Towards a Re-imagination of the New African Diaspora in Australia

Abstract

The ‘New African Diaspora’ (NAD) in Australia is a small yet diverse and interconnected community. African-born persons make up only 1.5 % of the Australian population, yet collectively represent all 54 independent African nation-states, and speak over 60 languages. Nonetheless, Australia embraces stereotypical and misleading understandings of the ‘African migrant’, and whilst these have been subject to academic scrutiny, there is a need to reconceptualise the NAD in both public and academic discourse. This article endeavours to challenge contemporary perceptions through an exploration of the history and demography of the NAD and the manifold ways it continues to shape Australia’s socio-cultural and economic landscapes. We draw upon our findings from a 2018 mapping project, which comprised analyses of publicly available migration data, an online survey, and a series of six in-depth interviews. Our analysis unveils the central role the NAD plays in brokering between multiple cultures and geographies.