The migration routes of Chinese and Taiwanese Hakka to Africa

ABSTRACT

Based on the literature review, we conclude a variety of foreign and domestic factors directly and indirectly contributed to the migration of the Chinese indentured laborers from the late nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century. These factors can be summarized as follows: (1) The domestic economy; (2) The civil war; (3) The legalization of Chinese emigration; (4) The change of the international situation; (5) The labor demanded by the industrialization in colonial countries. Moreover, we interviewed several Taiwanese and Hakka migrants and state four migrating routes. The Hakka culture in Africa is rich and diverse. When we start to know their origins and migration routes, we can have a clear and complete knowledge of African and Asian history.

KEYWORDS:

• Hakka
• immigration
• agricultural mission
• Taiwan
• Africa

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. OCAC, Statistical Yearbook of the Overseas.

2. Chen, Taiwan de kejiaren, 33.

3. Chen, Taiwan de kejiaren, 34.

4. Chu, Dongnanya huaqiao shi (wai yi zhong), 5-6.

5. Chu, Dongnanya huaqiao shi (wai yi zhong), 8-12.

6. Zhang, Nanfei huaren de lishi yanbian, 7.

7. Ibid.

8. Ge, Zhongguo yimin shi, 50.

9. Ge, Zhongguo yimin shi, 71-72.

10. Ibid.

11. Chu, Dongnanya huaqiao shi (wai yi zhong), 94.

12. Fang, Fezhou huaqiao shi ziliao xuanji, 100-106.

13. Chu, Dongnanya huaqiao shi (wai yi zhong), 94.

14. Ye, “Nanfei huaqiao qingkuang yishu,” 277.

15. The letter did not indicate the year, estimated to be 1903. “Moren zi yuehan neisibao boluoke dalou zhi falaer han” 某人自約翰內斯堡波羅克大樓致法拉爾函 (A letter sent to Farrar from someone in Polok building, Johannesburg), in Zhongfei guanxishi wenxuan 中非關係史文選 (The selected works of Sino-African relations), edited by Z. C. Ai, 218.

16. Zhang, “Nanfei huaren de lishi yanbian,” 7-8.

17. The contribution of Chinese workers to the Transvaal gold mines in South Africa in late Qing Dynasty.

18. See note 14 above.

19. Zhang, “Nanfei huaren de lishi yanbian,” 7-9.

20. The recollections of the overseas Chinese in South Africa.

21. Clansmen, classmates, colleagues, fellow villagers, and friends.

22. Zhang, “Nanfei huaren de lishi yanbian,” 7-9; and Chen, Taiwan de kejiaren, 75-81, 87-93.

23. Chen, Taiwan de kejiaren, 28; and Zhang, “Nanfei huaren de lishi yanbian,” 7-9.

24. Chen, Taiwan de kejiaren, 28-29.

25. Jiang, Kejia yu Taiwan, 250-252.

26. Yang, “Woguo nongengdui zai feizhou de gongzuo chengguo,” 3.

27. Zhou, “Nonggengdui zai feizhou,” 25.

28. Wang, Waijiao xiaxiang, 22.

29. Xiao, “Man gong chu xihuo,” 11.

30. Please refer to International Cooperation and Cooperation Fund: https://www.icdf.org.tw/lp.asp?ctNode=29902&CtUnit=136&BaseDSD=100&mp=1

31. Liu, “Huigu 1960 niandai zhonghua minguo nongji waijiao,” 141.

32. Wang, Waijiao xiaxiang, 125-150.

33. Liu, “Huigu 1960 niandai zhonghua minguo nongji waijiao,” 142.

34. Reprobate, “The People of South Africa: Chinese South Africans,” Accessed 16 January 2017. https://reprobate.co.za/the-people-of-south-africa-chinese-south-africans/

35. See above 32 above.

36. The Wall Street Journal, 2008.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Taiwan Hakka Culture Development, Hakka Affairs Council (105004).

Notes on contributors

Chiachi Lin

Chiachi Lin is an Associate Professor at the Department of History, Tamkang University, Taiwan. She obtained her PhD from Radboud University, the Netherlands, MA from the National Chi Nan University, Taiwan, and BA from Soochow University, Taiwan. Her research interests involve Eurasia historical demography.

Chilin Lee

Chilin Lee is an Associate Professor at the Department of History, Tamkang University, Taiwan. He obtained his PhD from National Chi Nan University, Taiwan, MA and BA from Tamkang University, Taiwan. His research interests include history of Taiwan, history of Qing Dynasty, and marine time history.