Born in France, Menka Gomis chose to carve his future in Senegal, the birthplace of his parents.
The 39-year-old is among the growing wave of French Africans exiting France, attributing it to the surge in racism, discrimination, and extreme nationalism.
BBC Africa Eye has been delving into this “silent exodus,” investigating why individuals like Mr. Gomis feel disenchanted with life in France.
Establishing a travel agency, the Parisian now offers travel packages connecting individuals to their African roots and operates an office in Senegal.
“Born and raised in France, I lived through significant racism,” Mr. Gomis shares with BBC World Service, recalling school days in Marseille filled with racial slurs.
“While I hold French nationality, my roots lie elsewhere.”
Gomis’s mother, who relocated to France as an infant, grapples with her son’s decision to leave for Senegal, away from family and friends.
As Gomis explains, “It’s not just the allure of an African dream but also a responsibility to my parents’ homeland and a land of opportunity.”
“Africa is akin to the gold rush era in the Americas—a continent ripe with potential and possibilities.”
The complex historical ties between Senegal, a predominantly Muslim nation, and its former colonizer France are significant and intricate.
A recent journey by BBC Africa Eye met with migrants in Senegal risking perilous sea voyages to reach Europe.
A record number sought asylum in France last year, showing a rising pattern of migration, according to OFPRA.
Applications reached around 142,500, with one-third of asylum claims accepted.
The reverse migration to Africa’s scale is unclear due to French laws that prevent data collection by race, religion, or ethnicity.
Yet, findings indicate skilled individuals from Muslim backgrounds are quietly emigrating, hoping for a better life elsewhere.
They mentioned a hardening stance on immigration, notably influenced by right-wing politics growing in France.
Prime Minister Michel Barnier and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, newly appointed, vowed stricter immigration laws at both national and European levels.
Protests erupted last year after a police officer fatally shot an Algerian teenager from close range, sparking national unrest, AFP reports.
Fanta Guirassy, resident and nursing practice owner in Villemomble Paris, also contemplates a move to Senegal, her mother’s homeland.
“Sadly, safety in France has been deteriorating for several years now,” the 34-year-old candidly shares with BBC.
“As a single mom with a teenager, there’s always that knot of anxiety about his safety.”
A turning point occurred when police stopped and frisked her son while he was chatting with friends.
“It’s terrifying for a mother: witnessing that fear firsthand,” she reflects.
The nationwide unrest last June following the fatal police shooting of Nahel Merzouk, 17, echoed deep-seated frustration regarding the treatment of minorities in France.
A survey indicated that a staggering 91% of Black individuals in France experienced racial prejudice.
In response to the turmoil, the OHCHR urged France to address racial discrimination by law enforcement agencies aggressively.
The French foreign ministry refuted these critiques, asserting the existence of no systemic issue within the police force.
Despite this, the French interior ministry recorded a 33% rise in racist crimes last year, totaling over 15,000 incidents.
Teacher Audrey Monzemba, with Congolese ancestry, labeled these societal shifts as “quite anxiety-inducing.”
We accompanied her on her morning commute through a diverse working-class Parisian suburb.
As she arrives at school, Monzemba discreetly removes her hijab beneath her coat, navigating the secular French environment’s complexities.
BBC
“I yearn for a workplace where I can keep my veil on”
Audrey Monzemba
Schoolteacher
In secular France, the hijab has sparked controversy for decades, inspiring Monzemba to seek solace in Senegal, where cultural acceptance aligns with her values.
“I’m not abandoning France,” she clarifies, “but pursuing a nurturing setting that respects my beliefs unabashedly.”
Surveys reveal a rising trend of Muslims in France migrating abroad post the 2015 terrorism-fueled Islamophobia spike.
“Secularism and job bias fuel this discreet emigration,” claims Olivier Esteves, author of France, You Love It But You Leave It.
“Highly educated French Muslims often lead this exodus, resulting in a considerable brain drain,” he observes.
Fatoumata Sylla, aged 34, mirrors this trend. Her Senegalese heritage remains a guiding torch.
“My father sought a better life in Africa. ‘Remember your roots,’ he’d say,” she recalls, leaning toward entrepreneurship in Senegal.
Sylla embarks on a business venture, aiming to revive familial ties, though her brother Abdoul, skeptical, remains in Paris.
“I worry for her,” he voices concerns to BBC. “I don’t feel a pull toward our ancestral lands. Our culture and life belong to France.”
“You won’t unearth an unreal Wakanda,” Abdoul cautions, referencing the Black Panther’s idyllic imaginary world.
In Dakar, Gomis joined forces with Salamata Konte, creating opportunities for fellow French Africans seeking new horizons in Senegal.
“Upon arriving, I was dubbed ‘Frenchie’,” Konte recounts, having exchanged a high-profile Parisian banking career for Dakar’s bustling business scene.
“Born French, yet inherently Senegalese, the initial rejection was disheartening,” she admits.
Her advice? Embrace humility. “That’s the secret,” she insists.
As a pioneering businesswoman, she notes, “Senegalese men are routinely reluctant to see women lead.”
“We strive harder to prove ourselves,” she acknowledges, amidst cultural hurdles.
Yet, Gomis awaits Senegalese nationality enthusiastically while exploring his next endeavor—a dating app catering to Senegal’s dynamic market.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
