-Thousands of people gather in the nation's capital for the "Justice For All" rally and march against police brutality and the killing of unarmed black men by police, December 13, 2014 in Washington, DC. Organized by Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network, this march and others like it across the country aim to tell Congress and the country that demonstrators will not stand down until there is systemic change, accountability and justice in cases of police misconduct. Sharpton said the demonstration is happening in Washington "because all over the country we all need to come together and demand this Congress deal with the issues, that we need laws to protect the citizens in these states from these state grand jurors." (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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I can guess how World War III will start: Imagine two million elderly African parents resisting to move into assisted living facilities in the USA. You think their accents are thick now? They will be speaking in tongues. The word retirement is naturally loaded. If you are an African ex-pat living in the United States, it’s about to explode! There is always this famous predicament when it comes to African folks abroad: Retirement in USA Vs Returning to Africa. That’s not all. Finances, security, health, family and other factors will definitely add complications to this dilemma. Looking at finances alone, this group may never retire anywhere! Grab a cup of coffee and get cozy. Stay with me to the end. This might hurt a bit.
The black immigrant population in the U.S. rose to 4.2 million in 2016 according to Pew research. This estimate includes people born in places such as Jamaica, Haiti, Guyana and other places outside the African continent. Going by the US Census Bureau data, Africa has the fastest-growing number of immigrants. More than 2 million immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa lived in the United States in 2018. That’s not a negligible number. Imagine the population of Botswana with the economic weight of the United States GDP per capita. That would make one of the richest countries in the world.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure page.
I can guess how World War III will start: Imagine two million elderly African parents resisting to move into assisted living facilities in the USA. You think their accents are thick now? They will be speaking in tongues. The word retirement is naturally loaded. If you are an African ex-pat living in the United States, it’s about to explode! There is always this famous predicament when it comes to African folks abroad: Retirement in USA Vs Returning to Africa. That’s not all. Finances, security, health, family and other factors will definitely add complications to this dilemma. Looking at finances alone, this group may never retire anywhere! Grab a cup of coffee and get cozy. Stay with me to the end. This might hurt a bit.
The black immigrant population in the U.S. rose to 4.2 million in 2016 according to Pew research. This estimate includes people born in places such as Jamaica, Haiti, Guyana and other places outside the African continent. Going by the US Census Bureau data, Africa has the fastest-growing number of immigrants. More than 2 million immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa lived in the United States in 2018. That’s not a negligible number. Imagine the population of Botswana with the economic weight of the United States GDP per capita. That would make one of the richest countries in the world.
Retirement in USA Vs Returning to Africa
Mass African immigration into the USA is fairly recent. The 2 million Africans currently living in the USA are within closely related age brackets. Unlike the previous generation which was mostly students, this group is settled. The Africans have established homes, families, businesses, and places of worship. These folks have entrenched themselves into the fabric of the American community far deeper than those who ventured before them. In many ways, the African group in the USA is a microcosm of American society.
With almost zero unemployment rate, these ex-pats, for the most part, have jobs and a good quality of life. Many have children and some are starting to usher in grandchildren. Within the next 20 years or so, there will be more than a million African ex-pats of retirement age in the USA. The passage of time dictates they must act, now. But before I get into why they may never retire, allow me to analyze the two schools of thought: retirement in USA Vs returning to Africa. To misquote Shakespeare “To go, or not to go, that is the question!”
Mass African immigration into the USA is fairly recent. The 2 million Africans currently living in the USA are within closely related age brackets. Unlike the previous generation which was mostly students, this group is settled. The Africans have established homes, families, businesses, and places of worship. These folks have entrenched themselves into the fabric of the American community far deeper than those who ventured before them. In many ways, the African group in the USA is a microcosm of American society.
With almost zero unemployment rate, these ex-pats, for the most part, have jobs and a good quality of life. Many have children and some are starting to usher in grandchildren. Within the next 20 years or so, there will be more than a million African ex-pats of retirement age in the USA. The passage of time dictates they must act, now. But before I get into why they may never retire, allow me to analyze the two schools of thought: retirement in USA Vs returning to Africa. To misquote Shakespeare “To go, or not to go, that is the question!”
Retirement in Africa
We all know Africa is a piece of paradise. It’s the best place to visit. You’ve got to go on a safari! Is there anything better than watching the tropical sun go down? It is the richest continent on Earth (if we look at natural resources). The food is awesome! African traditional dishes are as varied as its people. Don’t get me started! Vacationing in Africa is always like a prolonged honeymoon. (Ok, biased opinion). Let’s talk about retirement. In-home care is the most common living arrangement in most of Africa. The elderly stay with family members in a familiar environment. These family members, relatives or hired hands help with daily tasks. This is done to the last minute! It’s a beautiful circle of life. At least that what African people consider “normal”.
We all know Africa is a piece of paradise. It’s the best place to visit. You’ve got to go on a safari! Is there anything better than watching the tropical sun go down? It is the richest continent on Earth (if we look at natural resources). The food is awesome! African traditional dishes are as varied as its people. Don’t get me started! Vacationing in Africa is always like a prolonged honeymoon. (Ok, biased opinion). Let’s talk about retirement. In-home care is the most common living arrangement in most of Africa. The elderly stay with family members in a familiar environment. These family members, relatives or hired hands help with daily tasks. This is done to the last minute! It’s a beautiful circle of life. At least that what African people consider “normal”.
Rough re-integration phase
This ever-burning love of the motherland and acute nostalgia can lead to a romanticized version of your retirement. It’s easy to overlook the bitter reality: moving permanently to Africa after living abroad for a lengthy duration comes with a healthy dose of culture shock during the re-integration phase. It’s likely that you will be leaving your family, friends and familiar network behind. How will you fill your days? Who will you spend time with? What will be your support system? Will it be difficult to visit family abroad or them visiting you? Did I say this might hurt a bit?
Let us talk about money. Will you have saved enough? Inflation can erode purchasing power drastically. In some countries, inflation is as violent as a mugger. You may require far more money to support your lifestyle than you had anticipated. Do you have an income-generating activity already established? The current debt appetite in many African nations and the new scramble for Africa (China/Russia) is not something to be ignored. It’s hard to tell how these will affect inflation in the long run. East or west home is best. Well, at least for this school of thought.
Possible Culture shock
It’s easy to assume there will be no culture shock in your mother country. There many things that are considered “normal” in Africa that will make you sad. Very sad. Healthcare is a good example. For starters, people die from the most preventable and treatable ailments. It is normal for some African hospitals to detain patients who owe money. There was a recent news piece on this. The fact that patients who default on payment are detained is not something you are used to in the United States. And grieving the loss of a loved one might take a whole level of gravity: morgues are allowed to hold a body hostage until families can pay their loved ones’ bills. 
Outside of healthcare, life does not get any easier. Whatever is happening now is already affecting your retirement. Currently, there is more red tape than you are used to in the USA. There are more “landmines” to watch out when acquiring real estate or other investments. There are more hoops to jump when getting simple things such as title deeds and development approvals. These investment obstacles during your productive years will ultimately damage your retirement plans. The lack of support for innovation, small businesses, and investors may mean fewer jobs in the future.
The level of impunity, leadership myopia and abuse of authority continue to go up. (SHH don’t make Africa look bad) You will have to re-learn how things work. It all depends on the country. Africa is a great place overall. Some countries are improving. Ghana is currently encouraging African Americans to relocate to the country. But this piece is not about which country is better per se. It’s about where the “110-year-old you” will get some sanity.
Children’s Lives Matter
Children can be the ultimate curveball. This can throw a wrench into the planning. Will they go willingly? Have they been there? Let us suspend willful blindness for a moment. First of all, you and the children may not agree on what it means to be “home”. America is home for most of these kids. Contemporary Hispanic immigrant groups are having to deal with this issue too. Like it or not, these are second-generation Americans. Something at the back of your mind also tells you that these kids will be better off in the USA. Can your American kids survive the African rough-and-tumble? Can they access your property if you are not alive? Can they be easily scammed, taken advantage of or outright robbed? Are there land grabbers in your native country or even in your family?
African parents, even abroad, are known to be harsh and strict. According to unreliable sources, they discovered “because I said so” line and that authoritarian parenting was made in Africa. At least that is the stereotype. Play along!. That does not seem to help much. Most of the parents I interviewed have failed to convince their adult children to move to Africa on a permanent basis. Yes, for them is Africa is a foreign land! If you have re-located to Africa with American-born adult children, I’d love for you to share your experience.
It’s hard to sell the benefits of Africa against life in the USA. First, all they see on the news about Africa is war, famine, poverty and political upheaval. Most American born Africans who have visited the continent generally like it as a vacation destination but not as a place to live permanently. The top concerns include Health care, rolling blackouts, day-long traffic jams and the high price of internet connectivity.
Wherever you go I will follow (said no one)
If your children choose to stay in the USA, will it be difficult for you to visit them when you are 110? (God bless you) Will it be a burden for them to visit you? Selecting a retirement place across continents could also mean – by default- that you have also chosen your final resting place. In most African countries the backyard is the cemetery. Will your descendants have access to your final resting place? That piece of property can be sold later by you-know-who, right?
This ever-burning love of the motherland and acute nostalgia can lead to a romanticized version of your retirement. It’s easy to overlook the bitter reality: moving permanently to Africa after living abroad for a lengthy duration comes with a healthy dose of culture shock during the re-integration phase. It’s likely that you will be leaving your family, friends and familiar network behind. How will you fill your days? Who will you spend time with? What will be your support system? Will it be difficult to visit family abroad or them visiting you? Did I say this might hurt a bit?
Let us talk about money. Will you have saved enough? Inflation can erode purchasing power drastically. In some countries, inflation is as violent as a mugger. You may require far more money to support your lifestyle than you had anticipated. Do you have an income-generating activity already established? The current debt appetite in many African nations and the new scramble for Africa (China/Russia) is not something to be ignored. It’s hard to tell how these will affect inflation in the long run. East or west home is best. Well, at least for this school of thought.
Possible Culture shock
It’s easy to assume there will be no culture shock in your mother country. There many things that are considered “normal” in Africa that will make you sad. Very sad. Healthcare is a good example. For starters, people die from the most preventable and treatable ailments. It is normal for some African hospitals to detain patients who owe money. There was a recent news piece on this. The fact that patients who default on payment are detained is not something you are used to in the United States. And grieving the loss of a loved one might take a whole level of gravity: morgues are allowed to hold a body hostage until families can pay their loved ones’ bills.
Outside of healthcare, life does not get any easier. Whatever is happening now is already affecting your retirement. Currently, there is more red tape than you are used to in the USA. There are more “landmines” to watch out when acquiring real estate or other investments. There are more hoops to jump when getting simple things such as title deeds and development approvals. These investment obstacles during your productive years will ultimately damage your retirement plans. The lack of support for innovation, small businesses, and investors may mean fewer jobs in the future.
The level of impunity, leadership myopia and abuse of authority continue to go up. (SHH don’t make Africa look bad) You will have to re-learn how things work. It all depends on the country. Africa is a great place overall. Some countries are improving. Ghana is currently encouraging African Americans to relocate to the country. But this piece is not about which country is better per se. It’s about where the “110-year-old you” will get some sanity.
Children can be the ultimate curveball. This can throw a wrench into the planning. Will they go willingly? Have they been there? Let us suspend willful blindness for a moment. First of all, you and the children may not agree on what it means to be “home”. America is home for most of these kids. Contemporary Hispanic immigrant groups are having to deal with this issue too. Like it or not, these are second-generation Americans. Something at the back of your mind also tells you that these kids will be better off in the USA. Can your American kids survive the African rough-and-tumble? Can they access your property if you are not alive? Can they be easily scammed, taken advantage of or outright robbed? Are there land grabbers in your native country or even in your family?
African parents, even abroad, are known to be harsh and strict. According to unreliable sources, they discovered “because I said so” line and that authoritarian parenting was made in Africa. At least that is the stereotype. Play along!. That does not seem to help much. Most of the parents I interviewed have failed to convince their adult children to move to Africa on a permanent basis. Yes, for them is Africa is a foreign land! If you have re-located to Africa with American-born adult children, I’d love for you to share your experience.
It’s hard to sell the benefits of Africa against life in the USA. First, all they see on the news about Africa is war, famine, poverty and political upheaval. Most American born Africans who have visited the continent generally like it as a vacation destination but not as a place to live permanently. The top concerns include Health care, rolling blackouts, day-long traffic jams and the high price of internet connectivity.
Wherever you go I will follow (said no one)
If your children choose to stay in the USA, will it be difficult for you to visit them when you are 110? (God bless you) Will it be a burden for them to visit you? Selecting a retirement place across continents could also mean – by default- that you have also chosen your final resting place. In most African countries the backyard is the cemetery. Will your descendants have access to your final resting place? That piece of property can be sold later by you-know-who, right?
Retirement in America
There are infinite reasons why Africans decided to immigrate USA – political, cultural, financial, educational, work, to be with family and others. It’s not all about money. There are infinite reasons why Africans will end up staying. But retirement in America presents its own set of challenges. It is not all rainbows and butterflies. The U.S. retirement savings system is basically made up of Social Security, defined contribution plans (401(k), 403(b) or 457), traditional pension plans (defined benefit), and individual retirement accounts (IRA and Roth IRA). In the USA the bills don’t retire. The list is long and includes electricity, gas, water, sewer, cell phones, cable TV, real-estate taxes, home, and auto insurance, food, entertainment. Then there are debts. The average American has $16,000 in credit card debt. The average debt load for Millennials is $30,580.
Retirement Statistics Will Scare You
Most Americans spend around 20% of their income on interest according to recent studies. 80% of Americans have some type of debt. 50% of Americans can’t cover a $500 emergency. Health care costs hover around $10,000 per person every year. That is why social security benefits alone cannot assure a comfortable retirement. The average Social Security recipient receives just $16,300 per year. It has been reported that 50% of the elderly will have most of their retirement income coming from Social Security. At the same time, nobody knows what the Social Security fund will actually look like in a few decades.
You can’t bank of the home equity either. At least 35% of all U.S. homeowners are Baby Boomers according to the data we reviewed. Here is the kicker. The baby boomers are expected to dump more than 20 million existing homes on the market in the next few decades. That oversupply may bring down home prices and equity. No one knows for sure. The good news is that some Americans are warming up to in-home care.
Assisted living care (or scare)
In the USA, assisted living is a type of care facility that aids seniors with daily tasks. You get a room, transportation, housekeeping, laundry, and some medical services. It’s not as evil as it sounds. It’s an institution that cares for the elderly. But it is also an institution that scares the daylight out of many Africans. The very idea of retiring in an old people’s home is very foreign. Many of these Africans are in the health care industry. They are aware of what living in such an institution looks like especially if it’s a low funded one. To be fair, it is not just Africans who do not like the assisted living concept. It’s not unusual in America for parents to resist this kind of care arrangement. Like Africa, the USA is a huge territory. Every state or region will have its own factors.
There are infinite reasons why Africans decided to immigrate USA – political, cultural, financial, educational, work, to be with family and others. It’s not all about money. There are infinite reasons why Africans will end up staying. But retirement in America presents its own set of challenges. It is not all rainbows and butterflies. The U.S. retirement savings system is basically made up of Social Security, defined contribution plans (401(k), 403(b) or 457), traditional pension plans (defined benefit), and individual retirement accounts (IRA and Roth IRA). In the USA the bills don’t retire. The list is long and includes electricity, gas, water, sewer, cell phones, cable TV, real-estate taxes, home, and auto insurance, food, entertainment. Then there are debts. The average American has $16,000 in credit card debt. The average debt load for Millennials is $30,580.
Retirement Statistics Will Scare You
Most Americans spend around 20% of their income on interest according to recent studies. 80% of Americans have some type of debt. 50% of Americans can’t cover a $500 emergency. Health care costs hover around $10,000 per person every year. That is why social security benefits alone cannot assure a comfortable retirement. The average Social Security recipient receives just $16,300 per year. It has been reported that 50% of the elderly will have most of their retirement income coming from Social Security. At the same time, nobody knows what the Social Security fund will actually look like in a few decades.
You can’t bank of the home equity either. At least 35% of all U.S. homeowners are Baby Boomers according to the data we reviewed. Here is the kicker. The baby boomers are expected to dump more than 20 million existing homes on the market in the next few decades. That oversupply may bring down home prices and equity. No one knows for sure. The good news is that some Americans are warming up to in-home care.
Assisted living care (or scare)
In the USA, assisted living is a type of care facility that aids seniors with daily tasks. You get a room, transportation, housekeeping, laundry, and some medical services. It’s not as evil as it sounds. It’s an institution that cares for the elderly. But it is also an institution that scares the daylight out of many Africans. The very idea of retiring in an old people’s home is very foreign. Many of these Africans are in the health care industry. They are aware of what living in such an institution looks like especially if it’s a low funded one. To be fair, it is not just Africans who do not like the assisted living concept. It’s not unusual in America for parents to resist this kind of care arrangement. Like Africa, the USA is a huge territory. Every state or region will have its own factors.
Dynamic African culture in the USA
African culture comes alive in its rich art, folklore, clothing, cuisine, music, and languages. 
There is one show in America that is making Africans look so good. If you have watched Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s series “No Passport Required” there is one episode that covers a range of West African cuisine in Houston, Texas. This is a must-watch.
“No Passport Required”
“No Passport Required” Houston episode showcases the dishes from Nigerian, Senegalese, Ghanaian, and Liberian. It brings out the best of Africa in the diaspora. I have to warn you: You will find yourself craving jollof rice, Suya and goat pepper soup. You can find the below products in Amazon.
African culture comes alive in its rich art, folklore, clothing, cuisine, music, and languages.
“No Passport Required”
“No Passport Required” Houston episode showcases the dishes from Nigerian, Senegalese, Ghanaian, and Liberian. It brings out the best of Africa in the diaspora. I have to warn you: You will find yourself craving jollof rice, Suya and goat pepper soup. You can find the below products in Amazon.
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