Adhieu's Story |
To celebrate Black History Month 2022, Dahaba Ali Hussen meets EU citizens of colour in the UK to talk about identity, challenges surrounding moving to the UK and the vital contribution Black Europeans make to the UK.
Dahaba Ali Hussen in conversation with Adhieu Majok
How old are you? 30
Where do you live? Birmingham
When did you come to the UK? 2004
What is your nationality? Dutch
What's your ethnicity? South Sudanese
Tell me a bit about yourself.
Well, I studied at university of Birmingham, I’m currently doing a masters in public health. In my spare time, I do a lot of writing and activism in south sudanese issues and I’m also learning how to play the guitar.
Why did you move to the UK?
It was my parents decision but primarily they wanted us to benefit from a British education system.
What challenges did you face when you first moved here?
It was hard in the beginning to have to adjust to a new life in a new country. You encounter things like bullying, the challenges in settling in a new place but things quickly improved with Our education and knowing the english language, and the UK has a lot of opportunities. My mum studied a law degree, something that they didn’t think it was a possibility before.
How would you describe your identity?
As I’ve gotten older - I’ve leaned more towards British but still identify as Dutch and I would describe myself as British-Dutch -South sudanese. My identity has given me a wise perspective on life - like I understand the customs of people in the UK and the Netherlands for example.
Why do you want to share your story?
I want to share my story because I want to show that Black Europeans actively contribute to the fabric of this country. My mother is an entrepreneur for example, and I want to dispel the myth that only immigrants to the UK benefit, when the UK benefits from our contributions too.
