Africans in Cambodia
The Cambodia that my African partner and his friends live in is a very different Cambodia than for me or my western colleagues. They must overcome phenomenal injustices just to survive here each day. This is an extremely difficult topic that I’ve wanted to address for a long time but have found it hard because Cambodia, like most countries in the world, has two sides to it. I’m in the middle of both where I can see the positive attributes to living here as a westerner and the negative as an African.
An African person doesn’t have the same freedom here that westerners do. If I weren’t with my partner, my lifestyle would be very different. I would not experience many, if any, restrictions, I would be financially stable, and I would not keep myself socially exempt from my own culture. I choose to keep myself away from my fellow mankind because it is difficult to explain to most what our lifestyle is really like. I’m hesitant to explain it to people because it changes their perception of who we are. There is pity in their eyes I’d rather not see.
There are two main reasons an African would live in Cambodia: business (either private enterprise or through English education) or football. When in a private enterprise, the majority of Africans understand that to survive in this quasi-law-ignored society they must play the game in the same way. It doesn’t work the same way for footballers. Unfortunately, they are at the mercy of the clubs that sign them, or rather, don’t.
In any other South East Asian country, a footballer is a respected visitor. When they’re signed to a club they’re paid, given the appropriate visa, accommodation and living support, in addition to their football kits and training needs. Life is what you would expect of any FIFA recognised club.
In Cambodia, the opposite applies. If they sign an African, most will not pay adequately, less than $150 per month. There are many clubs that don’t pay at all. Few clubs take care of their players visas or worse, will hold their passports for the duration of the contract telling the player they have a processed visa, only for the player to learn that they’ve overstayed because the club didn’t process anything. In instances like this the individual’s circumstances are dire, with no job, no money and no visa their lifestyle quickly turns to survival mode.
The sadness of this example is that it’s all too common. Immigration do nothing to help the disadvantaged because they’re a part of the revolving door of taking advantage of Africans. From charging them exorbitant fees for common visas to conducting raids on their homes, not to arrest them but to take anything of value from their homes or person in fees. An African is rarely arrested for an overstay, there is no value in this, nor are they deported at the cost of the Cambodian government, if they go to the immigration jail they’ll stay there until they can raise the funds to clear their over-stay and the flight home themselves.
Many blame Africans for their state of affairs because they believe the stereotype that Africans are conniving con-artists who thrive on conducting illegal business. It cannot be denied, that like any citizens from any nation, it is possible for them to conduct themselves illegally here but it should also be clarified that these are the Africans who know who to pay. It is the footballers that get lumped into the same negative stereotype and receive the wrath because they have no means to pay.
Most footballers are brought to South East Asia, and ultimately Cambodia, from Africa under false pretences of grandiose and football fame. It’s fair of them to expect this because they have no means to doubt their managers or agents. They expect a lifestyle reminiscent of European clubs and are sorely mistaken when they arrive here. Their families have raised thousands of dollars to get them out of their country, going home is not an option. To an African, travelling overseas represents to your friends and family that you have made a success for yourself. No African can return home empty handed because their culture depicts that they must share their wealth among those less fortunate at home. This pressure means that when things don’t go well most Africans are reluctant to call home for help. Family and friends would struggle to believe that a country outside of their own is worse. Comparatively, to the average African here, Cambodia is not a better country.
The determined African spirit is resilient in all they must overcome living here. On a daily basis, they are insulted, stared, spat or sneered at by local people. This is the bizarre two worlds that I see all the time and why this is hard for me to talk about. It’s hard to know why there is such a deep-felt hatred in the hearts of some Khmer; to be clear, it’s not from all people, most people stare or talk about them out of curiosity, but those that do hate Africans seem to not be able to give a consistent reason either, it seems fuelled from ignorance than the education-based racism of western countries.
One day my partner went to the market, during the purchase an old woman approached from another stall and without acknowledging him, took his arm and began to rub it fiercely, as though she wanted to remove his skin. The seller translated the old woman, “you’re very dirty, why don’t you wash?” My partner laughed gently thinking the old woman was going senile, “I’m African, this is the normal colour of my skin,” he replied. “Oh,” she said. “You must have a black heart too, you’re a bad man.” My partner’s charming smile dissolved, but he didn’t get angry. He replied calmly before we walked away, “my blood is as red as yours.”
If for no other purpose, I hope that by my highlighting their difficulties you might learn not to stereotype them together and consider each for the beauty they have. They are a victim of a greater problem here; only when the Cambodian Football Federation changes their ways will it be okay for African footballers to live here, in the meantime, may I pray that no more come.
Image Credits: Football (authors own), Khmer Woman.
Thanks for this insightful article which highlights the fact that racism is not just a Western problem. It seems terribly unjust that black Africans are often looked so badly on in Asia when white Europeans, who have exploited and destroyed Asian countries, are treated with more respect. It is certainly due to ignorance but I also think it comes down, like so much in this world, to money. White skinned people are immediately perceived as having access to cash, so they are treated better in the hope that some of that wealth will be spread around, but the general image of Africa is of a poor continent that can safely be looked down on. Respect to those who are struggling to be accepted. At least their presence may change the hearts and minds of those who meet them, and thus pave the way for more understanding in the world.
I am glad that someone can see what others have seen in Cambodia. Who is to bl-aim? Cambodians or the Africans? Tip for thought.
I only wish this message fro this brave lady will change things for Cambodian and a child from African race. Note get closer to an African man or woman that you learn about a great value. I will never forget how I was influence positively by two friends from NIGERIA. These two individual name withheld open my eyes to success of my life and my family and my current business I will never forget them.
Well education and news is a weapon that the fool used against other( I mean fault educations from other people to some other race).
Imagine the so call NGOs. when they employee us Cambodians they pay little to us and they have a bigger take home of several thousands and use us like a slave. My life would have been the same if not those two men that I talked about that thought how to make use of what I have to get what I want….Now I have my own school with over 20 Cambodian teacher and 270 students. It’s high time things change for all people living in Cambodia.
This is my country and I wish I could go to another country and get treated well.
Thida, thank you for your insight and bravery to speak up for things unjust about Cambodia. I am truly glad that you have had a blessed opportunity to meet your Nigerian friends, they really are remarkable and loving, giving and intelligent. Well done to you for opening your own school and standing up for what you believe in. Many schools, like NGOs, pay local Khmer’s disgustingly low salaries compared to the white foreign teachers, and yet, an African could never receive the equivalent salary, even though they too are foreign.
And although you might wish to get treated better in another country, it’s important to remember, the grass is not always greener, instead we should fertilize the soil we stand upon, which sounds like what you’re already doing!
Thank you for commenting, I appreciate your insight.
Of course Lucy, you are right. Money makes the world spin and white skin- the BS symbol of western money- makes it spin faster. Africans have been long stereotyped as poor, famine-starved, war-greedy and corrupt; the horrific circumstances have tarnished all African nations, and unjustly so. People forget that when they look upon another it is a person they see, a person with feelings, thoughts, and needs just as they themselves have.
Lucy, you’re right, Asians have more than a thousand reasons to hate westerners and yet they don’t (at least not in an obvious way like racism- there is resentment- see the above commenter). Westerners, in a weird sub-conscious way, are now over-compensating with enormous numbers of NGO’s. The money more often than not is dirty and misused. Seen a Lexus lately? Enjoying the posh apartment lifestyle much? And yet, this article was to speak up for the footballers who don’t get a fair chance against an equally corrupt football federation. These men are strong, talented and intelligent, and I pray they get heard sooner rather than later because they’re beautiful PEOPLE.
Thank you for commenting, I appreciate your voice here.
[...] proactive and supported me in many other ways. It had a lot to do with never having enough money, the racism and profound corruption we experienced from Cambodians, and the three cultures of Western, African and Cambodian that I was [...]
Its good to know real life of Africans in Cambodia. I have friend Nigerian who lives in Cambodia. I have helped him to survive in Cambodia for immigration and livings for sometimes. But he is not as good as mentioned above people, I think. I have believed him, unfortunately it was my mistake. He took all my hope. But i still have feelings to believe him.
Sorry for writing such bad feelings. But I really need to share it with someone. I want to talk with someone who can advise or listen or help me to know my nigerian friend is bad or good.
Hi Zaya,
I can empathise with your predicament. I’m going to guess that you’re in Africa and sending money to him so I can appreciate how hard it must be for you to believe him, and unfortunately it is impossible for me to know either. Like all countries, and all people, there are good and bad and I cannot ascertain whether your friend is taking you for a ride but what I can be sure of is that things in Cambodia for footballers are not good. In truth, there are horrific sub-standards that the Cambodia government and their football federation allow because they know they can take advantage of Africans who don’t know any better and believe that their own countries are worse than S.E. Asia (which is quite often not the case). I hope you can ask your friend to explain in detail what his experiences are like, send you photos if that is what you need (and he has the means to provide them) and if they match what I’ve said then you know there is trust to be built upon. If you’re not sure and still need someone to chat to you may email me directly: caron@fromwhoatogo.com or check out my other site, specific to African issues: http://www.anafricansqueen.wordpress.com
I hope you find your truth. Blessed be. Caron.
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