The Lectures/ Die Vorlesungen

2.12.13
"Tanzania – East Africa's No. 1. migration country"

On November 26, Hanifa Massawe, PhD in Law candidate at the Department of Public Law, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, held the last of five presentations in the frame of the lecture series with the title “The Impact of Migration within Tanzania”. The presentation was concerned with migration laws within Tanzania and examined migration flows in and out of the country and its consequences for it from a legal point of view. Ms. Massawe, who works as Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania, firstly examined push and pull factors such as political and religious oppression, poverty, better education and social security. By stating Immigration Act No. 7, facilitating movements of persons entering and leaving the country, she explained that Tanzania has had one of the strictest immigration laws in East Africa. Nowadays, there seems to be a relaxation of laws due to the East African treaty, however, the country still remains one of the most famous African migration countries. Because of its geographical location centered between DRC, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique (countries with civil and ethnic conflicts), the rather peaceful Tanzania is object to many migration laws and immigration groups. The most famous groups encompass refugees (largest group), freedom fighters, illegal as well as labor and economic immigrants. Tanzania therefore holds the largest refugee population in Africa. Many of those refugees are reluctant to go back to their home country voluntarily arguing that prosecution and death awaits them. This accounts for the fact that many refugees grow into being illegal immigrants. Besides political and economic stability, the country possesses most of the important transit routes for migration (e.g. leading to South Africa or Botswana) which is the reason human trafficking appears at a terrible rate. Internal migration as well as passing through leads to an enhancement of serious criminal activities, tensions between host population and immigrants, has a negative impact on the environment (ill fishing and overgrazing) and Tanzania as a developing country is forced to deal with political and socio-economic problems of a developed country without rewards. On the bright side though, migration fosters education and stimulates the country's economy and development of infrastructure. Ironically, it is Tanzanians who barely seem to emigrate at all (although numbers are scarce). Emigration rates reside under 1%. If emigration occurs, Tanzanians usually leave for South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Canada or the US for education and short-term job opportunities only to return to Tanzania after a few years.  



26.11.13
"Identitätsbildung in der Deutsch-Polnischen Migration"

Auf der ganzen Welt zu Hause – Grenzenloses Europa und die Frage nach dem eigenen Ich 

Am 19.11. 2013 hielt Junior Professorin Frau Dr. Glorius der Humangeographie Ostmitteleuropas im Rahmen der Vorlesungsreihe den vierten Vortrag mit dem Titel „Identitätsentwicklung am Beispiel der Deutsch-Polnischen Migration“. Hypothese der Doktorarbeit von Frau Dr. Glorius und des gleichnamigen Vortrages war die Frage, ob zunehmende Transnationalisierung und Globalisierung zu einer Deterritorialisierung für Individuen führt, vor allem im Hinblick auf Identität und Selbstverständnis. Zentral hier war der Gedanke, dass Identität ein vielschichtiges und facettenreiches Konzept ist, das sich keinesfalls klar und gleich für alle definieren lässt. Außerdem betrachtete Frau Glorius das Leben von Migranten in ihrem Vortrag als eine Art Roman mit Plot, Episoden, Darstellern und Schauplätzen. Gerade diese Schauplätze sind es die aus humangeographischer Sicht besonders wichtig sind, da diese die Rahmenbedingungen für die Schaffung einer neuen Identität für Migranten konstituieren. Diese Bühne ist es, die von Migranten neu betreten wird. Grundlegende Fragen, die während des Vortrags diskutiert wurden, waren die nach verschiedenen Transnationalen Ansätzen in der Migrationsforschung und deren Validität, die Frage, wie wichtig Ortsbindung und Lokalität für Lebenszufriedenheit ist und inwiefern Migration das eigene Selbstbild ändert. Hier wurde über das Konzept der Doppelten Befremdung gesprochen, die Theorie nach der Migration eine Befremdung mit der alten Heimat auslöst ohne dass das Zugehörigkeitsgefühl zur neuen Heimat schon voll entwickelt sei. Im Anschluss an den Vortrag ergab sich eine rege Diskussion zum Thema mit vielen interessanten Gedanken und Beiträgen, die zum weiteren Nachdenken über die Frage, was das Eigene und was das Andere in uns ist.


Heute wird die letzte Vorlesung der Reihe stattfinden. Hanifa Massawe wird über "Thorny Immigration Issues in East Africa" sprechen.


19.11.13
"The Impact of Immigration within Africa"

The third presentation of our lecture series was held by Mr Samuel Ngwa Atechi and held the title “The Impact of Immigration within Africa”. 

As the word migration was a very central term in his presentation, Mr Atechi started his talk by defining the term. Therefore he mentioned general facts, for example the circumstance that migration means movement from one place to another (across a political border) and that it can be voluntary, involuntary or forced.
Later on, he started to explain the basic reasons for migration by looking at the early man, who was mainly moving around because he needed shelter, food and security. Next, he took a look at the causes of migration within Africa. In the pre-colonial times, this was mainly the search for security. But during the colonial era, the colonial regimes changed these motives. 
Furthermore, Mr Atechi talked about several push factors for migration within Africa. These are for example: the regime of terror in Ethiopia and Uganda, interminable conflicts in Somalia, the genocide in Rwanda and the civil war in Nigeria. In contrast to this, he also mentioned several pull factors, for example good governance that creates more security and better economic and social opportunities. At the end of his presentation, he also talked about the importance of remittances that migrants send to their families in their home country. This is a very important and also good way for people who have left their country, to support their family, friends or local communities. 

Tomorrow, we will have a talk in German on “Identitätsbildung in der Polnisch-Deutschen Migration” given by Jun.-Prof. Dr. Birgit Glorius from Chemnitz University of Technology.


11.11.13
"Transatlantische Migration - Kulturtransfer in der Literatur"

Die zweite Vorlesung unserer Vorlesungsreihe hielt Prof. Dr. Schwend von der Uni Leipzig. Er sprach über Transatlantische Migration und den Kulturtransfer in der Literatur. Dabei geht es aber nicht nur um die Sklaverei, sondern mehr um die sogenannten Bindestrich-Individuen (z.B. Irish-Americans). In seinem Vortrag ging es hauptsächlich um die Irische Diaspora. 

Es gibt irische Pubs auf der ganzen Welt, und dies zeigt, dass auch die Iren weltweit verstreut sind und sich nicht auf Irland begrenzen lassen. Sie haben ein starkes Zusammengehörigkeitsgefühl, was einen großen Teil ihrer Identität ausmacht. Mehr noch, man kann heutzutage nicht mehr nur von einer Identität sprechen, sondern man muss von multiplen und hybriden Identitäten sprechen. 
Da der Literaturkanon zum kulturellen Denken gehört, hat Herr Schwend einige Romane und auch Kurzgeschichten näher erläutert. In der heutigen Ryanair Generation ist es ja ohnehin möglich, zu kommen und zu gehen wie es einem beliebt. Dieser global traveller muss sich jedoch dann die Frage nach seiner Kultur stellen, und ob diese eventuell schon von anderen Kulturen adaptiert wurde. Es ist nicht mehr möglich, zwischen den Kulturen zu unterscheiden, da sie sich gegenseitig stark beeinflussen. Dieses Kommen und Zurückkehren wird auch häufig in der Literatur beschrieben. Dies ermöglicht uns natürlich auch Rückschlüsse zu ziehen und zu Erfahren, wie die, die es erlebt haben, mit verschiedenen Kulturen und Identitäten umgehen.
Als eine Art Zusammenfassung des Gesagten, berichtete Herr Schwend noch von zwei irischen Studentinnen an der Uni Leipzig, beide mit irischem Pass und eindeutig Anglo-Irisch sprechend. Jedoch lassen ihre Nachnamen nicht darauf deuten, dass sie Iren sind, da sie Ungarisch und Polnisch sind. Die Frage ist nun „Was ist das Eigene und was das Andere bei ihnen?“ und“ Sind sie das lebende Beispiele hybrider Kulturen und Identitäten?“


Morgen Abend findet die dritte Vorlesung zum Thema "The Impact of Immigration Within Africa" gehalten von Herrn Samuel Atechi statt.


5.11.13
Sociolinguistic and Cultural Implications of Migration in Ghana (Ashanti region)

We started our lecture series with a talk given by Jancinta Edusei. She talked about the sociolinguistic and cultural implications of migration in Ghana, especially in the Ashanti region. Since Ms Edusei grew up in that region, and experienced the implications herself, she is so to say an expert in this field. We were glad that she contributed her knowledge to our lecture series.

Ms Edusei started her presentation with a definition of migration. She also provided the context/ setting, which is Ghana. She named and explained the five main reasons why Ghanaisans migrate: social, educational, economic, environmental and political factors.
More than 50% of all internal and external migration is within the Ashanti and the greater Accra region. And the Ashanti region is the most populated region within Ghana. An interesting fact is that immigrants come from all over the world, also from Europe, Asia and the United States.
After the introduction part of the lecture, Ms Edusei explored the question, “To what extent does migration affect the language use patterns and language attitude of the community?” She explained that the regional language Akan seems to dominate even administrative affairs.  There is also a language shift from the mother tongue (of the immigrants) to Akan, because Akan is easily learnt. The fact that 44% of non-native speakers speak Akan confirms this statement.
After Ms Edusei explained the language implications, she talked about the cultural implications that migration brings. First there are the suburban names, since settlements are named after specific groups, and this only appears in the Ashanti region. Next there is the celebration of Akwasidae, which represent the end of a month and is celebrated every six weeks. Also intermarriages increased, this was forbidden in the past. Another point is that clothing changed. In the Ashanti region we now find the western style, political suit, the Batakari and Fugu (northern Ghanaian) style and also the traditional Ntoma/ Kaba and slit style.
Ms Edusei presented nice pictures to let the audience know about different clothing styles, but also about the different food.
Her conclusion was that cultures are enriched by the influence from abroad.


Tomorrow, we will have a talk in German on "Transatlantische Migration – Kulturtransfer in der Literatur" given by Prof. Dr. Schwend from Leipzig.


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