The southern city of Guangzhou has become one of the largest homes to African businesspeople in Asia. Many Africans are working hard to fit in, but still face many challenges, as cultural clashes with local Chinese occur on a daily basis.
Julie came to Guangzhou to source clothes and other goods. But she found there are some challenges in getting along with local Chinese residents. "Anytime you get a feel that they make you feel you smell bad, you want to talk to them, sometime you don't know the place, you say hello, they say 'no no no,' just walk away from you. so I think that is the challenge we are having," she told CGTN.
Since the late 1990s, tens of thousands of African businesspeople have migrated to Guangzhou to find opportunities. But due to different traditions, cultural clashes with local Chinese happen on a daily basis. One Guangzhou taxi driver said, "the odor of their body and perfume mix together to make a very strong smell, and it's not good." A local Guangzhou resident said, "I met a small group of Africans who always fell behind with the rent. But most of them are good people."
Felly said living in a foreign country is not easy, and he always offers tips for his fellow African friends to adjust to the new environment. "I always tell my people, this is my word, they know it. I talk to them, please let us try to respect the China law, knowing the mentality of the Chinese people, their culture and what they think, what they do. We will find that China is a good place to live. If you don't respect the law, that means you will be a problem, and then you will say that this place is not good. No, you change yourself before other people."
Professor Liang Yucheng from Sun Yat-Sen University found that a number of Chinese residents have negative opinions about Africans because there are few chances to have deep communication with them, and most Chinese people know Africans only through limited videos and pictures. "Those who haven't spoken with Africans always have negative opinions based on their limited knowledge and impressions. So I hope the authorities encourage the media to introduce more balanced reports on Africans."
As China and Africa do more business together, the number of Africans in Guangzhou is likely to rise. All sides want integration to work, because when it doesn't, everyone suffers. and experts say mutual respect and understanding of their cultures are critical for effective communications between the sides.
