Mirrors in frames: identity and belonging in the lives of second-generation Congolese immigrants in South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorChaturvedi, Ruchi
dc.contributor.advisorGarba, Muhammed Faisal
dc.contributor.authorBashonga, Ragi
dc.date.accessioned2026-11-10T09:13:55Z
dc.date.available2026-11-10T09:13:55Z
dc.date.issued2026
dc.date.updated2026-11-10T09:06:58Z
dc.description.abstractThis thesis explores the experiences of identity and belonging among young, second-generation Congolese immigrants in South Africa. It arises within a global context where notions of belonging have become increasingly restrictive, including in South Africa, where xenophobic tensions and systemic inequalities prevail. Using the metaphor of a mirror in frames, this study examines how individual lives and everyday experiences illuminate questions of citizenship, national identity, and Africanity. It poses the question what is gained or lost in the process of intra-continent migration? Grounded in the historical and socio-political contexts that shape these experiences and employing a social constructivist framework, this thesis integrates portraiture and poetic inquiry as methodologies to center the voices of research participants. This approach reveals the nuances of their lived realities amid pervasive xenophobic sentiments and systemic inequalities. Through a series of poetic portraits, the study highlights how intersecting factors such as race, gender, and social class inform individual identities and experiences of belonging. The findings indicate that citizenship in South Africa is characterized by fragility, shaped by historical legacies of apartheid and ongoing socio-economic exclusions. For second-generation Congolese immigrants, this fragility extends to their national identity. However, expressions of national identity and Africanity—through race, language, and culture—reveal a more dynamic connection to Congolese and African identities. This thesis demonstrates the significance of storytelling in academic discourse, illustrating how personal narratives can illuminate broader themes related to migration, identity politics, and the quest for belonging. Ultimately, it contributes to an evolving dialogue on African identities by challenging monolithic representations and emphasizing the dynamic nature of belonging in a globalized world. The study calls for further exploration of these themes within the context of South-South migration and intra African migration.
dc.identifier.apacitationBashonga, R. (2026). <i>Mirrors in frames: identity and belonging in the lives of second-generation Congolese immigrants in South Africa</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43922en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationBashonga, Ragi. <i>"Mirrors in frames: identity and belonging in the lives of second-generation Congolese immigrants in South Africa."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology, 2026. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43922en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBashonga, R. 2026. Mirrors in frames: identity and belonging in the lives of second-generation Congolese immigrants in South Africa. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43922en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Bashonga, Ragi AB - This thesis explores the experiences of identity and belonging among young, second-generation Congolese immigrants in South Africa. It arises within a global context where notions of belonging have become increasingly restrictive, including in South Africa, where xenophobic tensions and systemic inequalities prevail. Using the metaphor of a mirror in frames, this study examines how individual lives and everyday experiences illuminate questions of citizenship, national identity, and Africanity. It poses the question what is gained or lost in the process of intra-continent migration? Grounded in the historical and socio-political contexts that shape these experiences and employing a social constructivist framework, this thesis integrates portraiture and poetic inquiry as methodologies to center the voices of research participants. This approach reveals the nuances of their lived realities amid pervasive xenophobic sentiments and systemic inequalities. Through a series of poetic portraits, the study highlights how intersecting factors such as race, gender, and social class inform individual identities and experiences of belonging. The findings indicate that citizenship in South Africa is characterized by fragility, shaped by historical legacies of apartheid and ongoing socio-economic exclusions. For second-generation Congolese immigrants, this fragility extends to their national identity. However, expressions of national identity and Africanity—through race, language, and culture—reveal a more dynamic connection to Congolese and African identities. This thesis demonstrates the significance of storytelling in academic discourse, illustrating how personal narratives can illuminate broader themes related to migration, identity politics, and the quest for belonging. Ultimately, it contributes to an evolving dialogue on African identities by challenging monolithic representations and emphasizing the dynamic nature of belonging in a globalized world. The study calls for further exploration of these themes within the context of South-South migration and intra African migration. DA - 2026 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - South-South migration KW - second-generation immigrants KW - identity KW - citizenship KW - national identity KW - Africanity KW - home KW - portraiture KW - poetic-inquiry LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2026 T1 - Mirrors in frames: identity and belonging in the lives of second-generation Congolese immigrants in South Africa TI - Mirrors in frames: identity and belonging in the lives of second-generation Congolese immigrants in South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43922 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/43922
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationBashonga R. Mirrors in frames: identity and belonging in the lives of second-generation Congolese immigrants in South Africa. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology, 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43922en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Sociology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanities
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectSouth-South migration
dc.subjectsecond-generation immigrants
dc.subjectidentity
dc.subjectcitizenship
dc.subjectnational identity
dc.subjectAfricanity
dc.subjecthome
dc.subjectportraiture
dc.subjectpoetic-inquiry
dc.titleMirrors in frames: identity and belonging in the lives of second-generation Congolese immigrants in South Africa
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoral
dc.type.qualificationlevelPhD
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