越来越多的非裔美国人正迁居肯尼亚,他们表示需要与自己的历史和文化建立联系,或称之为“回家”——这是黑人群体中常用的表述。
肯尼斯·哈里斯(Kenneth Harris)在亚特兰大度过了大部分时光,他渴望生活在一个地方,在那里他的深色皮肤不会招致怀疑,而是共同血脉的象征。两年前,当他买了一张前往肯尼亚的单程票时,机会终于来临。
这位38岁的退伍老兵在东非国家首都找到了归属感,如今他经营着一家爱彼迎民宿。他喜欢在屋顶露台欣赏内罗毕的金色日落,并在高档社区一间装潢雅致的公寓中享受着奢华生活。
哈里斯是日益增多的非裔美国人中的一员,他们正迁往肯尼亚,理由是渴望与祖先建立联系,或称之为“回家”——这是黑人社区常用的说法。
与近年来移居内罗毕的数十位非裔美国人一样,哈里斯被肯尼亚的热带气候所吸引,也被当地人的热情友善所打动——他认为自己与他们有着共同的历史文化渊源。
寻找社群与更美好的生活
他说:“我一直怀有冒险精神,尤其是在参军后得以游历各国。因此我正借此机会探索新的地方。正是这种精神让我在他乡安家,而肯尼亚就是我的新家。”
他表示,一些朋友已联系他,探讨“为求心安而离开美国的可能性”。
其他几位像他一样‘回归故土’的非洲裔美国人,也在内罗毕创办了蓬勃发展的企业,包括旅行社、餐厅和农场。
许多已在海外寻求更好生活或正考虑这样做的非裔美国人表示,唐纳德·特朗普政府打击多元化项目的政策并非他们想要搬迁的主要原因。
事实上,多数人表示他们早已考虑搬迁,而美国当前的政治环境可能正促使他们提前行动,比原计划更早采取行动。
哈里斯表示:"我不能断言本届政府是我认识的人想要离开美国的原因。有些人计划搬迁是为了追求更高的生活质量。"
旅居各国近十年的美国视频博主奥斯顿·霍利曼表示,他九个月前选择定居肯尼亚,是因为当地人“和我长相相似”。
“这不同于去欧洲或某些黑人较少的拉美国家。”他说道。
经常记录日常生活的霍尔曼(Holleman)表示,他认为美国的社会结构已经“破碎”。与之形成鲜明对比的是,他在肯尼亚感受到了社会的包容。他举例说,有一次出租车抛锚,仅五分钟内他们就得到了一位陌生路人的帮助。
“这让我意识到自己来对地方了。”他说道。
越来越多的人有意离开美国
其他非洲国家吸引了更多非裔美国人前往。加纳于2019年启动“回归年”计划以吸引海外黑人群体回归,该国去年表示举行了一场仪式,向524名主要来自美国的黑人授予了公民身份。
诸如阿迪拉搬迁服务公司(Adilah Relocation Services)等非裔美国人企业注意到,有意迁居肯尼亚的非裔美国人数量显著增加。
该公司创始人阿迪拉·穆罕默德(Adilah Mohammad)在母亲葬礼四天后前往肯尼亚寻求心灵疗愈。
她表示,在肯尼亚感受到的宁静与身心恢复让她选择留下,并为寻求同样体验的人们发声。她的公司通过协助客户找房、购置家具以及确保银行与医疗服务无缝衔接,帮助他们顺利搬迁。
“目前已有15个家庭抵达,未来90天内还将有5个家庭到来。还有人预定了2026年的行程,尽管没有具体日期,但他们已确定要离开。”她说道。
穆罕默德表示,许多非裔美国人几十年来一直在筹划他们的迁徙行动。
她说:“对我而言,这是一场运动。是人们主动为自己做出选择,他们并非被迫,枷锁正在被打破。当他们说要回家时,他们选择的是自由,是精神上的解放,因此我感到无比欣喜。”
专家表示,非洲经济体很可能从这些举措中获益,尤其是那些愿意打击腐败并为投资者创造健康环境的地区。
联合国人居署公共政策专家拉斐尔·奥博尼奥表示,美国正在流失资源,同时也逐渐失去了“美国是机遇与梦想之地”这一普遍共识。
他解释道:“这种逆向移民正在削弱这一说法,因此美国很可能会遭受包括人才流失在内的损失。”
对穆罕默德而言,归属感让她内心获得了平静。
“我热爱这里。回到非洲是一回事,但找到一个让你有归属感的地方是另一回事。”她说道。
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A growing wave of African Americans are relocating to Kenya, citing the need to connect with their history and culture, or "coming home, a phrase often used among the Black community
Kenneth Harris spent most of his days in Atlanta yearning for a life in a place where his dark skin color is not a source of suspicion, but a mark of a shared heritage. His chance came two years ago when he bought a one-way ticket to Kenya.
The 38-year-old retired veteran has found a community in the east African country's capital, where he now runs an Airbnb business. He loves admiring Nairobi 's golden sunset from a rooftop terrace, and enjoys a luxurious lifestyle in a tastefully furnished apartment in an upmarket neighborhood.
Harris is part of a growing wave of African Americans who are relocating to Kenya, citing the need to connect with their ancestors or coming home," a phrase often used among the Black community.
Like dozens of other African Americans who have moved to Nairobi in recent years, Harris was attracted to Kenyas tropical climate and what he describes as the warmth and friendliness of the people he believes he shares a history and culture with.
In search of community and a better life
I have always had that adventurous spirit, especially when I joined the military and got to go to different countries. So I am taking the opportunity to venture out to new places," he said. That is what allowed me to make a home away from home and Kenya is my new home.
Some friends have reaching out to him to explore a change from the U.S for their peace of mind, he said.
Several other African Americans who have come home like him have set up thriving businesses in Nairobi that include travel agencies, restaurants and farms.
Many African Americans who have sought a better life abroad or are considering it said President Donald Trump's administration with its crackdown on diversity programs isn't the main reason they want to move.
Rather, most say they had been mulling a move for some time, and the current political environment in the U.S. may be pushing them to act sooner than initially planned.
I cant say the administration is the reason why the people I know want to part ways from America. Some are planning to move for a better quality of living life, Harris said.
Auston Holleman, an American YouTuber who has lived in various countries for almost a decade, said he settled on Kenya nine months ago because people look like me.
It is not like going to Europe or going to some Latin American countries where there are not many Black people, he said.
Holleman, who often films his daily life, said he felt that the social fabric in the U.S. was broken." In contrast, he said he felt socially accepted in Kenya. He cited an experience when his taxi drivers car stopped, and in five minutes they got help from a random stranger.
That made me realize I was in the right place, he said.
Growing numbers are interested in leaving the US
Other African countries have attracted even larger numbers of African Americans. Ghana, which launched a Year of the Return program to attract the Black diaspora in 2019, said last year it held a ceremony that granted citizenship to 524 people, mostly Black Americans.
African American businesses such as Adilah Relocation Services have seen a notable rise in the number of African Americans seeking to move to Kenya.
The companys founder, Adilah Mohammad, moved to Kenya four days after her mothers funeral in search of healing.
She says the peace and restoration she experienced in Kenya made her stay and advocate for those searching for the same. Her company helps clients relocate by house hunting, shopping for furniture and ensuring banking and medical services are seamless.
There are 15 families that have come so far, and we have five more on the calendar that are coming in the next 90 days. We have people that have booked for 2026 with no date, they just know that they are leaving, she says.
Mohammad said many African Americans have been planning their move for decades.
For me it is a movement. It is people deciding to make a choice for themselves, they are not being forced, shackles are being broken. When they say they are coming home, they are choosing to be free and it is mental freedom and so I am ecstatic, she says.
Experts say African economies are likely to benefit from these moves, especially from those willing to tackle corruption and create a healthy environment for investors.
Raphael Obonyo, a public policy expert at U.N-Habitat, says the U.S is losing resources as well as the popular narrative that America is the land of opportunities and dreams.
This reverse migration is denting that narrative, so America is most likely to lose including things like brain drain, he explained.
For Mohammad, the sense of belonging has given her peace within.
I love being here. Returning to Africa is one thing, but finding the place that you feel like you belong is another, she said.
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