19 December 2000
Ming Lee

In large parts of Africa, persons of non-African descent are blurred into one non-black (White) entity. In areas with a high percentage of Indians (Tanzania and South Africa), they become a third group. But for many Chinese or person of Asian descent in Africa this is not the case. I think there is simply too little of 'us' to make more than a culinary impact. From my experience many Africans put British Chinese into the'white' category and treat us as such.

However, not all Africans that I met thought like this. Many recognised Chinese identity but their view is so largely stereotyped it is laughable and I roll my eyes: we're the chop-socky martial arts experts that can kill with one blow, who own restaurants and big cars and who also play mah-jong into the early hours. Not surprisingly their exposure and experience comes from watching pirated Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee movies.

In many places I had kids running around me yelling 'Bruce Lee' and intimating flying kicks and such. Some kids tried to pull their eyelids to the side pretending they had the Asian 'slanty eyes'.

Attitudes vary across the continent depending on historical experiences. Chinese in Southern Africa came from descendants of 19th century traders brought in by the British and Dutch into the Colonies. Most are in the large cities and under Apartheid the Chinese in South Africa had a very ambiguous status. Chinese were allowed to live and trade with Whites, to go to white cinemas, and travel on white buses. With permission Chinese parents could send their children to white private schools and some white government schools. Today's Chinese complain that under Apartheid the Chinese were not white enough and now under the current ANC government they are not black enough. Many blacks view the Chinese with suspicion as the Apartheid government treated them better than the blacks.

Africans from my experience regard the Chinese as somewhat aloof, insular, hardworking and very money-oriented. They all reckon we can cook and know Kung Fu. They see us as being not interested in African culture or language and unwilling to assimilate. They also regard us as racist towards the black African. Some of the Chinese don't help themselves by being very bad employers to the blacks (especially in Lesotho) where they are given low wages, hard conditions and little respect. I have talked to some Chinese and some think that the blacks are lazy, stupid and willing to bunk off work whenever they can. I tried pointing out that such attitudes certainly would not improve inter-racial relationships by one iota. But it fell on deaf ears.

At the end of the day, if you are BBC and travelling widely in Southern Africa. Be prepared to be confused and for some low-level resentment from the blacks and redneck whites especially outside of the major urban areas. This can be through slow service or no service at all when in shops and restaurants. Comments such as 'You speak English very well' crop up often and you will always be confused with Japanese given a chance. I had a White South African Sushi restaurateur greet me and proceed to have a conversation with me in Japanese until I told him I was not Japanese - I only wanted his sushi.

If you are in areas with some history of Chinese people, prepare yourself to be treated like a 'local'. In other areas you will be treated as white or the stereotypical kung fu man. Please do not even try and explain the subtleties of your situation.

The Chinese have been stereotyped in Africa for years. Chinese have stereotyped Africans for just as long (just ask our parents and grandparents). There is misunderstanding and long-term prejudice in both camps. I don't think it will go away in the short term. Africa is a fun and vibrant place and the average African is welcoming and friendly. No doubt, many will have no problems whatsoever but still, travel