Like other foreign nationals, Africans come to Bangkok to study, work or find opportunities. But racial prejudice and social perception sometimes mean black people, while often finding Thailand a friendly place to live, are treated with bias and suspicion. Here we talk to three young Africans on everything from the popularity of Black Panther, to casual racism and overcoming cultural differences.
Osadebe Tobechukwu Jude
Nigeria
"In Nigeria, we sleep with one eye open," said Osadebe Tobechukwu Jude. "We never have peace back home."
Peace is Thailand, Jude says, and despite the occasional encounter with racism and casual injustice that often befalls black people, he believes most Africans who have come to Bangkok to study, work or just live hardly ever want to leave.
A tall man in a long white dress and red African hat, Jude is one of a few dozen African students at Ramkhamhaeng University's international programme. The Nigerian is studying for a bachelor's in business administration, and the ease with which he breezes through the campus, smiling and saying hi to Thai and non-Thai students, shows that he's a regular presence in a place where black people are not common.
Jude chose to come to Thailand because he finds the country affordable, and after doing some research online, he trusts Ramkhamhaeng University to be a fit for his academic pursuits.
Settling in wasn't that hard, he says, though today he still eats only African food. He mostly hangs out with Thai friends, and while he finds Thai people friendly and open, he admits that cultural differences, entrenched values and downright rudeness can sometimes make his life not so easy.
"Once I got on a bus and a woman looked at me then squeezed her nose. Another time I got in a taxi and the driver complained," Jude recalls with a laugh.
"But the constant embarrassment comes from the police. They always stop me and ask for my passport. It happens to me all the time, again and again, even in this area of Ramkhamhaeng, and it also happens to all my African friends."
The differences exist on both sides, Jude adds. What's acceptable in Nigeria may not be acceptable, may not be even legal, in Thailand, and Africans who live here have to make an adjustment.
"For instance, Nigerians love music and we play music day and night. We like to party. But here, you shouldn't do that during the day," he said. "Drinking is the same."
On the cultural event of the moment, the film Black Panther, Jude is enthusiastic about the film's portrayal of black culture and its message about a united Africa. He said the fact that the film is popular everywhere including in Thailand (where the film is edging close to 200 million baht at the box office) is proof that people are interested in the African story, even though the reality of the continent is not all that optimistic.
Jude, who comes from the Delta State in Nigeria, said his country has been mired in conflict for decades.
"We have killings, bombings, crises, the Boko Haram, which is pure evil," he said. "The war for natural resources is the problem, and we can't trust our politicians. There's no confidence among youths; they want to get away. And people who've moved out, like me, won't want to go back if they have a choice."
But remaining is not easy, if even possible at all.
"It's hard for black people to find work here, unlike expats from other places," said Jude. "We're willing to work hard. But Thais don't give work to black people. I often go to a Catholic church at Assumption University [behind Ramkhamhaeng], and there used to be many Africans there. Too bad, now many of them have had to go back to Africa."
Herve Gama Bongela
Congo
Congolese musician Herve Gama Bongela opts to look at the brighter side of residing in Thailand, which consists of Thai smiles and the accepting nature of its people, even though the uglier side of racism is also a fact of life.
Being a victim of discrimination has nevertheless been unsettling for this 34-year-old lead vocalist of CH3 Band, which plays at Novotel Bangkok, Phloenchit.
In Thailand for 12 years, he is father to an eight month old daughter whose mother happens to be Thai. Needless to say, his Thai partner's family have only come to terms with him being African because it was the choice of their daughter.
Besides his burgeoning music career, what keeps him here is his family and the love he has for Thailand, which he describes as open to all cultures and religions, making people comfortable with being who they are.
Bongela admits to facing racism at all levels. Sharing one such incident, he said: "I decided to go to a club where an international crowd hang out. At the entrance, I was turned away after being told, 'No black people here!'
"Unfortunately, Thai airport immigration have not been any nicer. I recall a time during the processing of my travel documents that the officer told me, 'You Nigerian', despite clearly seeing that I held a Congolese passport. After stamping my passport, he said, 'You African, no good!'.
"Other racist remarks include, 'You Africans are up to no good'. It is upsetting how local authorities lump all of us as being Nigerians, who in their book are all criminals. They feel all Africans come from one country."
When Bongela was asked if he felt racism against him had lessened after residing in Bangkok for over a decade, he said with locals things have improved. But with the authorities, it's a different situation. This could be due in part to ongoing efforts by Thai police to stamp out crimes committed by people from African countries, sometimes dubbed "Operation Black Eagle".
"I still have 'close' friends who tell me that they will not be able to speak with me in public if I happened to visit their hometown because of the colour of my skin. Others might be in the group that I hang out with who make it obvious that the only reason they are around me is because we share a common friend," remarked Bongela, who deals with discrimination by not allowing other people's offensive behaviour to influence his belief that there are good and bad people in all cultures.
"When I first experienced such discrimination, I was ready to leave Thailand. Then I came across Thais who accepted me for the person I am. I have also found the younger generation of Thais to be more accepting of Africans than the older generation."
Bongela believes movies such as Black Panther should help defuse prejudices against Africans.
"It is an awesome flick, I have watched it twice. Africans are delighted this movie is being screened in major cities across the world.
"As its an all-black cast, my hope is that it will open closed minds and show that blacks are talented and should not be stereotyped as drug dealers and criminals. For me the movie was educational; it has the potential to impact the audience on many levels. It is my desire to see this movie dispel the perception black skin is inferior!"
Doline Stéphani
Cameroon
A two-month holiday in Thailand turned out to be a four-year educational journey for Cameroonian master's degree student Doline Stéphani, an attractive young lady with an impeccable sense of style.
The gregarious 23-year-old, who is currently studying for an MBA in finance at NIDA University, has not had much of a difficult time settling down in Thailand. Her circle of friends, which include both Thais and foreigners, have helped her get acclimatised to the Kingdom's culture, traditions and way of life.
Stéphani has a bachelor's degree in business administration from ABAC University.
Thailand is in fact the first country she has visited outside her native Cameroon, a country of varied terrain and wildlife.
When asked how her journey had fared so far, Stéphani remarked: "I should say I have been having a good time here so far. I've made some loyal Thai friends at the university. [In terms of racism] to be honest I haven't really experienced a strong form of discrimination, just some light things such as taxi drivers telling us to be quiet, adding Africans are so loud, and some vendors complaining that Africans don't buy, just look, but I can easily decide to ignore these remarks.
"It has been difficult for me to find some hair and skin products but aside from that I'm all good.
"After my bachelors, I wanted to get a job just so I could have at least a year of work experience before I went for my masters but things didn't happen as planned. It's quite difficult for an African to get a job here, aside from teaching, which was the last thing on my mind. Since I wasn't able to get a job, I decided to go for my masters directly after graduating with my bachelors."
Stéphani is also passionate about hairdressing, having a knack for braiding cute African hairstyles.
"I started by doing my friends' hair just for fun and then noticed it could be a fun way of getting some extra cash. I now have a few Thai customers and tourists contacting me to get some cute African hairstyles done."
The finance major has also fallen in love with Thai food, describing it as a perfect mix of flavours to tantalise the taste buds. Thai and Cameroon dishes, while quite different, have one thing in common which is the degree of spiciness, she said. Adding that if you do spot an African restaurant in town at meal time, don't hesitate to order mouth-watering dishes such as egusi and semo; you will not regret it!
