AFRICANS IN THE DIASPORA FROM ANTIQUITY

INTRODUCTION

This article generally examines the history of Africans in the diaspora from antiquity. It argues that Africans had migrated and settled in the diaspora right from antiquity. Generally, the history of migration and settlements of Africans in the diaspora could be traced to three major historical phases, and each of these phase was marked by its own distinctive features or characteristic. Africans settled in different part of the diaspora at different times and in varying population. Major regions of the world where Africans settled in the diaspora include places such as; North America (United States of America and Canada), South America (Brazil, Argentina and Mexico), Europe (Germany,France, Britain), Asia (China, India, Korea), Middle East (Qatar and Lebanon ).

The contributions of Africans in their various host society would be interrogated.

Conceptual clarifications. There are some Conceptual clarifications related to Africans in the diaspora from antiquity, some of which are; migration, diaspora and African diaspora.

Migration can be regarded as the movement of people from geographical area to another area, either for temporary or permanent settlement. Migration can either be internal or external/international. Internal migration is the movement of people from one area or place to another place within the country such as the movement of James from lagos to Benin city, while international or external migration is the movement of people from one country to another country, it can either be intra continental migration which simply means the movement of joy from Nigeria to South Africa, or it can be intercontinental migration which means the movement of Daniel from Nigeria to Britain or from Ghana to Canada.

Migration can also be voluntary or involuntary migration. Voluntary migration is a form of migration in which an individual decides to migrate based on his own free will and desire which could be caused or be as a result of economic opportunities, marriage, educational opportunities, etc. While involuntary migration can also be referred to as forced migration. This is a form of movement against one wish,will or desire. This form of migration is caused by conflict, insecurity, political persecution, etc.

Diaspora simply refers to the departure or spread of a people from their original homeland either voluntary or involuntary to another place, a place known as a place of destination. Examples of diaspora are the Jewish diaspora and the African diaspora.

African diaspora involves people of African origin living outside the continent of Africa, they would be living in places like; North America, South America, Europe, Middle East, Asia, and many other placed around the world or globe.

There are two major forms of African diaspora namely; the old African diaspora and the new African diaspora. The old African diaspora was the first for of African diaspora adopted by the Africans,it involved the dispasser of Africans from their hometown to the new world which is known as the Americas. This form of African diaspora was mainly caused by the trans Atlantic slave trade.

The new African diaspora can be known or described as those Africans who left African since the end of the second World War up till today, this was a voluntary movement, they were seeking greener pastures and many more.