Petkou Chamba Lawrence

Developing Ethnic Minority Groups in Johannesburg South Africa: Surviving Xenophobia in Johannesburg Petkou Chamba Lawrence

The book is an important contribution to the study of recent pan-African migration to South Africa. It provides a detailed ethnography of Immigrants experiences in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. Utilizing survey methods, in-depth interviews, direct and participant observation techniques, it enriches our knowledge of both the migrants' experience and of the formation of new communities and identities in contemporary SA. The book identifies push and pull factors of migration from the West African sub- region to South Africa and the reasons why West African migrants are attracted to South Africa. The book also provides a detail analysis of the factors which contribute to the marginalization or integration of West African immigrants, and shows how interaction with South African society affects West African's sense of self-identity. The book documents the deplorable treatment of immigrants by a number of state agencies and departments and charts the modalities of popular xenophobia. It explores immigramts' strategies of cultural identification and economic survival creating a new social world for themselves in conditions of considerable adversity.