African minority in Poland
Encyclopedia
Today there are about 4,500 Polish citizens who are of Black African origin. Historic backgrounds vary, although they are typically either refugees or children of racially mixed couples. They are almost exclusively located in the major cities of Warsaw
and Krakow
, and are absent from the countryside.
for centuries. However, Poland's lack of colonies in Africa combined with the non-existence of slavery meant that the only Black people were free immigrants who came of their own will. In the interwar period of the 1920s and 1930's there were only a handful of Black people in Poland, most of whom resided in the capital city of Warsaw. These individuals were primarily immigrants from former German colonies of German East Africa
, Cameroon
and South-West Africa, as well as South Africa
ns who had prospects for a better life in Poland.
Following World War II
, the communist ideals of the People's Republic of Poland
lured fellow communists and refugees from areas such as Angola
, Cuba
and Zaire
. After the fall of communism, Poland became a destination of faith for many refugees escaping from famine and war in Africa. Following Poland's joining the European Union
, the country experienced a surge of immigrants from poorer regions of the world, including Africa. Poland's strong economy, high Human Development Index
, good infrastructure, and job opportunities to foreigners have been the driving force behind this new migration pattern. The majority of these new immigrants have come as refugees from Nigeria
and Cameroon, as well as a small group of entertainers and entrepreneurs from the United States
.
Since the fall of Communism in Poland, Black African footballers have started to establish themselves in the country. Notable amongst these Black African footballers is the Nigerian-born striker Emmanuel Olisadebe
, who is a naturalised Pole and plays for the national team
.
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
and Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, and are absent from the countryside.
History
Black African people have been known to PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
for centuries. However, Poland's lack of colonies in Africa combined with the non-existence of slavery meant that the only Black people were free immigrants who came of their own will. In the interwar period of the 1920s and 1930's there were only a handful of Black people in Poland, most of whom resided in the capital city of Warsaw. These individuals were primarily immigrants from former German colonies of German East Africa
German East Africa
German East Africa was a German colony in East Africa, which included what are now :Burundi, :Rwanda and Tanganyika . Its area was , nearly three times the size of Germany today....
, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
and South-West Africa, as well as South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
ns who had prospects for a better life in Poland.
Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the communist ideals of the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
lured fellow communists and refugees from areas such as Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
. After the fall of communism, Poland became a destination of faith for many refugees escaping from famine and war in Africa. Following Poland's joining the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, the country experienced a surge of immigrants from poorer regions of the world, including Africa. Poland's strong economy, high Human Development Index
Human Development Index
The Human Development Index is a composite statistic used to rank countries by level of "human development" and separate "very high human development", "high human development", "medium human development", and "low human development" countries...
, good infrastructure, and job opportunities to foreigners have been the driving force behind this new migration pattern. The majority of these new immigrants have come as refugees from Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and Cameroon, as well as a small group of entertainers and entrepreneurs from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Since the fall of Communism in Poland, Black African footballers have started to establish themselves in the country. Notable amongst these Black African footballers is the Nigerian-born striker Emmanuel Olisadebe
Emmanuel Olisadebe
Emmanuel Olisadebe is a Nigerian-born Polish football striker who plays for Greek football club Vyzas Megaron in Gamma Ethniki....
, who is a naturalised Pole and plays for the national team
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
.
Notable individuals
- George Augustus Polgreen BridgetowerGeorge BridgetowerGeorge Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower was an Afro-Polish-born virtuoso violinist, who lived in England for much of his life. He was born in Biala in Galicia, where his father worked for Hieronimus Wincenty Radziwill, in 1778. He was baptised Hieronimo Hyppolito de Augusto on 11 October 1778...
(1780 — 1860) - Polish born British virtuoso violinist - John GodsonJohn GodsonJohn Abraham Godson is a Polish politician, a university teacher and a former Pentecostal minister. He is the first black Polish Member of Parliament and a member of the Civic Platform party....
- Nigerian born pastor and Member of Parliament - Władysław Franciszek Jabłonowski- polish and French general
- Emmanuel OlisadebeEmmanuel OlisadebeEmmanuel Olisadebe is a Nigerian-born Polish football striker who plays for Greek football club Vyzas Megaron in Gamma Ethniki....
- Nigerian born football player - Stanley UdenkworStanley UdenkworStanley Obumneme Udenkwor is a Nigerian-born, Polish professional footballer.-Career:Udenkwor started his career off in his native Nigeria playing for Jasper United In 2001, Udenkwor moved to Poland and signed with Polonia Warsaw. Udenkwor successfully applied for a Polish passport, and in turn...
- Nigerian born football player - Emmanuel EkwuemeEmmanuel EkwuemeEmmanuel Ekwueme is a professional football midfielder. He currently plays for LZS Piotrówka and the Nigerian national team.-External links:* at National Football Teams...
- Nigerian born football player - Omar SangareOmar SangareOmar Sangare is a Polish actor and director, who graduated from the Theater Academy in Warsaw, where he studied with the Oscar winning director, Andrzej Wajda. In 1994 he was awarded a scholarship to The British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England. While there he worked with Derek Jacobi,...
- (Malian father), actor, director and writer - Aleksandra SzwedAleksandra SzwedAleksandra Szwed Aleksandra Szwed Aleksandra Szwed (aka Ola Szwed; 8 August 1990, Warsaw, Poland to a Polish mother and a Nigerian father. She was a popular child actress, starring regularly since 1999 in Rodzina zastępcza (Foster Family) television series, modified and renamed in 2004 to Rodzina...
- (Nigerian father), actress - David Kyle LoganDavid Logan (basketball)David Kyle Logan is a professional American/Polish basketball player who currently plays for the Greek club Panathinaikos. He is a 1.85 m tall point guard. In late February 2009, Logan got a Polish passport, which enabled him to cap for Poland in the EuroBasket 2009 tournament...
- American born basketball player - Alain NgamayamaAlain NgamayamaAlain Ngamayama is a Polish footballer who plays for Warta Poznań. He is partly of Congolese descent.- Notes :*...
- (Congolese father), football player