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Unofficial logo of Blaxit movement

Blaxit is a social movement that promotes the repatriation of Black/African Americans from the United States and Europe to Africa. The term now includes all people of African heritage who desire to move to Africa for many reasons, including new economic growth opportunities and cultural reasons. Combined with African countries which are now seeking to gain skilled and educated migrants, a growing movement has been formed, with the Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addo declared that 2019 was the "Year of Return" and in accordance with his declaration, he made immigration to Ghana easier for members of African diaspora communities.[1]

With more African countries now granting citizenship to people of African descent who want to claim nationality, including Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Benin, Ghana[2] and Zambia. Benin are moving to grant citizenship to anyone who can prove their ancestry to Africa.[3] With new economic growth of the region, African countries are now activity working to gain investment and skilled labour from people of African heritage and emigrated Africans. Ethiopia Central bank governor Mamo Mihretu has publicly called upon the Ethiopian diaspora to get involved in the new opportunities created by the ongoing economic reforms in Ethiopia to benefit themselves and their homeland.[4]

With notable people of African heritage such as Idris Elba relocating to Africa to create ‘Zollywood’,[5] Akon creating his own city in Senegal called ‘Akon City’,[6] and Ludacris obtaining Gabonese citizenship,[7] the movement is gaining new investment with the view to making Africa a thriving continent.

The term Blaxit was coined in the wake of Brexit by the academic, journalist, and human rights consultant Dr. Ulysses Burley III. The term combines Black and Exit to form Blaxit in the same manner that Brexit describes the British Exit from the European Union.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

History

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The nation of Liberia was formed in response to the racism which emancipated Black Americans were subjected to in the 1820s.[1] Historian Kevin K. Gaines said around 15,000 emancipated and freeborn American Blacks emigrated between the 1820s and the Civil War period and beyond.[1] Other Black Americans emigrated to Canada, which had been a "beacon of freedom" for Black Americans from the time of the Revolutionary War (see: Black Loyalists), with hundreds of fugitive enslaved people emigrating by 1830 and more emigrating after the 1850 passage of the Fugitive Slave Act.[1] Prominent abolitionist Mary Ann Shadd emigrated to Canada and encouraged other African Americans to emigrate.[1]

African Renaissance Monument

In the early 1900s, many Black actors, artists and writers emigrated to Europe, they emigrated to Europe in an attempt to pursue opportunities which did not exist in the US.[1] Ira Aldridge pursued his acting career in Europe because he had a limited number of opportunities in the US.[1]

During World War I, when many Black Americans experienced life in other countries for the first time, many of them decided to remain in France, according to Gaines "where they were treated with respect."[1] Gaines said that this experience lead to the creation of an African-American expatriate community in Paris and other large French cities.[1] In this period Jazz music was introduced to France by James Reese Europe, who had headed the Harlem Hellfighters military band.[1] Josephine Baker found recognition in Paris and later became a French citizen.[1] James Baldwin described his experience in Paris, contrasting them favourably to those in the US.[1] Richard Wright also moved to Paris, and Langston Hughes for a time lived in London.[10] Nina Simone lived in France and several African countries.[10] Paul Robeson testified to the House Committee on Un-American Activities by stating that in Russia, "I felt for the first time like a full human being."[10]

After World War II, when Ghana became the first sub-Saharan colonized African nation to gain independence in 1957, the country became attractive to US Blacks who wanted to visit it for purposes of travel and emigration.[1] Maya Angelou and W.E.B. Dubois moved there.[1]

Pan-African Flag

Pan-Africanism movement, starting in 1897, grew in the 1950s postcolonial world as a movement that aims to encourage and strengthen bonds of solidarity between the diasporas of African ancestry. Pan-African thought influenced the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) in 1963. One of the biggest goals that the African Union has set for the continent in the 21st century is improving long-term economic growth. Major steps have been taken to address this issue particularly with the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

In 2019, the Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addo declared that 2019 was the "Year of Return" and in accordance with his declaration, he made immigration to Ghana easier for members of African diaspora communities.[1] In June 2020, Ghana Minister of Tourism Barbara Oteng Gyasi encouraged Black Americans to emigrate, saying "Africa is waiting for you".[1]

Sierra Leone has established a path to citizenship for members of African diaspora communities. With the aid of DNA tests, this path to citizenship allows people with African heritage to relocate to Africa. Geneticist Rick Kittles and Gina Page are helping families put together missing pieces of their heritage through African Ancestry, helping more than one million descendants of slaves unravel the mysteries of their African heritage.[14]

African-American Ancestry Visualized

Benin lawmakers are evaluating a proposal to grant citizenship by descent to descendants of Africans across the globe. To obtain Beninese citizenship, applicants would be required to provide evidence of their Afro-descendant heritage by official documents, verified testimonies, or DNA testing. Qualified individuals would be issued a three-year Beninese passport as the initial step in the recognition process, granting visa-free access to 63 destinations worldwide.[15]

Ghana made history in November 2024 as it granted citizenship to 524 people, many being from the USA.[16] With Donald Trump winning a second term as President of the US in 2024, there is now a growing movement of Black Americans looking to relocate to Africa due to changing attitudes in America, and to benefit from the growing new economic opportunities of Africa.[17]

Ghana has become the 5th African country to implement visa-free travel for Africans. President Nana Akufo-Addo granted executive approval for a comprehensive visa-free travel policy on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. The policy, set to take effect in early 2025, will make Ghana the fifth African country to open its borders to all holders of African passports thus ensuring regional integration. The program is a 10-year initiative launched by the Ghanaian government to boost tourism, encourage the return of Africans and Ghanaians living abroad, and strengthen economic ties with the diaspora.[18]

In 2024 Africa's tourism has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, the continent saw a 7% increase in arrivals in 2024 compared to 2019.[19] The operational phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area has launched at a ceremony included “a roll call of honour” with the 27 countries that had ratified the instruments of the AfCFTA.[20]

American music icon Stevie Wonder has been granted Ghanaian citizenship [21] on a visit to Accra, Ghana's capital in May 2024. The country's president, Nana Akufo-Addo praised his skills and links to Africa. "By conferring Ghanaian citizenship to him, we not only recognise his immense talent and achievements, but also acknowledge his deep connection to the African continent". At least 1,500 Black Americans have moved to Ghana since 2019.[22]

Reasons

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USA Today said "Black Americans, like expatriates of all races and ethnicities, leave the USA temporarily or permanently for different reasons: in search of a better quality of life, for work opportunities, to marry or retire abroad, for tax reasons, for adventure."[10] Kristen West Savali, writing for Essence in January 2020, compared Blaxit to the Great Migration, saying, "it has become increasingly clear that there is no corner of the United States where it is safe to be black."[12]

Yoruba-Dancers
African Highways

Academic Okunini Ọbádélé Kambon moved to Ghana after he was arrested in Chicago.[10] He is involved in a Ghanaian program that encourages descendants of Africans to emigrate.[23] Businesswoman Lakeshia Ford moved to Ghana after a yearlong study abroad there; she says in Ghana "I don't have to think of myself as a black woman...here I am just a woman."[10]

Tiffanie Drayton, whose family moved from Trinidad and Tobago to the US when she was four, moved back to Trinidad and Tobago in 2013, and she is currently writing a book, Black American Refugee, about Blaxit.[10][1] Drayton said driving her children around the block to get them to sleep in Trinidad and Tobago differed significantly from the same experience in the United States: "In America, your hands are shaking. You're worried about what to say. You're worried about whether you have the right ID. You're just so worried all the time."[10]

Agenda 2063 is a set of initiatives proposed and currently under implementation by the African Union. The stated goals of the Agenda are economic development (including the eradication of poverty within one generation), political integration (in particular through the establishment of a federal or confederate United Africa), improvements in democracy and justice, establishment of security and peace on the entire African continent, strengthening of cultural identity through an "African renaissance" and pan-African ideals, gender equality, and political independence from foreign powers.[24]

Economic growth of Africa

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Flag of the African Union

GDP growth for Africa is expected to average 3.8% and 4.2% in 2024 and 2025.[25] This is higher than projected global averages of 2.9% and 3.2%[26] Africa is home to the world's youngest and fastest-growing population, burgeoning cities, and bold innovations in everything from fintech to clean energy. With its population expected to nearly double to 2.5 billion people by 2050, the continent presents opportunities for robust growth that harness its rich natural resources and abundant human potential.[27] With the new economic growth of Africa there is now a movement for both people of African heritage and emigrated Africans to return to Africa to take advance of the opportunity.

IT trainer and recruiter in Lagos

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a free trade area encompassing most of Africa. It was established in 2018 by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which has 43 parties and another 11 signatories, making it the largest free-trade area by number of member states, after the World Trade Organization, and the largest in population and geographic size, spanning 1.3 billion people across the world's second largest continent. The operational phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area has launched at a ceremony included “a roll call of honour” with the 27 countries that had ratified the instruments of the AfCFTA.[20]

Port in Angola

New regional projects are being set up to make investment easier such as the Botswana One Stop Service Centre,[28] designed to provide modern prompt, efficient, and transparent services to investors. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia are collaborating on battery production, simplifying bureaucratic procedures and harmonizing mining regulations across borders for a stable, predictable investment environment. Strengthening the Africa Mining Vision, launched in 2009 by the African Union, could serve as a key framework for these regional efforts. With Sub-Saharan Africa, home to 30 percent of the world's critical minerals,[29] revenues from the extraction of just four key minerals—copper, nickel, cobalt, and lithium—are estimated to total $16 trillion over the next 25 years, in 2023-dollar terms.

Marginal Promenade in Luanda

The Lekki Free Trade Zone (Lekki FTZ) is a free zone situated at the eastern part of Lekki, which covers a total area of about 155 square kilometres. The first phase of the zone has an area of 30 square kilometres, with about 27 square kilometres for urban construction purposes, which would accommodate a total resident population of 120,000. According to the Master Plan, the free zone will be developed into a new modern city within a city with integration of industries, commerce and business, real estate development, warehousing and logistics, tourism, and entertainment.

The African Union Passport is a common passport document that is set to replace existing nationally issued African Union member state passports and exempt bearers from having to obtain any visas for all 55 states in Africa.[30]

Africa’s new £7billion high-speed rail network is planned to revolutionise travel, boost tourism, and connect key African capitals by 2030. The African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network (AIHSRN) is one of the largest infrastructural projects in Africa’s history, designed to connect the capitals of African states and major commercial hubs. By connecting some of the continent’s major cities, such as Nairobi, Lagos, Cairo, and Dakar, the rail network will improve access to vital markets, enhance economic cooperation, and encourage regional collaboration. Egypt has already initiated a ground breaking project to build its own high-speed rail network, estimated to cost £7 billion. The Egyptian network will span 2,000 km (1,243 miles), linking 60 cities, and will be one of the largest high-speed rail systems globally upon completion. This ambitious endeavour will pave the way for the wider African rail network, creating a seamless travel experience for passengers traveling between African countries.[31]

Ethiopia Central bank governor Mamo Mihretu has publicly called upon the Ethiopian diaspora to get involved in the new opportunities created by the ongoing economic reforms in Ethiopia to benefit themselves and their homeland.[4] Ethiopia’s financial reforms are geared to open paths to middle‑income status.[32] Mamo Mihretu says, Ethiopia’s move to allow its currency to be traded on the open market instead of at a fixed rate could have a “transformative” impact on its economy,[33] the policy switch enabled Addis Ababa to secure loans from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.[34]

Idris Elba relocated to Africa to create ‘Zollywood’,[35] to help develop the continent's burgeoning film industry across several countries. Akon Lighting Africa is a project started in 2014 by music artist Akon with Samba Bathily and Thione Niang which aims to provide electricity by solar energy in Africa.

New Africa Tourism and VISA Free Travel for Africans

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Elephants at Amboseli national park against Mount Kilimanjaro

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in intra-African tourism, as countries on the continent seek to promote travel and exploration within their borders. This trend presents a myriad of opportunities for both tourists and the local economies, creating an integrated tourism market for all Africans.[36] In 2024 Africa's tourism has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, the continent saw a 7% increase in arrivals in 2024 compared to 2019, a year before the outbreak of Covid-19 led to lockdown in countries across Africa like much of the world.[19]

Africa’s travel and tourism economy are expecting major growth and job creation by 2030. By 2030, Africa’s coastal tourism alone is expected to exceed £79.6 billion ($100 billion), contributing to the creation of 28 million jobs across the continent. This growth reflects the increasing interest in Africa as a top destination for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and those wanting to explore its vibrant cultures and pristine environments.[37]

Zebras, Serengeti savanna plains, Tanzania.

In December 2023, Kenya made history by announcing that it would be the first African country to be visa-free for all travellers. “It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya,” Kenyan President William Ruto announced at an event on December 12, 2023, Kenya's independence day.[38] Kenya has remove pre-authorisation requirements for most African visitors to expand trade and tourism in the region.[39]

Several countries including Ghana and South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda introduced bilateral visa-waiver deals. While Angola introduced visa-free entry for 98 countries, including 14 African nations. In a boost for tourism, Ghana has been ranked second safest place in Africa,[40] benefiting from improvements of development and social stability.

Four countries - Benin, Rwanda, Seychelles and The Gambia - are now visa-free for African nationals.[41] Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have expanded a new Schengen-style single visa, enhancing tourism by allowing easier cross-border travel within these countries to drive growth in the tourism sector.[42]

WaterLovers Beach Resort Kenya

Africa has many historic structures that have survived from ancient civilizations as well as more recent structures of interest to tourists. Ancient historical sites include the Pyramids and temples in both Egypt and Sudan; The Obelisk of Axum from Ethiopia; the ruins of ancient Zimbabwe's trading city, Great Zimbabwe; and the Palace of Emperor Fasilides in Ethiopia. More recent structures that attract tourism includes the castles in Ghana, Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle, which are also sited for heritage tourism. It also includes the highest monument in the world, the African Renaissance Monument in Senegal.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Silence is Not an Option". CNN. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  2. ^ Adebayo, Bukola (November 29, 2019). "Ghana makes 126 people from the diaspora citizen as part of Year of Return celebrations". CNN. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  3. ^ Mangin, Paul-Emile; Luhan, Wolfgang (March 11, 2024). "Non-willigness to lead and social preference". AEA Randomized Controlled Trials. doi:10.1257/rct.13041. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Ethiopia Invites The Diaspora To Seize New Economic Opportunities". ebc.et. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "Idris Elba: Why I'm planning a move to Africa". BBC News. October 22, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  6. ^ Vera, Amir (January 14, 2020). "Akon created his own city in Senegal called 'Akon City'". CNN. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  7. ^ Digital, Standard. "14 African- American celebrities who are trooping back to Africa". Standard Entertainment. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  8. ^ "About". Ulysses Burley III. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  9. ^ "Disheartened By Racial Violence In U.S., Inspired By Brexit, He Pondered A 'Blaxit'". NPR.org. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hjeld, Kim. "'I'm leaving, and I'm just not coming back': Fed up with racism, Black people head overseas". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  11. ^ Sewing, Joy (October 23, 2020). "Joy Sewing: Black Americans, fed up with racism, move abroad as 'Blaxit' trends". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  12. ^ a b Savali, Kristen West (January 26, 2020). "Is Moving To Another Country The Answer?". Essence. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  13. ^ Oshindoro, Michael (February 22, 2019). "Blaxit and the Romanticization of Africa". Black Issues Conference.
  14. ^ "Partners in time: Reconnecting African Americans with their tribes of origin". Africa Renewal. February 16, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  15. ^ Ikani, John (May 20, 2024). "Benin Considers Citizenship For Descendants Of Enslaved Africans". Heritage Times. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  16. ^ Armstrong, Jenice (November 26, 2024). "Ghana made history last week as it granted citizenship to 524 people — some of them Philadelphians | Jenice Armstrong". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  17. ^ PhillyInquirer (November 23, 2024). "Ghana wants Black Americans to 'come home.' Many are accepting the invitation. I went to find out why". Head Topics. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  18. ^ Ekanem, Solomon (December 26, 2024). "Ghana becomes 5th African country to implement visa-free travel for Africans". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Africa's tourism rebounds to pre-pandemic levels - UN - TRT Afrika". trtafrika.com. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Operational Phase Of The African Continental Free Trade Area Launched | African Union". au.int. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  21. ^ "'This is where I need to be' - Stevie Wonder becomes Ghanaian". BBC News. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  22. ^ "'This is where I should be': 1,500 Black Americans make Ghana their new home". The World from PRX. September 7, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  23. ^ Coleman, Colette (February 16, 2024). "Blaxit: Tired of Racism, Black Americans Try Life in Africa". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  24. ^ "Goals & Priority Areas of Agenda 2063".
  25. ^ "Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa, April 2024 | A Tepid and Pricey Recovery". IMF. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  26. ^ "Africa dominates list of the world's 20 fastest-growing economies in 2024—African Development Bank says in macroeconomic report". February 16, 2024.
  27. ^ "Reimagining Africa's economic growth | McKinsey". www.mckinsey.com. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  28. ^ "BITC - Welcome". BITC Website. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  29. ^ Chen, Wenjie; Laws, Athene; Valckx, Nico. "Harnessing Sub-Saharan Africa's Critical Mineral Wealth". IMF. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  30. ^ Philpot, Lorne (January 8, 2021). "Single passport for Africa set to become reality in 2021". The South African. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  31. ^ "Africa's New £7 Billion High-Speed Rail Network to Revolutionize Travel, Boost Tourism, and Connect Key African Capitals by 2030: New Travel Updates You Need to Know - Travel And Tour World". December 27, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  32. ^ "Ethiopia's financial reforms open path to lower-middle-income status, Mamo Mihretu says". The Africa Report.com. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  33. ^ "Ethiopia's central bank governor calls currency float 'transformative' | Semafor". Archived from the original on November 7, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  34. ^ "Ethiopia: Foreign banks keen to test the water as reforms accelerate". The Africa Report.com. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  35. ^ "Idris Elba: Why I'm planning a move to Africa". BBC News. October 22, 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  36. ^ ATTA. "Creating an Intra-African Tourism Map is Essential for Sustainable Economic Development". atta.travel. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  37. ^ "Africa's Travel and Tourism Boom: Major Economic Growth and Job Creation Expected by 2030 - Travel And Tour World". December 26, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  38. ^ "Rwanda and Kenya introduce visa-free travel for all Africans".
  39. ^ ATTA. "Kenya Drops Pre-Authorisation Requirements for Most African Visitors". atta.travel. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  40. ^ "Boost for tourism: Ghana ranked second safest place in Africa". Graphic Online. January 25, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  41. ^ "Kenya's visa-free dream proves tricky for some". BBC News. January 30, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  42. ^ "Southern African Countries Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe Expand New Schengen Style Single Visa Driving Tourism Sector - Travel And Tour World". August 21, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
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