The case of African students in Turkey: Their migration experiences, transnational identities and adaptation

This study aims to investigate sub-Saharan African students in Turkey as a case of migration and transnationalism. We would like to explore the mobility experiences, identity development, and adaptation of African students by locating the case in the wider issue of migration in Turkey as well as the development of the African diaspora identity in Turkey. The African students in Turkey demonstrate a multiplicity of intersecting identities, including local, regional, national, gender, religious, class, and international identities but they also participate in pan-African and transnational identities. Going beyond generally nation-based studies of international students in the literature, we investigate students coming from the whole continent, which enables us to observe their identities beyond national such as their pan-identities and international identities. They develop a certain level of allegiance to Turkey while maintaining strong links with their homelands, defined in local, national, and African senses. Students view their educational experience as a way of building their human capital and acting with a sense of responsibility towards the development of their home country and Africa, whether in the form of both words and actions such as remittances and return. Although there is some research on the various international students, African students seem to be less permeable to Turkish researchers. While African students must also be examined from the standpoint of education studies with regard to their learning experiences, this study aims to investigate African students in Turkey as a case of temporary migration or mobility and a case of transnational identity development. Keywords: African students, transnationalism, identity, adaptation, African diaspora