Paper short abstract:

By depicting the negative consequences experienced by families of migrants in Africa and the unfulfilled desires for easy gains, the African writers potentially serve to dissuade migration and underscore its hindrance to African development.

Paper long abstract:

The issue of immigration from Africa to Europe or America stands as one of the most recurrent themes in current affairs, academic discourse, and literary debates concerning Africa. This paper seeks to examine migration as a catalyst for the misery and underdevelopment of the African continent. It argues that migration symbolically underpins the disintegration of productive forces and serves as a crucible for familial suffering or the outright destruction of family structures.

African literature portrays migration to Europe or America as an opportunity to explore unfulfilled desires and an elusive future. This paper delves into the artistic representation of migration, particularly through literary works, to demonstrate how the pursuit of personal enrichment by migrants often leads to their downfall and the destabilisation of the familial nucleus. Through the analysis of literary works by African authors such as Henri Lopes, Véronique Tadjo, Fatou Diome, and many more, this study aims to unravel the intricacies of the migrant experience, highlighting its perpetual nature and the profound impact it has on individuals and families alike.

By examining the themes of migration, loss, and familial disintegration in African literature, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the socio-economic factors driving migration from Africa to other continents, from an African perspective. It underscores the complex interplay between individual aspirations, societal pressures, and the harsh realities faced by migrants, shedding light on the cyclical nature of migration and its role in perpetuating the cycle of poverty and underdevelopment in Africa.