The Book?
Ever wondered why you were travelling around Asia why there was so many Africans who would live or grow up there? Noo Saro-Wiwa answers this question in her book, Black Ghosts focusing on immigrates around China and Hong Kong.
For someone like me who used to pass one Harajuku store run by African men to passing the Chungking Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui known for housing lots of African residents, I had always been curious and never know why.
I learnt a lot from this travelogue such as a majority are Nigerians from the ethnic group, Igbo, how countries relations affect the people’s freedom to live in China and the mindsets of immigrants who stay or used to stay there. Some of the highlight interviewees for me were Emmanuel, Ayanda, Koffi, Jimbo and Thomas.
Emmanuel, an Nigerian man who moved to China to play football but suffered an injury that led him to sell VPNs for 8 years and became an overstayer. There’s Ayanda, a South African woman who lives in Chungking Mansion, Hong Kong with her daughter Bong and baby father who is an overstayer. All three stem at ease with their life but also in a loophole due to Ayanda relying on Bongi’s father for their livelihood. One person who stood out was Koffi, a Ghanian surgeon and cardiologist who was fluent in Mandarin and once worked in North China for 10 years before relocating to the US. Although not of African descent, the final two, Jimbo and Thomas gave Noo a different perspective of a couple who immigrate to China with cushy jobs that allow them to have better work/life conditions.
The Dish?
There’s definitely a plethora of food to choose from in China but I thought Masala Herb’s Spicy Shrimp Stir Fry would be a good fit as it’s familiar but also has a kick to it. Marina has made a delicious dish that’s easy to make, shareable and available here for you to do at home!
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