The 108th ASC Seminar will feature a talk by Dr. Henrietta Nyamnjoh, at our center, on "Waithood in Motion:Imagined futures, (im)mobilities and waiting among Cameroonian and Ethiopian migrants"
The seminar will be held in a hybrid format, allowing participation via Zoom as well. Please be sure to register in advance.
Title: "Waithood in Motion:Imagined futures, (im)mobilities and waiting among Cameroonian and Ethiopian migrants"
Abstract: This paper examines "waithood" - the prolonged period of waiting and uncertainty experienced by young people - among Cameroonian and Ethiopian migrants in Cape Town, South Africa. Drawing on multi-stage research conducted in both home and host countries, I trace how waithood manifests across the entire migration journey, from the aspirations of youth in Cameroon and Ethiopia to the realities faced by those already established in South Africa.
Challenging the idea of waithood as a static, pre-migration phase, this analysis reveals it as a dynamic process characterized by motion and change. I argue that waithood extends throughout the migration journey, encompassing various forms of waiting and uncertainty that are actively navigated by young migrants. By adopting a gendered and long-term perspective, I show how young men and women strategically adapt their planning and leverage factors like imagined futures and migration networks in pursuit of their goals.
Ultimately, this research sheds light on the complex nature of waithood, demonstrating that it is not simply a period of stagnation but one of significant productivity. It fosters resilience, collective action, and strategic planning as young migrants maintain hope, resilience and actively shape their lives in the face of challenging circumstances.
Keywords: Waithood in motion, migration, aspiration, imagined futures, gender, South Africa, Cameroon, Ethiopia.
◆Speaker: Dr. Henrietta NYAMNJOH (Resercher at University of Cape Town, Visiting Professor at African Studies Center, TUFS)
◆Date：Thursday, November 14th, 2025/ 5:40p.m.～7:10p.m.（JST） 8:40a.m.～10:10a.m.（GMT)
◆Venue：Hybrid
・Onsite Room102（1F Research and lecture bldg.,TUFS Fuchu Campus）＆ Online（ZoomMeeting）
・Access：https://www.tufs.ac.jp/abouttufs/contactus/access.html
◆Language：English
◆Addmission fee：FREE
Please pre-register in advence from here. Or Use QR Code.
Registration deadline: Noon November 6th, 2025 (Thu)
The Zoom link will be sent after you pre-registerd.
◆Jointly organized by African Studies Center - TUFS and Kanto Branch of Japan Association for African Studies