home away from home and Kenya is my new home.” Harris and others are drawn by the hospitability of the country, the tropical climate, and the daily sense of being accepted that can be fleeting in the U.S.
But it’s not only for selfish reasons. America’s state of politics, with its tension and unpredictability, has accelerated such decisions for many. Holleman states, He is causing global tensions so that new countries are making it harder for Americans to even visit or to be a nomad. “So Trump might not be the best solution for expats and if you are in the wrong country it could become hostile for you, people might start to show resentment towards Americans in general.” While the political environment is not necessarily the immediate impetus, it is often the clincher for those already contemplating a new life.
Moving, naturally, comes with its own set of issues. This is where service providers like Adilah Relocation Services step in, facilitating the transition for migrants with everything from house hunting and furniture shopping through to bank and healthcare arrangements. Director Adilah Mohammad, who visited Kenya in search of healing after her mother’s death, now enables others to gain their footing. “For me it is a movement. It is people deciding to make a choice for themselves, they are not being forced, their shackles are being broken, chains are being thrown away mentally,” she goes on. Mohammad’s store has already helped many families to cross the threshold, and many more await. She describes the process as spiritual and tangible: “To choose Africa, to me is magical and I think it is really something that you have to want and desire, but also it is a spiritual calling as well.”
The wave effects of this migration are being registered on both sides of the Atlantic. Economies in Africa can benefit from the flow of new citizens specifically those who are entrepreneurial in nature and want to invest in their host communities. Experts like UN-Habitat’s Raphael Obonyo cite the potentiality: “America is losing talent, it is losing resources, it is losing the narrative that America is the land of dreams, it is a viable place for anyone, there is an abundance of opportunity, there is social cohesion, there is stability. This reverse migration is denting that narrative, so America is likely to lose, including things like brain drain.” African nations are under the imperative to design stable, welcoming environments to keep these new arrivals and gain the maximum benefits.
Ghana’s “Year of Return” program is a case in point, with 524 people, mostly Black Americans, granted citizenship in a single year alone. Such initiatives are not only symbolic but also contribute to business ventures, cultural exchange, and investment. And as more African Americans establish travel agencies, restaurants, and agricultural businesses, the local economies are feeling new life.
Preparation is of the utmost importance for anyone contemplating this action. Professionals advise approaching it holistically: researching visa regulations, finding accommodations, establishing banking, and accessing healthcare. Cultural adaptation is equally as essential adopting native tradition, establishing community, and entering with an attitude of openness and humility can be a game-changer.
While others worry about the impact of migration on the U.S. specifically the so-called “brain drain” research suggests that such flows can actually create positive feedback loops on both sides. From one report, migration opportunities often create positive feedback loops: more people invest in education when they see pathways abroad, remittances fund further investments in human capital, and diaspora networks facilitate knowledge transfer and business development. The answer is for host countries and home countries to invest in infrastructure and create environments where talent can thrive.
For others, though, it’s not about moving it’s about freedom, self-determination, and finding where home is. As Adilah Mohammad puts it, Returning to Africa is one thing, but finding the place that you feel like you belong is another.
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