Abstract
This chapter looks at associational contacts and informal social relationships. Amongst associational contacts, an attempt is made to examine the involvement of ‘Black Africans’ in home associations and other African voluntary organisations and ‘categoric’ contacts via volunteering and involvement in politics. The focus on casual, informal social relations includes friendship patterns and networks, interethnic relationships and unions, caring responsibilities, and group and community experiences (of conviviality and friendship). Intermarriage between Black Africans and other groups during the past several decades is investigated. The growing importance of globalisation and transnationalism, manifested through return visits to the migrant’s country of origin and remittances, is also investigated.
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Notes
- 1.
Other well-established diaspora communities in Britain include the Nigerian, Ghanaian, Somalian, and Sierra Leonean diasporas.
- 2.
There is small but significant number of Africans who are involved in politics including Sam Gyimah (British Ghanaian and MP for East Surrey), Paul Boatang (British Ghanaian and Member of the House of Lords), Kwasi Kwarteng (British Ghanaian and MP for Spelthorne), Kate Osamor (British Nigerian and MP for Edmonton), Victor Adebowale (British Nigerian and Member of the House of Lords), and Lola Young (British Nigerian and member of the House of Lords). Those serving in the House of Commons and House of Lords are from more settled communities of Nigerians and Ghanaians.
- 3.
Galandini (2013, p. 17) suggests as missing links factors such as group consciousness and political mobilisation.
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Aspinall, P.J., Chinouya, M.J. (2016). Social, Cultural, and Civic Life. In: The African Diaspora Population in Britain. Migration, Diasporas and Citizenship. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-45654-0_9
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