In an exclusive interview with The African Courier, Godfrey Evurulobi, a graduate of international business from the University of Applied Sciences Cologne, narrates how he started and he talks about the nursing care sector in Germany and why his companies are currently recruiting Africans. The Nigerian-born entrepreneur also talks about his successes and challenges so far, and he gives tips to Africans planning to start a business in the country.
Read More »Interview: König Bansah talks about his life since arriving in Germany in 1970
Céphas Kosi Olatidoye Bansah, the Togbe Ngoryifia of the Hohoe Gbi Traditional Area, Ghana, has been living in Germany since 1970. After he was named chief of the 300,000-strong community of Ewe-speaking people in 1992, Bansah chose to continue living in Germany instead of returning home. The master agricultural machinery mechanic and master motor vehicle mechanic, who is better known …
Read More »ZDF shows film about König Bansah and his daughter
ZDF will broadcast the new documentary film König Bansah und seine Tochter (King Bansah and his daughter) on 29 March. The film takes viewers to Ludwigshafen, where Togbui Ngoryifia Kosi Olatidoye Céphas Bansah lives and runs a car repair workshop, and on a journey to Africa, where he’s a chief who is active in the development of his community. König …
Read More »Documentary about König Bansah and his daughter wins prestigious film prize
A new documentary film “König Bansah und seine Tochter” (King Bansah and his daughter), which takes viewers to Ludwigshafen, where a chief from Ghana lives and runs a car repair workshop, and on a journey to Africa where he’s a chief who is active in the development of his community – depicting a life between two identities, has won a …
Read More »Immigrants often fail German language tests, new report reveals
In Germany, almost half of first-time participants don’t successfully complete their German language courses. A parliamentary inquiry also showed that the share of those who failed tests has steadily been increasing since 2017. According to the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung newspaper, almost half of first-time participants in German language tests for immigrants (“Deutschtest für Zuwanderer“, or DTZ) did not successfully complete …
Read More »“Let’s imbibe German values” – Nana Kwaku Kwatei advises
Hamburg-based retiree (73) talks about his 36-year sojourn in Germany and the important lessons immigrants can learn from society. I came to Germany in January 1984 to seek political asylum. Before coming to this country, I knew Germany was one of the democratic Western countries, highly industrialised and noted for its cars – Mercedes Benz, VW, etc. and machines. It …
Read More »A Nigerian woman’s long journey to self-discovery in Germany
Clara Uwazie Meierdierks writes about the value of friendship and family, mentioning by name those who stood with her through thick and thin, both in Nigeria and Germany. But she also painfully recalls the gossip-mobbing that she suffered when things were not going well for her
Read More »IT specialist Achille Nguemnang advises African students in Germany
– MY LIFE IN GERMANY – A successful young African professional , a senior consultant at Oracle Germany, talks about his life from his roots in Cameroon to how he came to study and work in Germany, and the useful lessons he has learnt along the way. He gives invaluable tips to African students in the country. “I was born …
Read More »Germany: The inspiring story of Dr Okwudili Okafor’s life since arriving in 1976
Today the number of foreigners has increased now. In the 1970s and 80s we were not so many. I remember being called “Kunta Kinte” in the suburb of Aachen where I used to live because I was the only Black guy around.
Read More »“Much has been done to see that foreigners are integrated,” Diana Mouzales-Napp on how she was supported to become self-employed in Germany
My father is Greek and my mother is Ghanaian. I came to Germany in the late 1990s to learn the German language and be a bilingual secretary. And Cupid’s arrow pierced my heart. The Germans are a down-to-earth people and I was fascinated by their difficult language. It was not an easy road considering the language barrier when I first …
Read More »“My general advice to Africans is to aim higher than doing odd jobs,” says Ibironke Ola-Oni (42) on being successful in Germany
I am the daughter of the well-known Nigerian human rights activist Comrade Oladipo Ola-Oni. My family originated from Ibadan, Nigeria, and I have been living in Germany since 1992. In Nigeria I was motivated by the way my best friend spoke the German language. It fascinated me. I developed so much affection for it that my dad applied for me …
Read More »“Life in Germany has instilled in me the precious virtue of punctuality,” says Lilly Meme, Medical doctor
I am a 31-year-old Kenyan. I left my home country more than twelve years ago, six months after I completed my secondary education. My initial reason for coming to Germany was my interest in the German language. Since I had already learnt it for four years in my secondary school, I wanted to further my skills before I embarked on …
Read More »“I quickly learnt that you need the German language and education to achieve your goal,” says Lanre Mabinuori (49) as he talks about successfully living in Germany
Originally from Nigeria, I am now German and have lived in Germany since 1989. I’m happily married to a German woman and we have four children. I quickly learnt that you need the German language and education in this country to achieve your goal. For this reason, I first learnt the language and obtained technical education training. I’m a mechatronics …
Read More »“There is only one person between you and your goal,” Lance Corporal Paulo-Flavio Domingos talks about his life as a soldier in Germany
I was born in Luanda, Angola. I came to Germany in 1992 from Angola with my parents. Of course, as I was only six at that time I didn’t know what to expect here and didn’t think much about it. It was not easy for me when I started school as I didn’t speak a word of German. However, I …
Read More »Interview: The story of Dr Adebisi Laja’s life in Europe since arriving in June 1954 in the words of the Germany-based Nigerian-born medical doctor
Adebisi Laja, born in 1932, first arrived in Europe in June 1954, when he disembarked a ship that took him from his native Lagos to Liverpool. In October 1958, he moved to Germany to study medicine. The old, but still very energetic man, talks about life in Europe and Germany then and now; he reveals how he deals with the …
Read More »My Life in Germany, our new online Series
The recorded presence of Africans in the territory of today’s Germany can be traced back to the 13th century, when it was fashionable for royal as well as other wealthy households to keep Africans as court servants. Later waves of Africans from Germany’s colonies – Togo, Cameroon, Southwest Africa (now Namibia) and Tanzania – came between the late 1890s and …
Read More »“We need to come together as Africans,” Habte Hadgu
Habte Hadgu (61), a travel agent, is the proprietor of Red Sea Travel & Tours, Heidelberg. “I came to Germany in 1978 to study. Previously, I was studying at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. One of my fellow students who later became very famous was Meles Zenawi (the late Prime Minister of Ethiopia). He was in his second year while …
Read More »“I have no good words for German society,” Mbolo Yufanyi Movuh
Mbolo Yufanyi Movuh is a refugee rights activist and student (42) based in Berlin. “Originally my ancestors migrated from the area of Africa now called the Democratic Republic of Congo. But my parents and grandparents were born in a West African region, although some call it Central Africa, the present-day southern part of the Cameroonian regions. I was born in …
Read More »“Never forget where you come from,” Beatrice Onyele
“Never forget where you come from,” advises Frankfurt-based retired nurse (aged 75), Mrs Beatrice Onyele, as she goes down memory lane and talks about her experiences in Germany since arriving 50 years ago.
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