Africa calling (3/5) - Penelope Campbell

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.

Penelope Campbell, a specialist on children and Aids. From Jamaica to Kenya.

Looking at pictures of dreadlocked members of the militant Kikuyu tribe of Kenya at the time of the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s, and then glancing over at a photo of modern day Jamaican Rastafarians, the only visible differences are the garments worn and some subtle facial features.

Jamaicans in general are largely perceived as a vocal people who stand up for their rights, people in whose veins the blood of the Maroons (runaway slaves who banded together and lived independently in the forests of Jamaica) course through. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that Penelope Campbell, originally from Jamaica, feels thoroughly at home in Nairobi, Kenya.

She was destined to live in Africa. "Before I was born, my family lived in Uganda in the 1960s," Penelope says. "One of my sisters was born there. I wanted to re-trace their steps to know where they lived."

For the last year, Penelope has been part of a UNICEF team in Nairobi which gives support to 24 country offices in Eastern and Southern Africa, working with children orphaned or made vulnerable by Aids.

At home, she, along with her husband, supports their own three children as they are exposed to the beauties and contradictions of African life. Whilst the rich landscapes and vast expanse of space provide a stimulating environment which the family is thoroughly enjoying, there are class and ethnic divisions in Kenyan society that threaten stability, as seen in the post-election riots of the past months.

"It was a challenge getting used to how black people treat other black people here," she says. "Ethnicism is strong and being kenyan is secondary to one's ethnic group. But I have to demonstrate respect and egalitarian values to all whom I meet; it's important for our children whilst living here to respect and learn these values."

Although Penelope feels strongly connected to Africa, her identity remains firmly Jamaican. She is unapologetically passionate about this. "I identify more with being a black woman, especially a strong Jamaican black woman, than African," she explains. "During the 1970s in Jamaica, there was a lot of social mobilisation promoting black consciousness. That is the era I grew up in and it has had a lot of influence on me."

Although Penelope is often viewed as “Mzungu" (white person), possibly due to quasi-English accent (she lived in England 15 years), she is warmly accepted for her Jamaican identity.

"1 was surprised at how popular, well respected, Jamaicans appear to be here in Kenya," she says. "Whenever one introduces oneself as Jamaican, there's widespread interest, a very warm welcome reception, and sometimes even applause!"

This has, in some way, reinforced Penelope's pride in being Jamaican and she remains committed to the Caribbean, particularly Jamaican, development. She intends, at some point, to return to Jamaica to live.

"Follow your dream": that's Penelope's anthem. It may sound a cliche to those who have verbally worn out the phrase but never corroborated it with action. But for Penelope, who 14 years ago was a single mother in south London and today is inhaling the wonders of East Africa, anything is possible.