When living abroad, people tend to come up with all forms of names. Or stick to that word. I personally do not feel attached to the word "diasporian" even though I know the official meaning. As a deep thinker I feel that names are dangerous and can be used against a certain group of people. When I came to Netherlands in 1994. We were called "expats".
And the group of people I see and are surrounded with, use words like "bilingual" "multilingual" when teaching their children both languages or cultures. I personally feel lonely in Netherlands as we do not have an Embassy. Our Zimbabwean Embassy is located in Brussels close to EU offices. I have never been there. Nor have I ever heard from them. Yet an "embassy" coming from the word "ambassador" would be an office that represents people of their original country. Maybe we are supposed to group up with certain people to qualify?
I sometimes feel like an embassy. Even though I systematically do not qualify to be one. I just throw positive ideas out there coming up for my mother continent. And those who are systematically entitled, make use of these ideas without us benefitting from anything we are entitled of. The first years I started writing and coming in Newspapers even before social media. I always was positive about my culture and Zimbabwe especially Africa.
I try to keep an eye on a most corners of where people are really coming from. My close friends call me crazy because I can be paranoid about things that seem not interesting to them at that moment until they are facing them. Some come back to me and say "ooh Melissa, do you remember you used to mentione that? Sometimes its too late, sometimes they are in time. Some are those who now think can do it better. 🤥🤑
We were conditioned to stick to one way of thinking, therefore one way of solving issues and problems.
But it doesn't always work that way. A lot of people who are schoolyard educated have terms that they use. Some think using heavy "English" words to explain something simple makes it look more powerful and intelligent, yet you are dealing with general people. I remember doing this too when we were students, then I w as new in Netherlands. I have become a human who honour "Simplicity" I am still learning to simplify my explanations and narratives but my behaviour has become more closer to nature than ever before.
Have you noticed lately that there is this tendency of calling names on people who are called "diasporians" do you know why I feel that way? Its because through writing and expressing feelings towards people in Africa when we are in Western countries have made them feel stronger. Personally I added value to my people in my home country through telling them that Western countries are not as Greener as a lot had hoped. People started then to love their surroundings and what they already have. Think of farming, gardening, clothing, diet, natural herbs and even respecting spiritual culture more than they used to do before.
To my surprise, some consider "culture" or associate it witchcraft, or bad spirits. Yet Culture is written differe try in the dictionary.
You see the rise of people who are combining spiritual world with the church and bible? Lets just agree that each time you learn, you change. Each time you come across something new you fit in.
I am going back to the word "Diasporian". Why I feel detached. Its because when I was in Zimbabwe for 3 months. People were now associating the bad things happening on Social media with diasporians and yet, most of the things they are now practicing were stimulated by the good things written and practiced in Social media. A lot has been practiced before, but by a small group of people. You would then see journalists, or Television makers travelling to certain countries to ring out the so called poorness from Africa. Social media positively exposed a lot.
So instead of looking down upon each other. We rather start working together to rise.
Let those who bring
