The Complex Journey of Urban Displacement: Navigating Between Return and Persistence in Mozambique’s Pemba
In the intricately woven fabric of global displacement crises, the experience of urban displaced populations often remains an under-explored terrain. Recent research delves into this nuanced subject by examining the lived realities of those caught between the urge to return to their places of origin and the imperative to build new lives within urban environments. Mozambique’s coastal city of Pemba presents a compelling case study, spotlighting the layered tensions and negotiations faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs) in a rapidly urbanizing African context.
The coastal city of Pemba has emerged as a hotspot for displacement due to various socio-political factors, including armed conflict and environmental instability. Displaced populations have migrated to this urban center seeking refuge and economic opportunity, yet find themselves navigating an ambiguous space of belonging. This duality—between the historical, often rural homes left behind, and the uncertain promise of urban futures—encapsulates the central theme of displacement as “being in-between.” The new research spearheaded by N. Tivane methodically unpacks these complex interactions, offering a multi-dimensional perspective on what it means to be displaced in an urban setting.
Critically, the study highlights that displacement is not a linear trajectory but an array of disrupted temporal and spatial experiences. For many inhabitants of Pemba’s informal settlements, the decision to stay or return is influenced by a myriad of structural and personal factors. These range from economic viability and security concerns to social networks and emotional ties. The research methodically documents how IDPs oscillate between hope and uncertainty, often constrained by limited access to essential services, employment, and legal recognition within the city’s governance frameworks.
Underpinning this investigation is a sophisticated ethnographic approach that incorporates participant observation, in-depth interviews, and spatial mapping to chart the real-time coping mechanisms of displaced individuals and families. This method reveals the subtle social negotiations and micro-politics involved in crafting new identities amid urban marginalization. Urban displacement thus emerges not merely as a state of physical uprooting but as a complex re-negotiation of identity, community, and survival strategies.
One of the groundbreaking insights offered by Tivane’s work concerns the spatial dynamics of displacement within Pemba. The urban environment is not a homogeneous space but fragmented into legally recognized neighborhoods and informal settlements that bear differing degrees of vulnerability and access to resources. This fracturing profoundly shapes the lived experiences of the displaced, with many caught in liminal zones where state protection and social services are minimal. The study underscores how these spatial realities compound the challenges of urban displacement and influence decisions around return or settlement.
Moreover, the research challenges conventional narratives that frame displacement solely within humanitarian paradigms focused on camps or rural displacement. It calls attention to the rapidly growing phenomenon of urban displacement in African cities, which demands nuanced policy responses attuned to the unique characteristics of urban livelihoods. In Pemba, for example, IDPs often engage in informal economic activities that defy simple categorizations and necessitate flexible governance approaches.
Another technical aspect elaborated in the study is the role of legal frameworks and local governance in shaping displacement experiences. Mozambique’s national policies for internal displacement are still evolving, and their implementation at the municipal level in Pemba reflects a complex interplay of formal laws and informal practices. Many displaced persons find themselves in legal gray zones, with limited identification documents or land rights, thereby hampering their ability to integrate fully. Tivane’s research meticulously examines these policy gaps, revealing how governance deficiencies magnify vulnerabilities.
The psychosocial dimensions of displacement also receive significant attention, as the research documents the emotional and mental health toll of being trapped “in-between” the urge to return home and the practical necessity to stay. This duality exacerbates feelings of insecurity, loss, and existential limbo. The study integrates psychological theories with ethnographic data to illustrate how displaced individuals construct coping mechanisms that blend resilience with ambivalence, creating textured narratives of hope, despair, and adaptation.
From a methodological standpoint, the research is pioneering in its interdisciplinary orientation, bridging anthropology, urban studies, and displacement theory. This integrative lens enables a holistic portrayal of the urban displacement phenomenon that surpasses discipline-specific limitations. It also situates the localized case of Pemba within broader global discussions on displacement, migration, and urbanization trends, offering transferable insights for scholars and practitioners worldwide.
Economically, the research reveals how displaced populations’ survival strategies in urban Pemba are shaped by informal labor markets, social remittances, and inter-household exchanges. The precariousness of income opportunities in informal urban settings creates a persistent vulnerability that complicates long-term settlement plans. The study highlights how economic marginalization interlocks with spatial exclusion, reflecting systemic inequalities embedded in urban development patterns.
Furthermore, the research throws light on gendered dimensions of displacement, a factor often overlooked in urban displacement scholarship. Women and girls in Pemba’s displaced communities face unique challenges related to security, healthcare access, and social stigma, which inform their decisions around return and settlement differently than their male counterparts. Tivane’s nuanced approach ensures that these gender-specific dynamics are foregrounded, advocating for intersectional policy frameworks.
The political economy of displacement also features in the analysis, with particular focus on the influences of local elites, humanitarian agencies, and international actors. Displacement governance in Pemba is contested terrain, with resource allocation, representation, and service delivery mediated through multi-scalar power relations. This lenses exposes how displacement management is as much a political process as it is a humanitarian challenge.
Importantly, the research emphasizes the agency of displaced populations themselves, rejecting victim-centric portrayals. Rather than passive recipients of aid or subjects of policy, IDPs in Pemba are depicted as strategic actors navigating complex social, political, and economic landscapes. This reframing is vital for developing participatory approaches that empower displaced communities in urban governance and planning.
Environmental factors also intersect with displacement experiences, as Pemba faces recurring climate-related threats such as cyclones and flooding. These environmental stressors add layers of complexity to urban displacement, influencing both the push factors from rural areas and the vulnerabilities faced within the city. The study integrates environmental analysis to underscore the multifaceted nature of displacement in contemporary urban Africa.
As the research concludes, it advocates for rethinking displacement policies to engage with the realities of urban settings like Pemba. This includes enhancing legal protections, expanding access to services, and fostering inclusive urban planning that accommodates displaced populations as integral members of the city. The study contributes a compelling call to action for governments, NGOs, and international bodies to recalibrate their approaches in line with empirical urban displacement dynamics.
The findings put forth by Tivane resonate beyond Mozambique, serving as a critical reference point for understanding the burgeoning issue of urban displacement amid global migration trends. By foregrounding the lived experiences of displaced individuals and the structural forces that shape their choices, this research lays the groundwork for more responsive, context-sensitive interventions in urban displacement scenarios worldwide.
In capturing the emotional, legal, economic, and spatial dimensions of being “in-between,” this study not only advances academic knowledge but holds tangible implications for improving the lives of millions navigating the uncertainties of displacement in cities. It challenges us to rethink displacement not as a transitory crisis but as an enduring urban phenomenon demanding sustained scholarly and policy engagement.
Subject of Research:
Experiences of urban displaced people in Pemba, Mozambique, focusing on their dilemmas between returning to original homes or staying in the city.
Article Title:
Being in-between “to return or to stay”: exploring the experiences of urban displaced people in Mozambique’s Pemba.
Article References:
Tivane, N. Being in-between “to return or to stay”: exploring the experiences of urban displaced people in Mozambique’s Pemba. Int. j. anthropol. ethnol. 8, 7 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41257-024-00109-3
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41257-024-00109-3
