Aspiring to citizenship: African immigrant youth and civic participation in Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

Based on ethnographic fieldwork carried out in Cape Town over four months, this article addresses the question of how African immigrant youth experience life and live as “citizens” in Cape Town. African immigrant youth straddle multiple positions, localities and identities. This article examines the ways youth activate citizenship and belonging through civic participation, often in the absence of formal citizenship. This research finds that youth are actively deciding to be the change they want to see in the world, looking backwards and forwards to determine their decision to participate in civic engagement. The youth’s notions of themselves and their aspirations impact not only their future life goals and dreams but drive their actions to contribute towards the betterment or improvement of their communities in the present. Civic participation through community engagement allows African immigrant youth to dream and access citizenship and become a part of society where they are recognised as contributing members.