“Life and Times of a Black Immigrant”: Precarious Refugee-ness and Human Rights in Simao Kikamba’s Going Home (2015)

Most studies on intra-Africa migration to South Africa have focused more on the figure of the migrant. The exploration of the refugee and asylum-seeking persons remains understudied. This article seeks to explore the representation of precarious refugee existentiality and human rights in South Africa. By examining the interplay between refugee-ness, personal narrative and human rights advocacy, this article underscores the significance of refugee autobiography in the cultural landscape of South Africa. The article focuses on how Simão Kikamba’s Going Home (2015) is a narrative which serves as a powerful site for expressing challenging systemic injustices and advocating for social change. The analysis reveals how Going Home contributes to a broader human rights discourse, highlighting the ongoing challenges and aspirations in the journey towards a more just and equitable South African society.