Exploring the Black British Exodus with Twin City’s ‘Mentally I’m Here’

The world is on shuffle, we all know someone who has recently packed up their belongings for greener pastures. Since COVID-19, we’ve witnessed a dramatic shift in the way we work, particularly the rise of remote work, which has facilitated the digital nomad lifestyle. This, coupled with social and economic factors, such as increased cost of living and evolving definitions of a good quality of life, people are expanding their views on how and where they choose to live. In the UK specifically, the ramifications of 14 years under an austerity-obsessed Tory government have become inescapable, with aggressive cuts to public services, growing economic inequality, and a worsening housing crisis. These tectonic shifts, further stressed by the persistent racial inequality in the UK, have driven many Black Brits to seek opportunities elsewhere to escape UK ‘bad vibes’. Research agency Word on the Curb found that 66% of 1st and 2nd immigrant Brits are thinking about leaving the UK. Twin City, a flat-swapping platform with a global network of creative & remote workers across 50+  locations, is highlighting this shift with their ‘Mentally I’m Here’ baby tees.

 

Cultural theorist Stuart Hall defined identity as a ‘moveable feast’ that is “formed and transformed continuously in relation to the ways we are represented or addressed in the cultural systems which surround us”. The nature of being a Black Brit means experiencing a fragmented identity; 1 in 6 Black Brits do not consider themselves to be British, according to The Black British Voices Project. This disconnect allows for Black Brits to explore the other parts that construct their identity, namely their African or Caribbean heritage – especially when it comes to look for new locations to build their lives. In 2018, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo declared 2019 as the ‘Year of Return’, as part of a programme to encourage African Diasporans to visit Ghana. This was launched in conjunction with the commemoration of 400 years since the first black slaves arrived in Hampton, Virginia. Since then we have seen a boom in tourism in not just Ghana but locations like Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Gambia, with many Black Brits ensuring they have a ‘Detty December’. This welcoming, alongside policy changes offering those of African descent visas, the social movement ‘Blaxit’ coined by Dr. Ulysses Burley III, and Europe’s shift to far-right politics, has meant moving back ‘home’ is a viable option. But what are the implications of this mass exodus?

Freedom of movement and ability to earn in pounds whilst spending in a significantly weaker currency are some of the privileges a British passport carries particularly in countries in the Global South. These benefits when not exercised mindfully create the same inequalities Black Brits are escaping from. Many Diasporans take to TikTok gushing about how they were able to get bum-length boho braids for £2.50. In a recent NPR article, Emmanuel Akinwotu spoke to Ghanaians and Diasporans in the town Asebu, where tensions were rising due to disputes in land ownership. Locals complained that places where they farmed to create a livelihood were being levelled to accommodate for this new diasporan presence. Whilst they had no issues with Diasporans, what did frustrate them was this relegation to second-class citizens in their own homes. There are limited studies on how and what locals are feeling with this new influx of diasporans, however with a quick search on X (formerly known as Twitter) the topic is very present. Consistent themes that appear from locations such as Accra, Lagos and more are around the mindless dispossession, exclusion and exploitation of locals that diasporans or ‘innit innit gang’ (a term used to describe Black Brits) facilitate. This warped idea of home countries being a utopia and the lack of meaningful engagement with locals often mean that Diasporans fail to acknowledge the ways in which these countries aren’t a utopia for the people who have always been there.

 

We see this tension between native Black New Yorkers and their Black transplants from other US cities, looking outside of race you also see this issue occurring in locations like Lisbon, Portugal and Marseille, France. This isn’t to say that Diasporans shouldn’t look to move, but more what are the ways in which they can do so without being so problematic? How can they be considerate in the ways in which their presence can disrupt an ecosystem? Awareness of privilege is the first step, what are some of the ways privilege can be used for good? These questions cannot be answered without taking the time to understand the conditions of local communities, this can only happen through conversation where Diasporans are the listening party. This mindful approach is not only about avoiding harm but also about leveraging their privileges for positive change, creating a harmonious coexistence in their new homes.  This isn’t a new phenomenon. Humans have always been in search of something new or something better. Ultimately, the quest for a better life is a universal human experience, but it must be pursued with empathy and respect.

 

Dropping on Monday, July 22nd via Twin City’s Gift Shop, the ‘Mentally I’m Here’ collection is not just about celebrating Black Brits finding new ways of living but also about fostering meaningful conversations on how they are doing it. The collection aims to ignite a sense of collectivity among Diasporans and locals alike.

 

Haja Fanta is a curator, researcher and writer based between London and Dakar.