Bobi Wine Offers to Airlift Mistreated Africans Out of China
The Ugandan politician and musician has partnered with businessman Neil Nelson to airlift affected Africans and African-Americans "to a country in Africa that is willing to receive them."
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DAMOLA DUROSOMO
Apr. 14, 2020 09:10AM EST
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
Bobi Wine Offers to Airlift Mistreated Africans Out of China
The Ugandan politician and musician has partnered with businessman Neil Nelson to airlift affected Africans and African-Americans "to a country in Africa that is willing to receive them."
Bobi Wine has teamed up with Neil Nelson, co-founder of media firm Atlanta BlackStar to help airlift Africans and African-Americans being subjected to "inhumane treatment" in China. They announced their plans in a joint statement on Monday.
"The two leaders are currently working together to facilitate a humanitarian mission to airlift those Africans and African-Americans who are affected by these attacks to a country in Africa that is willing to receive them," read the press release. "We are also prepared to evacuate them to the United States for those holding U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status."
The statement also appealed to the Chinese government and other global African leaders to take urgent action to protect Africans abroad. "We call upon leaders from across the global African community including political leaders, social activists, artists and other leaders to join in this effort."
READ: Africans In China are Being Evicted from Their Homes and Blamed for Spreading Coronavirus
The move comes after harrowing reports of African foreign nationals in the Southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, being evicted from their homes, denied services at local businesses, and blamed for igniting a second wave of coronavirus in the country. The city, nicknamed "Little Africa," has the highest population of Africans in China, mostly from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Kenya.
Images and videos of Africans sleeping on the streets caused outrage online over the weekend, with governments, including the U.S. consulate, urging their citizens of African descent to avoid the city. The events highlight the widespread racism and xenophobia that Black people face in China.
In July of last year, Wine, an opposition politician, announced his plans to challenge Yoweri Museveni's 35-year rule and run for president of Uganda in 2021.
Last month, the musician released a song with fellow musician Nubian Li to raise awareness about COVID-19. "The bad news is that everyone is a potential victim but the good news is that everyone is a potential solution," the artist sings. Revisit the song here.
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DAMOLA DUROSOMO
Apr. 13, 2020 10:28AM EST
https://www.okayafrica.com/africans-in-china-guangzhou-evicted-left-homeless-blamed-for-coronavirus/
(Photo: FRED DUFOUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Africans In China are Being Evicted from Their Homes and Blamed for Spreading Coronavirus
Footage of Africans sleeping on the streets of Guangzhou has caused outrage online. Now, African governments are putting pressure on Beijing to take action.
Fears of a second wave of coronavirus in China have led to widespread racism and xenophobia against African populations. Reports of Africans being forced out of their homes in Guangzhou, China have caused fear amongst its African community and backlash across social media.
As China faces more cases of the novel coronavirus, much of the blame has been placed on foreign nationals who are being accused of importing new cases into the country. Guangzhou, nicknamed "Little Africa," has the highest population of African immigrants—largely from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Uganda—who have long been a target of racial discrimination. Tensions further escalated over the weekend when Chinese state media reported that five Nigerians had contracted the virus and passed it onto a local restaurant owner.
According to CNN, various businesses began denying services to African foreign nationals and several were evicted from their homes in the Southern Chinese city—despite many having no confirmed contact with the virus or recent travel history. Images and video footage, showing Africans being forcefully displaced and sleeping outside with their luggage, has warranted angry responses on social media, with people denouncing the widespread mistreatment of Black people in the country.
In response several African diplomatic leaders from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, as well as the African Union have called on Beijing to take urgent action against the abuse of African residents. Media reports have slammed the Chinese government and according to a report from CNN, China—which has a major economic presence across Africa—faces a growing "diplomatic crisis" due to the outrage caused by the disregard shown for Africans.
The US consulate in Guangzhou has urged African-Americans to avoid traveling to the area as well. "As part of this campaign, police ordered bars and restaurants not to serve clients who appear to be of African origin," read a statement from the consulate.
The statement further described the racial discrimination taking place in the city: "Moreover, local officials launched a round of mandatory tests for Covid-19, followed by mandatory self-quarantine, for anyone with 'African contacts,' regardless of recent travel history or previous quarantine completion."
Many online have decried the treatment of Africans in China, and are calling on Chinese public figures—many of whom publicly called out the anti-Chinese racism spewed by people like President Donald Trump at the onset of the virus—to speak out against it.
