Africa calling (2/5) - Shurnell Andersson

Centuries ago Africa was forced to dispel its children to what is no the Caribbean. But some daughters of the soil are returning to find welcoming arms and their place in the sun. Five Caribbean women talk to Lisa-Anne Julien about making Africa their home. "Really, Africa is not that far, just look across the Atlantic from the Caribbean. You can almost see it," urges one of the new arrivals.

Shurnell Andersson, a human development practitioner. From Barbados to South Africa.

Most Caribbean people who emigrated to the UK during the post-war period have comical, albeit painful stories about early life in the "Motherland". There is always talk of harsh winters and sunless summers, racism and cramped quarters. And amid all of this, they would tell you about that "go-to" person - the one who, although he or she was "ketching dey arse" in Britain just as much as anyone else, would be constantly recommended as someone who could hook up newcomers.

Shurnell Anderson sees herself as the new "go-to" person in the "other" Motherland: Africa. And for anyone's information, she is anything but "ketching her arse". "I open my home to those Caribbean citizens who are brave enough to visit and learn about this wonderful continent and its people," Shurnell says enthusiastically. "Know that you have a family here who will help you settle in and locate your space in Mica."

If there is anyone who can manoeuvre their way around Africa with ease, it's Shurnell. She has lived and worked in Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, with the latter being her home for the last 12 years.

Growing up in Barbados, she felt cheated about not being able to fully claim she was an African. She decided from early on that her home would be in Africa but she didn't expect that love would intervene to make it happen.

"I met my husband in Zambia where I went to pursue studies in social work. We moved to Botswana in 1991 and were married there," Shurnell says. "To marry a white-skinned African was very surprising to me."

Today, the love between husband and wife is as evident as ever and they have four beautiful children. Shurnell is also stepmother to her husband's daughter from his first marriage. Shurnell is currently the programme director and partner of Make a Difference Empowerment Solutions & Services, which offers coaching, training and speaking services related to HN/Aids, personal transformation, leadership, team building and organisational development. Although in South Africa she is often mistaken for an African-American or someone from another African country, Shurnell has been warmly welcomed and is continually inspired by South Africa and Africa in general.

"When I visited Ghana, I was recognised as 'coming home' and compared to their great female warrior Yaa Asantewaa," she recalls. "Our being here is no accident and should not be seen as 'luck' or just about the oppor­tunity that may have brought us here."

Shurnell believes the Caribbean presence is slowly growing in Africa and with it, the opportunity for both sides to learn about each other. She is enthusiastic about bridging this gap and calls on all Diasporan Africans to come and share in the African experience.

"Follow your heart and listen to the will of God for you," Shurnell advises. "We need to accept that Africa is rising and its people will achieve their greatness. This will happen with or without us so choose to be a part of it rather than on the sidelines looking on."