Diaspora Formations in the Horn of Africa

This article explores the nature of the diasporic connections that are emerging among Ethiopians and Eritreans in Nairobi and Khartoum and Eritreans in Addis Ababa. The article looks at their daily lives and interactions within these cities and how they are shaped by the different political and economic conditions. It adds a new dimension to the literature on refugee diasporas, which tends to focus on the political engagement of diasporic populations living far from their homeland. It also extends the limited literature on the formation of African diasporas within Africa. The comparative study shows the pragmatic nature of their diasporic engagement, orientated towards improving their lives in these three cities rather than social or political changes in Eritrea or Ethiopia. It also finds important differences in the extent to which these refugee populations are incipient diasporas, established as a distinctive and potentially permanent part of the city.