The nexus between enslavement and migration: Changing belongings in Darfur and North Africa

How are migration and enslavement sociohistorically intertwined in shaping migration opportunities for people from Africa south of the Sahara? This article addresses this question through an analysis of 65 biographical-narrative interviews with migrants from Sudan, particularly Darfur, who travelled through North Africa to Europe. The findings highlight the significance of the intergenerational transmission of knowledge about collective histories of enslavement and servitude in shaping the migration prospects of different groupings. Focusing on cases from Darfur, the article demonstrates how individuals change constructions of belonging in order to: (i) evade violence, coerced labour and mobility restrictions; and (ii) secure refugee status by framing experiences within narratives of ‘slavery’ while downplaying familial involvement in regional conflicts. This research highlights the need to historicise migration pathways and reassess how collective memories of enslavement influence contemporary migration experiences.