Dreaming the Departure Together: Building the Myth among Young Somali Refugees
Rousseau, Cécile
Dreaming the Departure Together: Building the Myth among Young Somali Refugees - 2001.
4
Many young Somali refugees experience long premigration waits and a pourly delimitated transition period before reaching their final distination. During with difficult period, a myth of departure is collectively constructed and serves as a mobilizing dream that orients individual strategies. This substitution of “dream travel” for real travel during the transition period may cause Somali youths to lose contact with reality and to slide into madness. The authors’ approach is based on three assumptions: a) that pastoralism predisposes the Somali to value travel as a way of maturing; b) that age-based peer groups created special migratory dynamics, and c) that an ethic of solidarity involves many people in the adventure of a migrant youth. When trapped in an indefinite transition, young men share qaat-chewing sessions during which they relate success stories and dreams of leaving. Many grow frustrated with the delay, and if their departure plans fall through, the dream trip often becomes dream madness. Actual cases illustrate how some young Somali get lost in their dreams. Data were collected in the Horn of Africa and in Canada.
Dreaming the Departure Together: Building the Myth among Young Somali Refugees - 2001.
4
Many young Somali refugees experience long premigration waits and a pourly delimitated transition period before reaching their final distination. During with difficult period, a myth of departure is collectively constructed and serves as a mobilizing dream that orients individual strategies. This substitution of “dream travel” for real travel during the transition period may cause Somali youths to lose contact with reality and to slide into madness. The authors’ approach is based on three assumptions: a) that pastoralism predisposes the Somali to value travel as a way of maturing; b) that age-based peer groups created special migratory dynamics, and c) that an ethic of solidarity involves many people in the adventure of a migrant youth. When trapped in an indefinite transition, young men share qaat-chewing sessions during which they relate success stories and dreams of leaving. Many grow frustrated with the delay, and if their departure plans fall through, the dream trip often becomes dream madness. Actual cases illustrate how some young Somali get lost in their dreams. Data were collected in the Horn of Africa and in Canada.
Réseaux sociaux