AFRICAN MIGRATION AND THE GLOBAL FUTURE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL CONSIDERATION

The conundrum of African predicaments has created a general despair in the populace. This situation now catalyzes incessant migration of many Africans to the Western and Asian countries. African migration is the mass movement of indigenous Africans out of the continent in search of conducive environment necessary for fruitful economic ventures and better living conditions. This phenomenon has become unprecedented in recent time and its increasing wave is being propelled by the popular Nigerian slogan Japa. Why then are there persistent African predicament and unconducive environment in Africa, hence the surging migration? Could it be that African continent is now becoming uninhabitable and unsuited for Africans? Are there other factors in African continent catalyzing the present surging migration of the inhabitants? Is this unprecedented surge in African migration of any benefit to Africa and the migrants? Are African governments making enough effort to control this unprecedented phenomenon? What are the intentions of African migrants amidst their migration (japa) to America, Europe or Asia? What implications does the present African migration (japa) hold for the global future? In critical response to these questions, this paper, using the method of phenomenology, interrogates the increasing migration of Africans to Western and Asian countries (popularly called japa) to determine their rationale, implications and what the phenomena hold for the global future. The study as well accesses the impact of African migration on African continent and in the host countries. The discourse finds that African migration is a posteriori outcome of human needs. Along the ultimate search for these needs are African migrants confronted byactual needs expectation versus actual needs satisfaction. The widening gap between these needs now underscores scholars’ conclusion that African migration may appear lucrative, yet it maximizes loss of human capital/resources, creates human dissatisfaction, despair and attitudes akin to ‘already made situations.’ The study also finds that the increasing African migration (japa) is now a phenomenon that feeble the morale of the African; indisposes him or her to attitude necessary for autochthonous venture or development or for staying behind and joining in developing his or her country. The study then opts for controlled migration, and notes the need for good governance that would create a conducive environment for better human living condition and fruitful economic ventures.

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