Making Sense of Belonging: Dynamics of Belonging among Nigerians in the Netherlands and Sweden

Abstract

"Migration is a phenomenon of all times, but the way the relationship between migrants and natives is perceived differs throughout time and space. Besides the tradition to look at belonging in terms of formal belonging and the acceptance of the country of settlement, the aspect of the way immigrants themselves makes sense of their belonging has been gaining attention. Within this research, the concept of sense of belonging played a key role, which refers to a feeling of home, a psychological connection to a place. This research aimed to create insights in how people with a Nigerian background in the Netherlands and Sweden make sense of the construct of belonging in their country of settlement. Based on comparative deductions of collected data in these two different geographical locations, it is found that there are many similar mechanisms at play in both countries either obstructing and enhancing this sense of belonging of which ethnic identity and experiences with racism play a central role. "