When an Arusha News reader made contact last week regarding a huge headline item here in London, I recalled a wonderful African tune released in 1984.
In the second verse of Immigrés, celebrated Senegalese musician, Youssou N’dour, wails in Wolof:
“Uzin bittim reew na fa nekk dekk nu fa Mujj u mujj yay danuy nibbi ce waw Senegal Hoole!
Bitim reew ligey la laaj Immigree mom ligey la laaj Immigree!”
Which roughly translates:
“The language is foreign, the food’s unusual, but we have to learn, cause we are here for a reason.”
Youssou N’dour’s masterpiece reminds the necessity of adapting and adjusting to new cultures. Generally the tune (played in the Mbalax rhythms of Senegambia) equally highlights rejection, alienation, and loneliness that immigrants face overseas, away from their origins; imploring empathy and understanding.
Well, well, well.
Historically, all living species (humans and animals) have immigrated to other places. Constant movement is part of earth, eco and the solar-system.
Ten years ago, eight former South African police were sentenced to prison for murdering a Mozambique taxi driver.
Mido Macia’s hands were tied to the back of a police car, and dragged to death across the streets, in February 2013. Evidence was collected by an onlooker, and used in the conviction.
President Jacob Zuma condemned the “drag case”…
Two months ago, Tanzanian immigrant Isakwisa Atupele Mwamasage (Ras Isa) died at a Cape Town shop – allegedly strangled by a group of South African police. A report by writer Mandilakhe Tshwete quoted the Tanzanian Cape Community saying:
“The police went to search him, they suspected that he swallowed drugs… manhandled him and pinned him down.”
The episode has parallels with the killing of George Floyd by American police in 2020. With the famous last words: “I can’t breathe…”
So, when the reader enquired about Hadush Kebatu, a 41-year-old Ethiopian, I remembered the Daily Mail headline on Saturday 25th October 2025 screaming:
“NEW ASYLUM FIASCO: BILLIONS WASTED ON HOTELS FOR IMMIGRANTS…”
The Sun, equally, flaunted a longer meandering title:
“JAILED HOTEL MIGRANT WHO SEXUALLY ASSAULTED GIRL OF 14 WAS SET TO BE DEPORTED. BUT IN AN ASTONISHING BLUNDER HE IS FREED BACK TO STREETS.”
Hadush Kebatu, who had claimed asylum and was in a temporary hotel (with other immigrants), was jailed for 12 months in September 2025 for sexually assaulting a minor and a grown-up woman in July 2025.
The case ignited protests from racists and far-right activists, which according to The Guardian newspaper, “led to assaults on police officers and 32 arrests.”
Meanwhile, the accused was due to be deported to Ethiopia. He got released from prison “by mistake” last weekend. This caused an uproar.
While on the streets, the news was splashed across the planet. This is why I was asked what was going on by our Tanzanian reader.
It is not easy being an African, not easy being an immigrant and not easy being a human being. However, while most of us manage to survive and adapt and expand and evolve, others trail behind — and such is existence.
Name of the game?
Try your best to be on the right side.
And…
And…
Bless your eyes.
