Beyond the journey: An Afro-Centric exploration of return migration through Somali lived experiences

Return migration transcends a mere physical return; it is a transformative, ongoing process that reshapes identity, belonging, and community ties.

Adele explores how Somali diasporic returnees, qurbojoog, negotiate their reintegration within intricate social, cultural, and political landscapes. The seminar will examine why and how some migrants return while others cannot, pointing to factors like economic resources, social status, and remittances that support families left behind.

Adopting an Afro-centric lens, this seminar emphasises the cyclical and relational nature of mobility, where returnees emerge as active agents driven by communal obligations, resilience, and personal aspirations. It highlights how Somali returnees inhabit a transnationally fluid space, engaging in back-and-forth movements rather than permanent resettlement.

By weaving together mobility, transnationalism, and the globalisation of the Somali nation, Adele highlights the qurbojoog returnees’ stories, illuminating their transformative impact on both homeland and diaspora.

This event will be particularly useful for anthropologists, sociologists, policymakers, and researchers working in the African context.

Related links

• TCRU seminar series
• Thomas Coram Research Unit (TCRU)
• Social Research Institute

Image

1. ARC - The Alliance of Religions and Conversation via Flickr (CC BY 2.0).
2. A picture of Somalia, taken by Adele Galipo.