Religion and Transnational Citizenship in the African Diaspora : Akan London

This book focuses on Akan-speaking Ghanaians in London and explores in detail the experience of African migrants living in Britain, investigating how they construct their British citizenship through their membership of the church. Building on extensive ethnographic research in London and Ghana, the author explores the relationship between religion and citizenship, the emergence of transnational subjectivities, and the making of diaspora aesthetics among African migrants. Starting from the understanding that citizenship is dialogical, a status mediated by a subject’s multiple and intersecting identities, the author highlights the limitations of existing conceptualisations of migrant citizenship. Anchored in a case study of the British/Ghanaian Methodist Church as a transnational religious organisation and cultural polity, the book explores diasporic religious subjectivities as both cosmopolitan and transnational, while being configured in emotionally and morally significant ways by the Methodist Church, as well as family, ethnicity, and nation. Interdisciplinary by nature, this book will be of interest to a wide range of researchers and scholars across the social sciences and humanities working in the fields of anthropology, religion, sociology, postcolonial studies, and African studies, and additionally policy makers interested in diaspora and migration studies. This book focuses on Akan-speaking Ghanaians in London and explores in detail the experience of African migrants living in Britain, investigating how they construct their British citizenship through their membership of the church.Building on extensive ethnographic research in London and Ghana, the author explores the relationship between religion and citizenship, the emergence of transnational subjectivities, and the making of diaspora aesthetics among African migrants. Starting from the understanding that citizenship is dialogical, a status mediated by a subjectâ••s multiple and intersecting identities, the author highlights the limitations of existing conceptualisations of migrant citizenship. Anchored in a case study of the British/Ghanaian Methodist Church as a transnational religious organisation and cultural polity, the book explores diasporic religious subjectivities as both cosmopolitan and transnational, while being configured in emotionally and morally significant ways by the Methodist Church, as well as family, ethnicity, and nation.Interdisciplinary by nature, this book will be of interest to a wide range of researchers and scholars across the social sciences and humanities working in the fields of anthropology, religion, sociology, postcolonial studies, and African studies, and additionally policy makers interested in diaspora and migration studies. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Information 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 Acknowledgements 7 Introduction: The New African Diaspora – Ethnicity, Religion, and Citizenship in the Gateway City 10 Prologue: Sunday in North London 10 Doing Research in Haringey: Gentrification, Regeneration, and Associationism 17 Tropes and Topoi: The Making of Akan London 20 Methodology and Positionality: Familiarity, Familiality, and the Predicament of Positionality 23 Book Outline 30 Notes 33 References 34 1 Haringey: Associational Life and Black Leadership in a North London Borough 41 Introduction 41 Haringey: A Snapshot of the Borough 42 Africans in Haringey 44 A History of Haringey: From Industrial Hub to Post-Industrial Forgotten Inner City 47 Shopping City, the Battle for Wood Green and Broadwater Farm: Haringey in the 1970s and 1980s 49 Leisure, Associational Life, and Active Citizenship in Haringey 51 Haringey in Recent Years: Associationism and the Voluntary Sector (The London Peace Alliance and Africans in the Borough) 54 Conclusion 61 Notes 62 References 64 2 Migrant Spaces and Transnational Networks Between London and Ghana 67 Prologue: The GNLA. A Ghanaian Association in North London 67 Introduction: Migrant Spaces 69 Associational Life, Transnationalism, and Citizenship 71 GNLA: Love, Virtue, and Care in North London 74 Migration Models in North London: Work, Well-Being and Virtuous Citizenship 77 Kweku’s Network: Church and Family Networks Between London and Ghana 79 Conclusion 84 Notes 85 References 85 3 “Virtuous Citizenship”: Ethnicity and Encapsulation Among Akan-Speaking Ghanaian Methodists in London 89 Introduction 89 Addressing Active Citizenship in Britain: Towards a Feminist and Aristotelian Synthesis 92 Ghanaians Methodists in London and the Construction of Virtuous Citizenship 95 Empathy (.tema), Christian Ideology, and the Virtuous Citizen 97 The Virtuous and Virtual Life of an Overstayer 99 Encapsulation, Suspicion, and Trust 104 Methodism, Multiculturalism, and Citizenship 105 Conclusion: Virtual Citizens, Virtuous Citizens 110 Notes 111 References 112 4 Agape Love: Gender, Class, and Transnational Subjectivities in a Methodist Women’s Fellowship 116 Introduction: Auntie Abena’s Funeral 116 “The Ladies’ Club”: The Emergence of Professional Women in the Ghanaian Methodist Church 120 Susanna Wesley Mission Auxiliary (SUWMA-UK Branch) 121 Distinction and “Bling” Culture 124 Commemorating the Mother of Methodism 127 Upsetting Conventions: SUWMA-UK, the British Methodist Church and the Role of African Migrants in Britain 130 Conclusion 133 Notes 134 References 136 5 “Showing-Off Aesthetics”: Looking Good, Making Relations, and “Being in the World” in the London Akan Diaspora 139 Introduction 139 Showing Off and Dressing Up: Clothes and Visibility in Akan Migrants’ Events 143 Photographs and Video-Making in the Diaspora: Showing Off and Reaching Out 149 The Competitive and Relational Nature of Akan Obituaries 152 Conclusion 155 Notes 156 References 158 6 Intimacy, Citizenship, and Transnational Family Lives Between London and Ghana 162 Prologue: Christmas in Kumasi 162 Transnational Family Networks and Citizenship Between London and Kumasi 165 Transnationalism, Migration, and Intimate Citizenship 167 Remotely Intimate: Aspirations, Entrustment, and Citizenship in Transnational Ghanaian Families 169 Kweku’s Family: Migration, Relations, and the Morality of Kinship 170 Business and Transnational Families: Strains and Necessities 174 Nana’s Story: Reimagining Citizenship in Transnational Families 182 Conclusion 184 Notes 185 References 186 Conclusion: Everyday Practices of Citizenship and the Struggle for Recognition and Distinction in Akan London 193 Note 199 References 199 Index 200 Diaspora;,Citizenship;,Religion;,Methodism;,Ghana;,London;,Transnationalism;,Aesthetics;,Akan;,Migration "This book focuses on Akan speaking Ghanaians in London and explores in detail the experience of African migrants living in Britain, investigating how they construct their British citizenship through their membership of the church. Building on extensive ethnographic research in London and Ghana, the author explores the relationship between religion and citizenship, the emergence of transnational subjectivities, and the making of diaspora aesthetics among African migrants. Starting from the understanding that citizenship is dialogical, a status mediated by a subject's multiple and intersecting identities, the author highlights the limitations of existing conceptualizations of migrant citizenship. Anchored in a case study of the British/Ghanaian Methodist church as a transnational religious organisation and cultural polity, the book explores diasporic religious subjectivities as both cosmopolitan and transnational, while being configured in emotionally and morally significant ways by the Methodist church, as well as family, ethnicity, and nation. Interdisciplinary by nature, this book will be of interest to a wide range researchers and scholars across the social sciences and humanities working in the fields of anthropology, religion, sociology, postcolonial studies, and African studies, and additionally policy makers interested in diaspora and migration studies"-- Provided by publisher