Fourteenth International Conference on Food Studies

Abstract

As the influx of migrants from war-torn countries of Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. culminates into “a crisis”, migrants outside conflict categories bear hegemonic stereotypes reifying “otherness”. Pockets of Kenyans remain in Europe illegally, yet, many migrate as professionals, expatriates, students, or sports talents. In Europe, they are lumped together as “economic migrants” and viewed as threats to the economic well-being and detractors to the political climate. Such representations appear in European mainstream media and inhibit their integration in host societies. Yet, public discourse ignores their contribution in taxes and remittances. The influx of refugees from conflict zones has amplified stereotypes of migrants as “illegals, foreigners, and infringers”. However, diasporic media like Mkenya Ujerumani (Germany) and Ukentv (UK) in this study, (re)produce an alternative counter-hegemonic narrative of resistance and survival amidst stereotypes. The media creatively uses communicative technologies (ICTs) in its production to facilitate transnational ties. It offers cultural diffusion, co-dependence, and commodification of ideas. As social change agent’s, Kenyan migrants initiate economic activities in their homeland. They regard “return migration” and “brain gain” as an alternative to settling in Europe. I integrate qualitative textual analysis and postcolonial theory, to expose underlying concepts. In this paper, I highlight aspects of representations of migration and development in diasporic media and the negation of aid-centred development. Increasingly, diasporic media produce alternate viewpoints for Africa’s economic independence. Postcolonialism examines alternative perspectives on social, economic, and political affairs. Hence, theoretic concepts and findings in this paper address the question of “Strangers in Homelands”.