Gujarati Diaspora Migration

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Migration can be defined as the process of going from one country, region or place of residence to settle in another. The duration of this new settlement varies, but for the purposes of this paper the focus is on individuals who relocate either semi-permanently or permanently to another country. People who migrate for economic or educational reasons may move singly and at a later date be joined by their families, whereas people who move due to political reasons may move in mass but with or without their families.
Cultural Identity is a feeling of belonging to, as part of the self-conception and self-perception to ethnicity, religion, social class, generation, locality and any kind of social group that have its own distinct culture. Culture …show more content…

Many are in Africa but others can also be found in Myanmar, Iran, and Malaysia. Living conditions in these countries vary; however, the Gujarati who have emigrated are usually from the higher, wealthier castes and have maintained many aspects of their own culture. They are often involved in trade or in operating small businesses.
This paper gives a clear review about the migration of Gujarati Diaspora into Kenya. It also focuses the cultural diversity and explores the uniqueness of Gujarati diaspora in Kenya and their role in enhancing Kenya.
Indian migrated to modern Kenya between 1896 and 1901 as indentured laborers for the construction of railways. After the completion of the railway many of the laborers chose to settle in East Africa by bringing their family over from India. The early Indian settlers hailed predominately from the Indian provinces of Gujarat and Punjab. The railway opened the interior to trade, and many soon began migrating away from the coastal cities. Most settled in the new town of Nairobi, which had been the capital of the British protectorate since 1905. Indian population demanded a role in the developing political life of Kenya colony. Indians enjoyed significantly greater economic strength than black Africans, had greater bargaining power with the colonial …show more content…

Festivals and fairs, arts and crafts, folk dances, music, cuisine and lifestyles form a major cultural background of these people. The customs and beliefs make the culture more homely and truly blended with values and moral characteristics. They have been contributing through various intellectual capacities. Despite constituting less than 1% of the population, they play a key role in the economy. Many are engaged in business and retail, and the community enjoys a relatively prosperous status. Consequently, this article summarizes the history evolution of Gujarati diaspora into Kenya and discusses the cultural Identity of the Gujarati diaspora. Finally summarizes the role of Gujarati diaspora and enhancement of

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