Black In Diaspora (HIS 110)

What is the meaning of Diaspora?

A diaspora is a scattered population whose origin lies in a separate geographical locale.
The word diaspora was originally use by the Jews. As you go in your further studies, you will
know that the Jews are a very delegate people who have history of migration, biblically and
even historically we can see them moving from one point to another from one rulership to
another and a lot of times they suffer identities so, we know that historically the word 'diaspora'
was use to refer to Involuntarily mass dispersion of a population from its original territory
particularly the dispersion of the Jews. Dispersion is from a Greek word meaning “Scattering”
as long as we are dealing with Africa in Diaspora, it will be easy for us and it is necessary for us to
actually understand what it is. When you say black in diaspora you are actually talking of Africa
in diapora, it will be easy for us and it is necessary for us to actually understand what this is.
When you say black in diaspora you are actually talking of Africa in diaspora in case you see
me using these words interchangeably, am still speaking of the same thing.
As much as this Africa in diaspora, you need to understand that the study of Blacks in
diapora is indeed the study of the world. What do you mean by this? We need to understand
that there are two major things about Africa. (1) Africa is the birth place of human civilization
and from there human beings migrated to various locations we are all Africans beneath our
skin. The reason is because anatomically, modern human originated the world in the last one
hundred thousand years that everybody, one way in the other came from world. But we are
trying to give a background that the study of black in diaspora is so important that it is the core
of the whole of humanity. Another thing we need to understand about Africa in Diaspora is that
there are certain things that caused it and we would be coming to it very shortly.
Alright, I want to point this that migration does not directly means diaspora while all
migration does not necessary create a diaspora. What is particular in diaspora creation
includes; migration, some historical emotive, political, economic and cultural connection to
that homeland and a consciousness of that interaction.
That is, it is possible for you to move from one place to another and not have that sense of been
in the diaspora, so there is this connection that goes beyond the fact that you are dispersed.
According to google; The Africa in Diaspora is a term commonly use to describe the mass
dispersion of the people from Africa during the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade from the 1500-1800.
The diaspora took millions of people from West Africa and Central Africa to different region in
America and Europe.
Do you know that as much Africans did not plan to go overseas and then we talk about Africa in
Diaspora. Let me tell you that historically there are evidences to show that Africans has been in
other part of the world before the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Let's take it a bit to the back, now,
in the bible have heard of a pastor he opened to a particular page in the bible. When Moses left
Egypt, there were people, some particular black people, though they were not called “blacks”
in the bible.
To confirm from an initial from another perspective, I called my Muslim friend, he told me
about a particular man called 'Dilan' he said he was a black man, very prominent in the Hadith
who was noted to have live during the time of the prophet (SAW) and then he was the one who
use to call people to prayer and they said this man had a wonderful voice and was noted for it.
Although he was a slave and then he had different tribulation. What am telling you is that even
in the Hadith, there is a mention of a black man. In the bible there are fragments of the mention
of the black man, am telling you that Africans have been around the world before the Trans-
Atlantic Slave Trade. So, we should not limit ourselves to the definition of the word diaspora
and coin it that way, Alright? And also, many scholars have challenge conventional views of the
Africa diaspora.
Most times, All you think of when you hear diaspora is the fact that Africans are scattered. That
is not all there is in the definition. The reason why am stressing this on the understanding of the
definition is because it is the only thing that will need a background for every other things we
would discuss in this course.
Afriacans in diaspora does not just means the dispersal of black people. People like W.E.B.
Debois that's one of prominent Pan African Man. He saw Africa in diaspora as a movement of
liberation that opposes the implications of racialization. It means the process of ascribing
ethinics or racial identities to a relationship, practice or group that did not identify itself on such
what that means is Africa in diaspora on a very high level it does not just mean Africans being
scattered, it means that Africans who are scattered who retain this sense of Africaness the
Africans to have a good living while in another land. A good living will include for them to fight
for the right of Africans, it would also mean for them to have cultural affinities to have things
that will bring them together so as not to lose the meaning of where they came from. It is not
just the meaning that they are dispersed.

Quick Question
Which one started earlier and when did it end?
Atlantic or Arab Slave Trade?
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The reason why we are talking about the slave trade is because we are looking for the methods
of the dispersal of Africans to other parts of the world. We have the major ones, that is
Voluntary and Involuntary Migration
Under the voluntary, Africans moved voluntarily most times slave trade is so much emphasize
that we forget that there are some Africans that moved deliberately. For example, from the very
onset of Spanish exploration and colonial activities in the Americans, Africans participated
both as voluntary and Involuntary expeditionary. In the 15th Century, you will see that there
are some warriors who are black in complexion, who are evidently Africans, one way or the
other these people had grown there and become renowned people even while the slave trade
was going on, there were black people who had actually bought their freedom. So, some of
these people go there voluntarily without been moved into cargoes etc.
Some of them were part of those who functions as conquistadors (Warriors) and Africans has
been present in Europe even long before Columbus travelled, for different reasons they have
been there. Although they might not be that much but they have been there.
Involuntary movement is through slavery (Arab/Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade). The dispersal
through slave trade represent the largest first migration in human history. Do you know that
brazil has the highest number of Africans? In 1888 almost half the population in Brazil
descended from Africa. You should know that the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade did not move
people to America, it moved people to the colonies in southern America workin in plantation
farms, tobacco farms, those were primarily in the colonies (Southern America majorly) in
major push that led people out of Africa to go to these places.

Assignment
Give an account of the Blacks Slaves in the Arab World.