THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
The African community in Spandau gathered on Sunday, 6 July, for a town hall meeting with the mayor of the district, Frank Bewig.
The event, organised by the African German Association (AGA), aimed to provide an opportunity for interaction with the authorities. The objective was to inform the mayor about the challenges faced by Africans living in the district and to present the interventions desired by the community.
Opening the meeting, Williams Iyare, the chairman of AGA, introduced his association and its work in raising awareness of African culture to promote peaceful coexistence in the city. AGA also provides humanitarian support to those in need within the community.
The association is actively engaged in enabling Africans living in Berlin to take full advantage of opportunities for participation and inclusion in Spandau.
The association also acts as a bridge between Germany and Africa through the promotion of economic, political, cultural and social exchanges.
“We belong here. We contribute. We enrich the country,” Iyare said.
Pastor Sunday Akpan, the vice-chairman of AGA, presented the activities and projects the group has implemented since its founding in 2021.
Among these was an Awards and Gala Night in 2023, at which the then Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, Ms Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, was honoured in Berlin.
In 2024, AGA launched a fundraising campaign for an Africa House in Berlin at the prestigious Adlon Hotel. The event, attended by guests from Africa and Germany, laid the foundation for ongoing efforts to realise this long-term goal, the clergyman, who is the General Overseer of the Sufficient Grace Rock Ministry, narrated.
Among other AGA activities since its founding was a project that supported Africans who fled the war in Ukraine following the Russian invasion in 2022 and sought refuge in Germany, he added.
AGA is active not only in Germany but also in Africa, the audience learnt. The association constructed a 3.4km road drainage system in Igbanke, a small town near Benin City, Nigeria, in 2024. The intervention aims to prevent flooding during the rainy season, which renders the roads impassable and cuts the town off from the region’s main traffic network.
The group has also supported an orphanage in Kenya, funding the construction of a poultry facility. The poultry not only generates revenue for the orphanage but also teaches the children how to rear chickens – a valuable skill for their future self-employment.
In his contribution, Pastor Freeman Johnson, the financial secretary of AGA, identified low self-esteem and the difficulties new African migrants face in obtaining regular residency status as major challenges in Spandau. He also pointed to drug use among youth and family problems as further issues in the community.
The clergyman, who is the presiding pastor of the New Life Covenant Church Berlin, said the agency of office holders is crucial in effecting change, challenging the mayor to address the issues raised.
In his speech, Mayor Bewig acknowledged that some groups in society are often overlooked. He assured participants that he does not discriminate on the basis of cultural or religious identity and reiterated his commitment to promoting the integration of all groups, so they may live dignified lives and realise their potential.
The mayor, a member of the CDU, said he was present to listen to the participants and praised AGA for organising the event. He challenged the community to voice their concerns so that policymakers can better understand their needs.
Bewig noted that there are advisory services in the district covering various areas of life, and he encouraged Africans in the district to make use of these offers.
He announced his plan to establish an Ehrenamtszentrum (volunteer centre) in Spandau, where the various communities will have a space to do their volunteering work.
Lola Bassey, proprietor of the GME Language School, spoke about the lack of access to employment for Africans and the shortage of kindergarten places for their children.
She also highlighted the insufficient integration support, particularly language courses, which are essential for the integration of immigrants. Currently, the maximum of six months’ support is too limited, she said.
Ms Bassey suggested that the district could provide additional support beyond the six-month BAMF-funded course.
She noted that African parents face significant difficulties in securing kindergarten places in the district. Some wait up to three years, and some children begin school without ever having attended a kindergarten, she said.
The entrepreneur also called for support for an African family centre where parents could receive help in addressing the various challenges faced by migrant families.
Mayor Bewig promised to consult with the Job Centre to determine to what extent Africans are disadvantaged in accessing employment opportunities.
The mayor made it clear that he does not support the establishment of community-specific integration services. He emphasised that there are many state-supported services that African residents can utilise.
Bewig acknowledged the shortage of kindergarten places in the district but clarified that this affects the entire population, not only the African community.
One participant raised the issue of African graduates facing difficulties in securing jobs that match their qualifications. The mayor responded by advising jobseekers to make use of the Job Center, which connects them with potential employers.
In his closing remarks, Iyare reiterated the need for an African community centre in Spandau. He called for support to realise this vision, requesting that the mayor provide a building – regardless of its current condition – and pledged that his association would renovate it. Such a centre, he said, would provide a platform to pool the community’s resources and address the challenges it faces.
The meeting – the first of its kind bringing together Africans living in Spandau and its mayor – was a huge success. It sets a positive example of how minority communities can engage with local authorities.
The major challenges facing Africans were clearly communicated to Mayor Bewig. The ball is now in the district’s court to respond to the appeals of the African community.
Kudos to AGA and its indefatigable leadership under chairman Michael Iyare for putting together such a forward-looking event.
Femi Awoniyi
