Duke - Fati Abubakar https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/writers/fati-abubakar en Work in progress https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/work-progress-0 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>From the minute I arrived in the United States from Nigeria as an international student, my instinct was to look for an African community—a restaurant, a mosque, an association. And in the African diasporic community, I found happiness, a sense of belonging. However, as a photojournalist, I wondered why so many of us Africans leave home. What was the pull to the United States or to Europe? I was aware of the many turbulent times we have faced in our different African countries, but I always wondered what would happen if we stayed in Africa. Could we build the continent of our dreams?</p> <p>I decided to document why people leave. The project evolved to posed portraits, while documenting everyday lives of Africans. “An African in America” took on a life of its own as I traveled for engagements and met more people. Where do Africans congregate? What do they do for fun? How are they coping in a foreign, often alienating country? How do they find each other? I went to churches, parties, mosques, markets, dorm rooms, hair salons, fashion shows, restaurants, and many homes.</p> <p>I was very much aware of the problematic storytelling of African migration. Much of what we see are Africans on a boat, fleeing. Yet contrary to the standard migration story fed to the American audience, there is an eclectic array of migrants. Many flee conflicts; others arrive with a suitcase of certificates and degrees. Often unaddressed were the fierce people who brave treacherous unknown territories to explore the unfamiliar. There were never the stories of resilience or the many contributions of migrants to the American societies they inhabited—the doctors, the nurses, the scientists.</p> <p>Migration is complex and will always remain so, compounded by many unending issues. Dealing with themes of loneliness, financial instability, racism, mockery, depression, and success, I experienced fluctuating feelings of hurt and dismay; other days, I was in awe of the bravery of the people I met. In the end, this project has taught me that Africans will always be on the move. Migration will be an eternal phenomenon. But of paramount importance is this: Wherever you happen to migrate to, being happy with the choice is all that matters.</p> <p>This project has also made me more resolute, as an aid worker with experiences of working with internally displaced persons in Nigeria, in my unwavering need to ensure that we are forever working to improve the lives of everyone who arrives in any country for whatever reason. Empathy is the only way.</p> </div></div></div> <h3 class="field-label"> Published </h3> <span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2020-07-22T15:00:45-04:00">Wednesday, July 22, 2020</span><section class="field field-name-field-main-image field-type-image field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Main image:&nbsp;</h2><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://alumni.duke.edu/sites/default/files/dm-main-images/WIP3.jpg" width="981" height="400" alt="Two images by Fati Abubakar" title="Two images by Fati Abubakar" /></figure></div></section><section class="field field-name-field-topics field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/african-african-american-studies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">African &amp; African American Studies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/alumni" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alumni</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/art-art-history-and-visual-studies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Art, Art History and Visual Studies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/diversity-equity-inclusion" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Diversity, Equity &amp; Inclusion</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/duke-black-alumni" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Duke Black Alumni</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Writer:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/magazine/writers/fati-abubakar" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Fati Abubakar</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-issue field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Issue:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/magazine/issues/summer-2020" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Summer 2020</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-portrait field-type-image field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Portrait:&nbsp;</h2><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://alumni.duke.edu/sites/default/files/dm-portraits/fati.jpg" width="200" height="240" alt="Documentary photographer Fati Abubakar" title="Documentary photographer Fati Abubakar" /></figure></div></section><section class="field field-name-field-photo-credit field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Photo Credit:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/magazine/photographers/fati-abubakar" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Fati Abubakar</a></li></ul></section> <h3 class="field-label"> Featured article </h3> No <h3 class="field-label"> Background color </h3> blue<section class="field field-name-field-sub-header field-type-text-long field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Sub-header:&nbsp;</h2><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">A look at student projects as they develop</div></div></section> <h3 class="field-label"> Cover Story </h3> <h3 class="field-label"> Homepage </h3> Wed, 22 Jul 2020 19:06:22 +0000 Adrienne Martin 18510846 at https://alumni.duke.edu https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/work-progress-0#comments