Chinese Migrants in Mali: a Plurality of social Worlds

Abstract

[New Chinese migrations in Africa and Latin America] <br />African States are very heterogeneous. In each of these configurations, history, economic structures, social dynamics, contribute to give a special shape to Chinese migrations, also deeply influenced by the reciprocities with the local population, while the Chinese presence has a growing influence on the main components of some African societies. <br />In this contribution, we propose some observations collected through a field research in Mali (2005-2008). The Chinese population settled in Mali is very mixed. Micro sociological observations bring out a multiplicity of territories, of social calendars, of identities which reveal the social fragmentation, and suggest some questionings about the pertinence of such a notion as “diaspora” in the Malian context.