Which city has the most firsthand/direct connection to Africa/Africans?

[Capsicum]

Like my other thread about Europe, this time with linkages, cultural influence, diaspora, etc. to Africa the continent.

[pj3000]

In what region of the world?

[Capsicum]

Let's just say most African-influenced in the "western world", or "global north" outside Africa itself, and Latin America/the Caribbean.

[Quixote]

London or Paris

[ThePhun1]

In the United States, New York followed by Atlanta and Houston.

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by ThePhun1

In the United States, New York followed by Atlanta and Houston.

Economically, Houston is probably tops on the list, namely because of the oil & gas connection (especially with nations such as Nigeria, Algeria and several others.) Obviously New York is huge based on sheer immigrant numbers alone. Not going to argue Atlanta either, since it probably has the largest African-American middle class in the nation. I know of several major cities with large African immigrant populations, but as an overall percentage of the population they still tend to be fairly low.

Another possible choice here... New Orleans???

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Capsicum]

I would also count influence if there are diaspora communities that still maintain cultural linkages to Africa, even if not African-born, or communities that have had rekindled ties to there. Or places where people maintain economic, political and cultural ties to the continent itself.

[Chef]

Minneapolis is probably more connected to east Africa than any other city in the US. It also has a significant number of West Africans but they aren't as prominent as the Somalis, Ethiopians or Ereitrians.

[dc_denizen]

I was going to say minneapolis too.

[Chef]

I've actually learned a few words of Oromo living here.

[bnk]

Originally Posted by Chef

Minneapolis is probably more connected to east Africa than any other city in the US. It also has a significant number of West Africans but they aren't as prominent as the Somalis, Ethiopians or Ereitrians.

I don't know if this matters or not but are they non stop flights from the Twin Cities?

I know Chicago opened up to Ethiopia just recently starting in June non stop.




The carrier said that on June 9, it will begin nonstop service three times a week between Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport in the Ethiopian capital.


https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/...e-chicago.html

If they are not non stop than do the layovers cities count, In the USA, in the numbers data?

[jd3189]

According to Wikipedia (which may be wrong or right) the 10 main metros with high African populations (straight from Africa) according to the 2010 census are DC, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Boston, Baltimore, New York, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

[pj3000]

Washington, D.C. area

[isaidso]

Probably Paris.

[MonkeyRonin]

Paris and London (and probably a few other European cities like Amsterdam and Marseille) are demographically and culturally so much more influenced by and connected to Africa than anywhere in North America, that this list needn't even bother including them. Anyone answering Houston or Minneapolis or DC is pretty objectively wrong.

[Docere]

Certainly not one of the North American cities in the poll.

[Capsicum]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

Paris and London (and probably a few other European cities like Amsterdam and Marseille) are demographically and culturally so much more influenced by and connected to Africa than anywhere in North America, that this list needn't even bother including them. Anyone answering Houston or Minneapolis or DC is pretty objectively wrong.

To be fair, on the other hand, North America and the African-descended diaspora in the Americas (eg. Jamaica) in general, did have many attempts to forge bonds with the ancestral continent.

This flag was first adopted as a symbol of people of African heritage at a conference in Madison Square Garden in 1920, and decided upon when African-Americans, Afro-Caribbeans and other Africans and African-descended peoples gathered there to discuss the black liberation movement. This was a time when many African countries themselves were still under colonial rule too.

It (and its colors) actually later became the template for many African nations' flags themselves after decolonization. So, a city like NYC, actually had generations of history and influence by, and on the global African diaspora.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-African_flag

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-African_colours

London and Paris of course, also had its history of African-descended people, shaped by colonialism too (the English and French colonized large parts of the continent after all).

[muppet]

London by far.

Paris is the great rival to London's monopoly on global flights - Paris has made more East Asian connections, while London struggling with expansion and 166 million passengers p/a (the world's largest air hub) has failed to open up as much over there. Instead it has more flights to the ME and South Asia, and more to Africa.

[dc_denizen]

Obviously, the former imperial overlords are going to have a greater connection to their former colonies. The more interesting question is which north american city has a greater connection.

[muppet]

It's not merely colonial links, but the huge growing tourist boom in North Africa

Egypt is pretty much the new Costa del Sol, with Tunisia not far behind, while Morocco is the more cultural end (it pulls in 11 million tourists, and is now the most visited country on the continent).

Egypt:

https://www.123rf.com/photo_48392795...ada-egypt.html




https://scoopempire.com

Everything you can find on the European costas but bigger, better and sexier. Still as tacky too.


www.europe-autos.com