Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development

In recent times, there has been heightened and sustained interest in the concept migration because of its phenomenal global significance. Emergent discourses dwell on its link with other aspects of life and societal engagements like culture. Humans are naturally mobile. Certain factors contribute to the movement of people from one locality, one country or from even one continent to the other. This movement is not usually a smooth sail as it is fraught with unusual difficulties and hindrances. Immigrants are, more often than not, cajoled into shading off their cultural identity in their new place of abode as they are subtly made to see their cultural practices as mundane and obsolete. Thus, there is usually loss of culture due to migration. Be that as it may, some immigrants who have strong and established culture migrate with them despite all odds. A case in focus is the Igbo of South Eastern Nigeria. This paper aims at countering the general notion of culture loss or the negative effects of migration on culture. It is the view of the researchers that there are benefits accruable from culture in migration. It is the contact of cultures that leads to cultural diffusion and appropriation, which translate to improved economies, greater technological innovation and general global advancement. The paper explicates migration, culture and cultural diffusion, the Igbo and their general characteristics, aspects of the Igbo culture that have migrated and the benefits of cultural migration. The paper concludes that cultural diffusion is the key to the sustenance of immigrants’ cultural identity, individual and global advancement and world peace. It is the recommendation of the researchers that cultural migration should be encouraged because of its emergent benefits.

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