Seven Myths about Chinese Migrants in Africa

Abstract

This review essay is a critical look at Howard French’s book, China’s Second Continent. It offers an opportunity to debunk common myths cultivated by the media mainly in Western countries and in some quarters in Africa. Even if French’s book is one of a handful of treatments on the migration of Chinese nationals to Africa, chances are that many more would follow its trail and its representations of Sino-African affairs. All being well, this essay should assist in providing readers and stakeholders with the tools to properly assess those representations. It is indeed to protect their primary development goals that Africans, their leaders, governments and policy makers must evaluate the representations made of their relationships with China and other partners.