Chapter 8: Post-Migration Discourse and Identity Crisis: The Case of Nigeria

In discussing post-migration discourse as well as identity crisis, this chapter draws evidence from the Nigerian context considering that Nigeria has the largest emigrant population in Africa (Nwozor et al., 2022). The assumption is that given its long history of migration, Nigeria can offer rich discursive data on post-migration and identity crises. This chapter examines discourses that emerge after migration, whether short- or long-term, vis-à-vis issues of identity crisis to obtain a balanced understanding of migration discourse in Nigeria. Generally, migrating to a new environment is accompanied by challenges of adaptation, homesickness, and lack of a sense of belonging/identity. Communication practices stemming especially from the opinions of people who have migrated are thus the focus of this chapter. The dispositions of migrants after migration as well as their views on conversations surrounding migration are analysed. It is common practice in Nigeria that some migrants encourage migration while others discourage it based on their experiences. In fact, several successful migrants have become popular for offering migration-related content on different social media platforms. They provide information that specifically deals with their diverse experiences of migration.