RESEARCH REPORT ON

Xenophobia and the Nigerian Community in Johannesburg

By Albert Egbe

CHAPTER ONE

IDENTIFYING THE STUDY

1.1 INTRODUCTION:

In its report on Tuesday 13th March 2012, the internet news service News24.com reported that Nigeria has lashed out at South Africa, accusing its authorities of targeting Nigerians and alleging “xenophobia”, after 125 Nigerians were refused entry into ORT International Airport in Johannesburg over vaccination cards. The report continued to say that the same day 28 South Africans were refused entry into Nigeria in an apparent retaliatory move.

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, was reported to have said that despite “cordial “ relations at the leadership level of the two continental power houses, immigration authorities and police in South Africa were “fueling the irritation between our two countries” (News24.com– retrieved on 13/03/2012).

What exactly is xenophobia?

According to Coulson, L,. Carr, C.T., Hutchinson, L, and Eagle, D (1984).editors of the Oxford Illustrated Dictionary , xenophobia may be defined as a morbid dislike or fear of foreigners, foreign customs etc. It comes from the Greek words “xenos,” meaning “stranger”, ” foreigner”, and “phobos”, meaning “fear”. The internet encyclopedia “Wikipedia” suggests that xenophobia can manifest itself in many ways involving relations and perceptions of an “in-group” towards an “out-group”, including a fear of loosing identity, suspicion of its activities, aggression and the desire to eliminate its presence to secure a presumed purity.

In South Africa there are two forms of xenophobia; one directed towards recent immigrants usually of the African