Southern China’s Thriving African Neigborhood

April 28th, 2012 - By MN Editor

npr.com

One of the most international businesses in the world is fashion, and it has once again proved itself that in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. Thousands of African immigrants, many of them small-scale clothing traders from Nigeria, have come seeking business opportunities there and have naturally made it their home.They trade and buy clothing, apparel and accessories from the merchants in China and then ship them back to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, were the real profit is made.

Although the Little Africa neighborhood in Guangzhou is dominated by African immigrants who run the shops and stalls, many customers are Chinese who welcome their business. Read the full story here…

Do you think the business of Fashion crosses all color lines?

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  • Alexandria

    The Chinese are going to Nigeria and the Nigerians are going to China. It’s America that shuold be worried. This place is going to be a dump soon. 

  • fitnessforlife

    Nigerians stick together. The whole ‘crab in a barrel culture’ doesn’t seem to apply to the way they regard each other.

  • Anonymous

    The West are more sneaky. Chinese are strictly about business, and that’s what will work for Africans. Obviously, the West have been involved in Africa for years businesswise and it’s not  helped but caused more problems. Europe and America CANNOT go past skin color, they have a superior mentality, the history between whites and Africans is a bad one and it seems like it’s not getting any better. Chinese are all about hardwork and making the best of opportunities, Nigerians share the same mentality. At this point, Africa DO NOT need West, they should be open to Asia and maybe some Latin countries.

  • http://twitter.com/annnoire Ann Noire

    Is this good news?  Chinese African Investment looks like great infrastructure building, but a lot of the Chinese-built roads and hospitals have been proven shoddy. So, is this colonialism 2.0 in the guise of business.  It’s a good thing there’s an African community in China, because China is FOOT DEEP in the African continent. It’s good African communities are overstaying their visas. I hope they get a ROI for what resources China has used on the African continent.

  • Nitty

    What a STUPID question

  • Nitty

    What a STUPID question

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=705954873 Shar Chillzz

    Great story!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=705954873 Shar Chillzz

    Great story!!

  • D. Rose in the paint

    African Americans are the only people with this mentality of  being the underdog and are surprised when people of African descent do anything. Africans are all over the world….so what? African Americans are psychologically screwed into believing they are not worthy of anything. SMH…this is why I ignore 85% of the crap that African Americans say and do.

    • Jayson901

      so true…. black people in america have been brainwashed into thing that they’re inferior to whites. This mentality cripples them.

      • D. Rose in the paint

         Finally someone who isnt defensive or in denial….Blacks in America hate constructive criticism yet they need it most…..go figure

        • http://twitter.com/annnoire Ann Noire

          I HATE constructive criticism because I can make a laundry list of equal constructive criticism against the other side that’s making the criticism!   Stop making a guise of your own prejudice as a way to “enlighten someone.”

          • D. Rose in the paint

             I can tell you hate constructive criticism…believe me I can tell. You love enablers as they allow you to be uncorrected and misinformed freely.

      • http://twitter.com/annnoire Ann Noire

        And how is this foolishness solving anything.  The whole world is brainwashed.  NEXT!

    • Jayson901

      so true…. black people in america have been brainwashed into thing that they’re inferior to whites. This mentality cripples them.

    • Blue

      Hmmm, what a interestingly  ignorant and uneducated statement to make of all African American people. Especially since you don’t know every single last African American Person.

      • D. Rose in the paint

        OK so what I made a broad generalization….yet it rings truth.

        • Live_in_LDN

           I’m not African American but broad generalizations are not something an intelligent person makes…

          What if someone makes a comment ‘All Africans have HIV!’ Yes that is a broad generalization, yes it’s ignorant and hurtful but yet….it rings truth.

        • Guest

          What rings truth is your ignorance. Saying stuff like this would be like me saying all of Africa is poor with corruption, malaria and hunger from famine in which America is needed to send food. However, I am educated to know that is not all true. There are beautiful cities there! We all have the same skin color, so stop the hatred and ignorance. In this world, we should actually be wanting to work together

      • Panamanian Miguel

        So if it doesnt apply to you,why are you getting upset?

        • Live_in_LDN

           I’m not African American so it doens’t apply to me either but like every other intelligent person in the world; when someone makes a mistake I have to correct them.

        • D. Rose in the paint

           exactly

      • http://twitter.com/annnoire Ann Noire

        Thank you.  I can’t take this “global Willie Lynch” mob mentality.  I’m tired of seeing people finding any opportunity to create division.  This article should strike pride and concern.

        • D. Rose in the paint

           You have an ethnocentric viewpoint so much that anything out of your brain has no credibility.

    • Blue

      Hmmm, what a interestingly  ignorant and uneducated statement to make of all African American people. Especially since you don’t know every single last African American Person.

    • Guest

      It is VERY ignorant to say that all African Americans have this
      mentality. Not true at all. I am pursuing my PhD in chemistry and I do
      not let race stop me. I am African American and my mom raised me to work
      hard. African Americans helped to pave the way of freedom in this
      country so that people from Africa and the Caribbean can live and work
      freely in this country.

    • Guest

      It is VERY ignorant to say that all African Americans have this
      mentality. Not true at all. I am pursuing my PhD in chemistry and I do
      not let race stop me. I am African American and my mom raised me to work
      hard. African Americans helped to pave the way of freedom in this
      country so that people from Africa and the Caribbean can live and work
      freely in this country.

    • Jsajsa28

       UNDERDOG OF WHAT, WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, WHETHER IT GREAT THINGS OR NOT SO GREAT THINGS BLACK AMERICANS ARE KNOWN, AND USUALLY THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR OTHER BLACKS. WHEN I GO TO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES PEOPLE ARE OBSESSED WITH BLACK AMERICANS. LETS GET REAL WHEN IT COMES TO HISTORY, WE HAVE A LOT TO SHOW FOR IT. I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST AFRICANS, BUT THAT COUNTRY IS NOT REACHING THE LEVELS THAT THEY SHOULD. ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE CORRUPTION AND WARRING GOING ON. FURTHERMORE I AM SO SICK OF OTHER BLACK PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES HAVING SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT BLACK AMERICANS. WE MADE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING. STOP COMING TO THE USA IF YOUR COUNTRY IS SO GREAT!

      • D. Rose in the paint

        I was born and raised in America! And you sound super defensive and drunk with pride. You are typical, getting offended and butt hurt at the first sign of constructive criticism.

        • Anonymous

          I understand where you are coming from but I want to get some things out. As a Nigerian, I will say there’s a lot of misunderstanding, unspoken tension, underlining misconception between Africans and Black Americans due to the fact both parties knowledge of one another is through media propaganda/manipulation. When I lived in Nigeria, I  didn’t know much about Black Americans. I knew many were musically talented but didn’t know the history of slavery and civil rights movement. Then, I came to the states lived in a predominantly Black American community and it dawned on me, we are both black but we are very much different. Laziness, violence, mean, uneducated, ignorant were the words to describe Black Americans. Poor, suffering, climbing trees, HIV/AIDS, living in a hut, too dark skin(in a negative way, when there’s nothing wrong with it), talk funny were the words to describe Africans. Now, I have come to realize those words are based on observation but it’s also generalization coming out of ignorance. I have a better understanding of Black Americans,  the psychological, mental, effect slavery has on them. The result of no belongingness, no identity and feeling stuck is what is happening. Think about it, Black Americans are the only group in America who can’t identify to any country.  Some white Americans can specifically say grandfather was Irish or German, some Asians say my grandmother came to America from Japan, China and some Latin say Cuba or Spain. Okay, I guess Black people are just Americans, yet this country  treat them like they are not part of it. Nigerians come from a place of pride and culture. We were colonized but when you know where you come from it gives you a different sense of pride and confidence. People don’t realize how much all these factors play into things.  Europe and America are more open to immigrants/foreigners because we have a different perspective, mindset and work ethic not because we are better but we come from countries where we survived with not much resources, and are not directly white controlled,  you bet we will do a lot in a country with more than enough resources. What about Black Americans who are not making good use of these resources? These people have come a long way, I refuse to believe Black Americans are lazy, they built this country, contributed a lot than what they are given credit for. I’m not saying this to get, “cry me a river” response but to learn to appreciate and respect people’s effort. In 2012, many Black Americans are doing much better education wise, business wise than few years ago, many are coming to realize a lot of things. Of course, they can do so much more in a country of opportunities but they will get there. Speaking of the continent, specifically Nigeria, it’s a shame we can’t move past corruption with the level of natural resources, smart and hard working people, potentials the country is made of. I hope for a better relationship between Black Americans and Nigerians in the nearby future. I feel the need to,  since Nigeria is the most populated black country, and a lot of Black Americans came from there. Can we put our differences aside and be one? easier said than done. Can we learn to respect each other though? I believe so.

      • D. Rose in the paint

        We shouldnt be the representatives of blacks all over the world…they should represent themselves based on their culture and nationality not their race. We are a totally different culture with completely different values in America. You have the underdog mentality Im talking about, this mentality that says Im special and should be given accolades whenever I achieve anything. Thats just not true. Liberals have brainwashed us into believing that we should be treated with kid gloves as if we are inferior, and we have been spoiled by it. Anytime a black person achieves anything we throw a celebration like we’re the remedial class kids who won a spelling bee and beat the gifted class kids. Its pathetic. Thats that inferiority complex that ONLY African Americans possess.

        • http://twitter.com/annnoire Ann Noire

          How can an underdog build the richest nation on the planet with no mother (Africa) and a stepfather (America) that continuously abuse them mentally, physically, psychologically, and manage to survive and influence the world! Stop your HATRED and obvious ignorance of AMERICANS.   This global Willie Lynch Mob is atrocious!

      • etty

        false pride and not being able to recoginze our own shortcomings will not help. if you had smelly armpits and ppl told u, it would do no good geting mad and shouting “NO I DONT! NO I DONT! “  check yo self and fix it. that’s what helps.  not taking away from our (many) points of pride, but…..

      • http://twitter.com/annnoire Ann Noire

        Thank you for your defensiveness.  It’s important to have zero tolerance against any kind of prejudice.

    • http://twitter.com/annnoire Ann Noire

      You are speaking foolishness.  Stop it!  I don’t know how I feel about China’s “foot deep” investment in the African continent. They’re moving in places many western companies avoid, such as infrastructure, but when a hospital is full of mold in less than a year. That infrastructure incentive is nothing but a ploy. I’ve read about Chinese investors using the African continent investments as “testing grounds” for other places. So, it appears to be great, but I am concerned about colonialism 2.0. And I’m not African at all. I formerly worked in oil with quite a few Nigerians.

  • D. Rose in the paint

    African Americans are the only people with this mentality of  being the underdog and are surprised when people of African descent do anything. Africans are all over the world….so what? African Americans are psychologically screwed into believing they are not worthy of anything. SMH…this is why I ignore 85% of the crap that African Americans say and do.

  • LezMiz

    Nigerians are hardworking and looking for opportunities wherever, and the Chinese are the same. You don’t need to put aside all racial differences and sing kumabaya to do business together and  show basic respect to each others’ faces. It’s white Americans and Europeans who are silly enough to let race-obsession take over every aspect of their lives, including forsaking perfectly good business opportunities in Africa for many years. This is why they’re totally behind the curve ball in terms of business opportunities in Africa and are scrambling desperately to catch up with China in terms of trade and foreign direct investment.

  • LezMiz

    Nigerians are hardworking and looking for opportunities wherever, and the Chinese are the same. You don’t need to put aside all racial differences and sing kumabaya to do business together and  show basic respect to each others’ faces. It’s white Americans and Europeans who are silly enough to let race-obsession take over every aspect of their lives, including forsaking perfectly good business opportunities in Africa for many years. This is why they’re totally behind the curve ball in terms of business opportunities in Africa and are scrambling desperately to catch up with China in terms of trade and foreign direct investment.

    • Jayson901

      I wish there was double LIKE button for your comment.

    • Jayson901

      I wish there was double LIKE button for your comment.

    • http://twitter.com/annnoire Ann Noire

      Hmm…according to that article African communities are experiencing a lot of the same immigrant struggles as others.  And Westerners are behind the curve, because they’re interested in money and not infrastructure.  To me, China is playing a sneakier game.  Infrastructure-building incentive for the final resource swipe.  I truly hope it’s a tit for tat.  It appears the African continent has been more open to China business investment, than a small African communitiy in China—and the Chinese don’t seem to happy with folks overstaying visas.

      • LezMiz

        I’m not sure what you expect.  Business is tough. Do you expect one country to look out for other countries’ profits? To make sure they’re the same dollar amount? The point is to get the deal that is most advantageous to you. Being, as you say, “sneaky” is part of the game. It’s hardly a resource “swipe” when you built the infrastructure based on agreements with the local people and the local people voluntarily signed contracts giving you the rights to everything. Africans need to negotiate for good contracts and jobs with China, or pass laws making it harder for foreign investors make deals that are to Africa’s disadvantage. But if they don’t, it’s not China’s fault.
        Special relationships and infrastructure for nothing was part of the pity-for-colonialism European game before China began to invest in Africa. It didn’t get Africa very far. The Western media is doing its best public relations campaign to discredit China-African relations, arguing that Africa can only trust the West, because China is “sneaky” and isn’t being “fair” in its dealings. But if the West really cared, they would help Africans in developing negotiation strategies and in developing laws to protect the nations’ rights in its natural resources. Those are things that will help the most in the long run. But I don’t see any push to do that, perhaps because those tools would strengthen Africa’s position against the West, too. As usual, every country, at the end of the day, needs to look out for itself. I think what many Africans like about Chinese investment is that the Chinese approach opportunities in Africa just like any other business opportunity. As a result, Chinese investors have invested in Africa  to an extent the West wouldn’t (due to their bias about Africa as someplace for social work and hunting), and it’s helped the African economy. But since it is just another business opportunity, the Chinese aren’t giving Africans special treatment, holding their hands like a parent and saying “I’m the one to solve all your problems.” But you have to take the bitter with the sweet. 

        • Anonymous

          You are speaking the truth. You have done your research well. If you don’t mind, what’s your area of studying or profession?

        • http://twitter.com/annnoire Ann Noire

          LEZMIZ QUOTE: “.. the Chinese aren’t giving Africans special treatment, holding their hands like a parent and saying “I’m the one to solve all your problems.”"

          –>Do you believe The West has behaved like this with African countries?

          • D. Rose in the paint

            Once again your ignorance of other cultures outside of African American culture is rearing its ugly head. The fact that you would even entertain the notion that Chinese business men would behave in a fashion anywhere close to American/European businesses shows you have the slightest clue and are looking for any reason to play underdog or reinforce underdog/victimization beliefs. You have a victim metality and a distrust for ANYTHING!! As I said before GROSSLY MISINFORMED!! You are searching for any excuse and reason to pervert the Chinese/African relationship. Colonialism 2.0?? Really? African American ethnocentrists are no better than the KKK….their perverted perspectives can not be trusted!

        • D. Rose in the paint

           of course Ann Noir wont reply to this because she is grossly misinformed.

  • Seriously

    Nigerians are everywhere.They can be the next BIG thing, if their government can fix their country.

  • Jumonsizzle

    naija stand up…we can everywhere

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