'Nothing has changed, we still grapple with racism'

The recent attack on African nationals in Noida has opened up the old wounds of the African community in Delhi.

Last year, in May, a mob attacked seven Africans in South Delhi's Rajpur Khurd village over playing loud music till late night. Just after ten months, forty kilometers away from the Capital, similar scenes played out when four Africans were attacked by a particular section of protestors in Noida's Pari Chowk. The society people blamed the foreign community for the death of a 17-year-old boy who died of drug overdose.

Many people from various African countries told Millennium Post that nothing has changed and they are still subjected to racial slurs and provocations.

The African community comprises of students from various African countries like Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia and South Africa. Though many belong from elite families, they choose India owing to its cheap education.

"The Indian's think that we come from poor downtrodden families, but that is a stereotype. So when there are confrontations, we also retort as we are a proud people and will not take such insults," said Nguse, an Eritrean National.

The Africans community claimed that they have an intricate knowledge of India as they are usually taught by Indian teachers, but the scenario is not the same in India.

"They look at us from the prism of drug peddlers and pimps. They don't even know that African is an amalgamation of 54 countries. There are people who come from Chad, Sudan and South Africa but they look at all of us as Nigerians," said Ibrahim, former President of Association of African Students in India.

Many of them who come to reside in South West Delhi and South Delhi are students but there are some 'black sheep' in the community who are caught in drug peddling cases.

The constant media coverage of the drug cases involving Africans has created an image of Africans as drug dealers, said many. "There are bad people in every community but that does not mean that all of us are drug dealers. I have set up a salon in South Delhi and many of my fellow Africans have set up import-export shops and contribute to this country," said Chizube Wilson, a South Sudanese national.

With increasing cases of racial attacks, many claimed that their families back home are concerned. Also, this will affect the African migration in India.

"India has a rich syncretism of Indian and African cultures. We are all involved in multilateral efforts in African countries such incident will result in creating fissures between communities. Remember even Indians stay in Africa and their security will be compromised," said Jason from Congo.