Migration in Somali communities

Migration is a familiar concept for Somalis around the world. But what drives their migration?

‘Sometimes, people would just move overnight. One of my friends didn’t even tell me, and the next day he was on his way to England. Me, I am happy with life in the Netherlands. But one day, I am dreaming of returning back to Somalia.’

During my Master’s anthropological fieldwork, I had the opportunity to talk to several Somali men and women, first- and second-generation living in the Netherlands. In our conversations, they shared their perspectives on migration with me, and why they think moving is so common in the Somali community.

Interviews soon to be published