Identity construction amongst individuals with binational heritage in Africa

ABSTRACT

This paper draws on interviews with Africans of binational parental heritage to expand the literature on identity formation in two ways. First, it takes on the factors that shape primary identity formation more fully by extending it beyond the current focus on state constrictures on primary identity formation. We argue in this paper that in addition to state constricture, closeness of family ties is yet another factor that shapes the primary identity of individuals with binationality. Individuals claim the identity of that parent whose extended family members have a cordial relationship with them as evident in communication patterns, visits, presence at rites of passage, and the extent to which extended family members embrace them as one of their own. Second, we interrogate the literature on hybridity beyond its focus on types to highlight the instrumental and intrinsic purposes to which hybridity can be put. We show how individuals with a primary identity would choose a secondary identity for instrumental reasons such as the education or work opportunities it provides. The intrinsic value of secondary identity is the entertainment options and sense of self it provides. This piece, focusing on both the factors that shape primary identity as well as when/for what purpose such individuals choose a secondary identity, highlights the agency of such individuals.

KEYWORDS:

• Primary identity
• secondary identity
• binationality
• agency
• Africa
• parental heritage

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 She speaks about both her body type and her West African hair texture, especially the latter.

2 Buba and iro refer to a basic blouse and long skirt worn by the Yoruba while kaba and slit refers to a similar blouse and long skirt made out of African print and worn by Ghanaian women.

3 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, the qualifying examination for all secondary school students in West Africa.

Additional information

Funding

This project was made possible with financial support from the Building a New Generation of Academics in Africa (BANGA-Africa) project which is funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.