AFRICAN COMMUNITY in HONG KONG
School of English
University of Hong Kong
Although some of our interviewees have been staying in Hong Kong for nearly 10 years, while some others have just been staying for 3 years, or even just several months, they all agreed that they find difficulties in conforming in to Hong Kong’s Culture and Hong Kong’s Identity due to several factors such as ineffective communication and insufficient African societies in Hong Kong. Apart from these two factors, according to our interviewees, problems that they encountered in daily social life are regarded as the greatest barrier that hinders them in including themselves in the community.
The Experiences of Anthony and Ato
Ato and Antony have been staying in Hong Kong for 5 and 10 years respectively, apart from participating in a professional football team in Hong Kong, they both take part in coaching football in several local and international schools in Hong Kong. As a football coaches, Antony expressed that he finds it difficult in teaching local students than international students, because local students simply ‘go away’:
Q: Have you ever encountered difficulties in ‘being included’ in society?
Anthony: Well, sometimes it is not only the adults in Hong Kong that make us feel excluded…Children that I teach in local schools are very reluctant, they don’t listen to you, they go away, they are afraid of you…
Q: Because….?
Anthony: Probably because you are black!
Q: How about international students?
Anthony: Well, although they are as noisy as the local students-they run and shout- they at least show welcoming smile to you, they touch you, talk to you and show willingness to learn, to be ‘taught by you’.
Q: Why do you think there is such a big differences in their attitudes? Is it related to language?
Ato: It’s not just the matter of communication problem. We understand that local students are shy when they face non-Chinese speaking teachers, but it is more about their ‘mentality’. Hong Kong students are less receptive, they are not used to accepting different cultures and different people from different parts of the world, they are less ‘open-minded’.
Although both Antony and Ato encountered different sorts of societal barriers during their stay in Hong Kong, Antony emphasized that African immigrants in Hong Kong can choose not to be excluded. He expressed, “Like me and Ato, we use our true hearts to treat people, we show to people in Hong Kong that we are friendly guys, we will help people on street who needs help, that’s why we have don’t have big problems in participating social circles in Hong Kong.
Dr. Bodomo’s Views towards ‘Mentality’
In response to Anthony and Ato’s point of view regarding ‘mentality’, on one hand, he agrees that people should change their mind to become more receptive to different languages and cultures, he believes immigrants have their responsibility in helping themselves to become included in society: “It’s all the their (immigrants) choice. Hong Kong is a global city of high language and cultural hybridity, one must open their heart and hence reshape his/her identity to conform to Hong Kong’s tradition and culture.” Said Dr. Bodomo.
The Experiences of Elero and Joe
Elero and Joe are the two interviewees whose wives are Hong Kong-born permanent citizens. Thanks to intermarriage, they are able to meet not only friends from their country, but also friends of their wives and family. In this case, we expected that both of them should have a larger social circle then other 3 interviewees. Surprisingly, both Elero and Joe’s intermarriage does not help them to gain more Chinese friends. Although they are acquainted to many Chinese friends, they did not actively involve in their social circles. Instead, “90% of my friends are Africans, friends who will visit me every week, friends who will come to my home and chat for several hours at night, friends who will invite me to their family gatherings…” Elero said. Similar to Elero, Joe expressed that he doesn’t has much Chinese-speaking friends; he enjoys staying in the African community then in Hong Kong. In addition to the size of their social circle, though Elero and Joe don’t know each other, they both emphasized the good values and cultures found in their home country- Africa. In between words, they showed their eagerness to return home one day, and enjoy peaceful life that full of love and joy, they are both unsatisfied with some Hong Kong people who only cares for money and job, Elero exclaimed, “Hong Kong is even more beautiful if people care more about their family and friends, if people treat each other whole-heartedly.”
Some facts about African Community in Hong Kong
A qualitative interview of 19 Africans and 15 Non-Africans was conducted in May 2004 in Tsim Sha Tsui’s Chungking Mansions, among 19 Africans, 81% of them mentioned that they met friends inside Chungking Mansions, while 52% of other non-Africans also met friends outside Chungking Mansions. This statistic data shows that the Africans in Hong Kong engage in a relatively small social circle, in comparison to other non-African community.
“An Emerging African-Chinese Community in Hong Kong” (2007), Adams Bodomo
“An Emerging African-Chinese Community in Hong Kong” (2007), Adams Bodomo
Societal Barriers