Diasporic life, images and aspirations of Ethiopians in Ethiopian diaspora novels: a socio-cognitive and historical approach

Abstract

Ethiopian Diasporas are the result of four major waves of migration since the late 1970s: persecution of oppositions, aliyahs of Ethiopian Jews, fear of persecution, and dispersion due to lack of economic prospects. This study revealed that Ethiopia is seen as a land of famine and Ethiopians as poverty-stricken, unrighteous, sub-human and barbaric people in four major destinations of Ethiopian Diaspora. The conclusions drawn based on these findings accordingly are: one, Ethiopia's image abroad is damaged almost incurably and the government must work hard to rebuild it. Two, diasporic life is not desirable contrary to the attitude Ethiopians at home presume it to be. Three, a larger section of Ethiopian migrants aspire to return back home.