African Sports Monthly International Women's Day Special Edition | Page 70

Optimism:

For decades there has been a brain and talent drain from Africa to mostly western countries where

opportunities to advance in life abound. The access to opportunities in the west alongside the many
political problems and civil wars in Africa has over time not helped the cause of many African States

stem the out-flow of migrants from their countries to the west. So in the 1980’s and 1990’s we saw a

significant number of African athletes change nationalities and those born to African parents in the west
gladly competed for their countries of birth because of the lack of opportunities and support from the
countries they wanted to compete for. These athletes back then chose the route they thought would
lead to a better life for them and their families. It worked out for some and not for the majority but
given the circumstances back then they had to do what they had did with no regrets.

In recent years, however, that tide however seems to be ebbing as more and more children born to

African parents in the west and other regions of the world or those who have traced their ancestries to
specific African countries choose to compete for those countries in the international arena these days
than ever.

The narrative of an African brain and talent drain even though still a prevalent problem is slowly

changing as Western economies hit a plateau and stagnate, causing mass unemployment and reduction
in access to opportunities and coupled with a heavy dose of xenophobia and blatant racism. Alongside
the reversal of the brain and talent drain, more and more of the children born to these migrants are

looking towards Africa to connect and identify with their roots as they seek to learn about their ancestry
and connect with what they see as a rich cultures and thank God for then Internet they see Africa in

more of a positive light now than previous generations did and are very optimistic about Africa’s future
and more connected to it.