We Came Here for A Hope: The Experience of Mali Immigrants in France

Abstract

The wave of mass migration of the Mali to France started in the 1960s: young villagers came to the country for several months or years, then returned, and their brothers and sons would now go to take their place. In France of the time there emerged a notion of “Mali hostels”; these were hostels which grew sporadically or were officially organized, and those resided in them were the Mali coming out of the same village or area. The article examines the history of Mali migration to France and analyzes the role of “Mali hostels” as social organisms in city space. The article draws on interviews conducted in 2010-2011.