‘Ukijianika Utaanuliwa’: Urban Refugees’ Self-identity Formation and Interpersonal Communication during Dar es Salaam Acculturation

Abstract

The research being reported here examined the self-identity formation and communication in the acculturation of urban-based refugees in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Because this refugees’ relationships with the host community are based on their principle of “Ukijianika Utaanuliwa” (If you show yourself, you will be exposed), urban refugees strive to hide their identities during the acculturation process. As they strive to survive in harsh living conditions outside the camps, individuals must work through their identities and develop positive interpersonal contact skills with the host to gain acceptance. Interviews with forty Congolese and Burundian refugees were conducted using targeted group discussions. The respondents acknowledge that establishing effective interpersonal communication mechanisms, individuals must negotiate their identities. The study found that urban refugees in Dar es Salaam grappled with issues of identity, including hiding their true identity, acculturation, social behaviour, and adaptability. Even media consumption helped inform the urban refugees, the present immigration policy does not assist their acculturation through personal communication, hence the need to revisit it and revise it accordingly.