Africans are now experiencing a new wave of immigrants. No – it’s not the diaspora coming home from Wall Street.  With the growth of both the Chinese economy and China’s involvement  in Africa, over 1 million Chinese immigrants have moved to Africa in the last decade. Some come on government projects – to build infrastructure or set up factories – and stay on. Others are seeking economic opportunity, setting up professional businesses or hitting the pavement as petty traders.

This recent trend has raised concerns among locals in host countries. Africans worry that Chinese immigrants exploit close ties to their homeland, giving them an unfair advantage, especially in the trade sector, since they can source goods cheaply from China. There are also complaints about long-term commitment. If the Chinese repatriate funds back to China rather than spend locally, it sets up an extractive model, where Africa’s wealth continues to benefit people outside the continent.

Then, there’s the uncomfortable issue of race. In many countries, racial minorities are successors of former colonizers, creating a legacy of strained relationships and periodic accusations of racism. This applies to both European populations and “in-between groups” like Indians in Eastern Africa and Lebanese in West Africa. These populations generally integrate poorly. They typically socialize within the community, dominate specific segments of the economy and are largely politically marginalized. Might Africa’s new tribe replicate this negative dynamic?

Although many African countries are now putting in measures to cap the Chinese influx, the tide may be hard to turn in the long run. In many global cities – New York and Los Angeles among them – is a local Chinatown. Centuries old, these neighborhoods are vibrant and self-contained, bringing a dash of entrepreneurship and diversity to the big city. As Africa’s big cities expand, they naturally will become more cosmopolitan, attracting more and more people from all over the world.

credit:  http://thisnewafrica.com/2013/03/africas-new-tribe-chinese-in-africa/