Nationality – a vanity quest for belonging and Identity.

By: Yolokazi Mfuto

The notion of a person’s nationality or citizenship and Identity has always been a terrain for contestation for centuries. It has had many interpretations, as complex as it has been further complicated by the ever-evolving geopolitics, forced and unforced migration and ideals of human rights.

The question of who belongs to the nation is deeply rooted in the sociological and geo-political questions. Naturally from a neutral or inclusive process, the conceptions of ‘the people’ and ‘the nation’ have historically been tied to exclusionary and homogenizing narratives of nationhood, privileging majority ways of belonging while demeaning or rendering invisible minority identities and contributions (Kymlicka, 2016). This phenomenon was birthed by the tragic idea of the conquest of territories by various groups, thus, some communities were absorbed while others fled to find refuge elsewhere.

A simple definition of nationality is the state of belonging to a particular country or being a citizen of a particular nation,  Cambridge Dictionary. Furthermore, the United Nations states that a right to a nationality is a fundamental human right. This implies everyone’s right to acquire, change, and retain a nationality. International law provides that the right of States to decide who their nationals are is not absolute and states must comply with their human rights obligations concerning the granting and loss of nationality (United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner).

Citizenship is a legal status that defines formal belonging to a nation-state and the rights and obligations of individual members. Extant empirical literature investigating why some immigrants has examined how socio-demographic characteristics, resource availability, and country of origin may influence how much immigrants gain from citizenship status.

The United Nations (UN), including all the UN member states, understands the power of citizenship as something that yields security or insecurity in individuals’ lives. Furthermore, it foregrounded the paradox of citizenship as both a taken for granted, permanent backdrop to everyday life for many and simultaneously an existentially critical matter, the permanence of which remains questionable for others. The nature and significance of acquiring citizenship or nationality of state, be it you are born or naturalized. The result is a sense of belonging and a form of identity world. Belonging and identity are necessary for any human being as they mould the socio-economic and political framework, which reflects our sociological upbringing.

However, migration and the politics of belonging has become buzzwords globally. Government institutions in Africa, Europe, Asia and elsewhere invest billions of their currencies to monitor migration flows. Moreso, as it is much of a concern for states to manage their borders and control migration. It is a major observation that issues of citizenship and belonging are complex and subject to various processes that bring together migrants and host communities. The question of belonging and Identity remains uncharted.

The Department of Home Affairs, Statistics South Africa, International Relations and Social Development should have a clear framework of the pathway in which all immigrants are recorded, monitored and integrated varying from their needs.

Recently we have witnessed a case where a 22-year-old Chidimma Adetshina who was born and bred in South Africa and was competing for the Miss South Africa beauty pageant crown. However, initially   her contestation in the pageant was questioned because her father is Nigerian and Mother Mozambican. Many South Africans on social media, including prominent politicians denounce her reasoning that she does not represent South Africa women. We shall not delve into the case identify theft/fraud that her parents allegedly committed as it is subjudice.

Many people who immigrants across the globe are confronted with a dilemma on how ethnically diverse people can navigate and negotiate to belonging to a nation whose people see them as ‘others’.  In this case of Chidima Adesina, outside of the controversy of her nationality. The question remains, how can states ensures that immigrants who have been granted citizenship, regardless of their heritage, phenotypical appearance and culture. All should be embraced to enhance the country’s socio-economic and political standing.

As Hargety defines belonging as “the experience of personal involvement in a system or environment so that persons feel themselves to be an integral part of that system or environment” (Hagerty, 1992). It is worth noting that many people across the world have yet to experience a sense of belonging and have an identity in which they can pride themselves.

In conclusion, I strongly recommend that South African government strengthen the existing legal frameworks that will enforce laws. This will ensure that laws protecting immigrants from discrimination, violence, and exploitation are strictly enforced. This includes provisions against xenophobia. Furthermore, there should be sufficient access to legal services. Many immigrants suffer because they do not have access to such information and no access to legal services to help them understand and assert their rights.

Community Programs that relate to establishing initiatives that foster mutual understanding and cross-cultural engagement between immigrant groups and the surrounding areas. This can foster social cohesiveness and lessen xenophobia. Lastly, advocacy and campaigns for awareness and education to inform people on the benefits that immigrants bring to the economy and society and debunk any falsehoods that encourage prejudice.

Yolokazi Mfuto is a communications strategist at the DDP and writes in her personal capacity.