Nigerian diaspora struggles to shift perceptions

[geovalin]

Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon and Niem Chheng

 

This weekend, on October 1, the more than 1,000-strong Nigerian community in Cambodia will come together to celebrate their country’s Independence Day.

 

Abayomi “Austin” Koledoye, the president of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in Cambodia (NIDO), has lived in Cambodia since the early 1990s. He came here because he was looking for an opportunity to work as an educator and to travel the world; a friend told him about Cambodia, and he decided to take a chance.

 

“I came here seeking adventure,” he says, as well as “the opportunity to build something”. His work at Northbridge School and his role in building and coaching Cambodia’s national basketball team are just two areas where he has accomplished that. But in his time here and at the helm of NIDO, he, like others in the diaspora, have had to deal with negative perceptions of black Africans.

 

read more http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-weekend/nigerian-diaspora-struggles-shift-perceptions

 

 

-- © Copyright Phenom Pen Post 01/10

[bangkapi]

If they want the Cambodians' acceptance, they should stop asking Hun Sen for reparations.

[Sheryl]

3 hours ago, bangkapi said:

If they want the Cambodians' acceptance, they should stop asking Hun Sen for reparations.

 

Huh?

[Jonmarleesco]

Negative perceptions of black Africans? Or just of Nigerians, who are, unfortunately, likely to be tarred with the same brush as their scamming compatriots?