Translation is an imaginative process that shapes meaning and expands perception.
As values, experiences, and aspirations are shared through cultural and geographical space, new opportunities to understand our present and our future emerge.
As values, experiences, and aspirations are shared through cultural and geographical space, new opportunities to understand our present and our future emerge.
As of 2019, around 2 million immigrants from Africa were living in the United States — a number that has tripled since 2000. African immigrants account for around 30,000 people across the state of Iowa and the city of Cedar Rapids, in particular, is a hotspot for immigration.
Morocco
468 Estimated Population
258 Low – 678 High
468 Estimated Population
258 Low – 678 High
Algeria
206 Estimated Population
45 Low – 367 High
206 Estimated Population
45 Low – 367 High
Senegal
115 Estimated Population
5 Low – 225 High
115 Estimated Population
5 Low – 225 High
Sierra Leone
248 Estimated Population
66 Low – 430 High
248 Estimated Population
66 Low – 430 High
South Africa
842 Estimated Population
591 Low – 1093 High
842 Estimated Population
591 Low – 1093 High
Zimbabwe
113 Estimated Population
4 Low – 222 High
113 Estimated Population
4 Low – 222 High
Tanzania
683 Estimated Population
399 Low – 967 High
683 Estimated Population
399 Low – 967 High
Kenya
1482 Estimated Population
1063 Low – 1901 High
1482 Estimated Population
1063 Low – 1901 High
Somolia
1721 Estimated Population
1378 Low – 2064 High
1721 Estimated Population
1378 Low – 2064 High
Ethiopia
2047 Estimated Population
1600 Low – 2494 High
2047 Estimated Population
1600 Low – 2494 High
Sudan
3784 Estimated Population
3005 Low – 4563 High
3784 Estimated Population
3005 Low – 4563 High
Democratic Republic of Congo
3865 Estimated Population
3007 Low – 4723 High
3865 Estimated Population
3007 Low – 4723 High
Eritrea
1181 Estimated Population
761 Low – 1601 High
1181 Estimated Population
761 Low – 1601 High
Egypt
1086 Estimated Population
692 Low – 1480 High
1086 Estimated Population
692 Low – 1480 High
Congo
1664 Estimated Population
1027 Low – 2301 High
1664 Estimated Population
1027 Low – 2301 High
Nigeria
1152 Estimated Population
772 Low – 1532 High
1152 Estimated Population
772 Low – 1532 High
Togo
953 Estimated Population
658 Low – 1248 High
953 Estimated Population
658 Low – 1248 High
Ghana
782 Estimated Population
426 Low – 1138 High
782 Estimated Population
426 Low – 1138 High
Uganda
179 Estimated Population
105 Low – 253 High
179 Estimated Population
105 Low – 253 High
Cameroon
349 Estimated Population
108 Low – 590 High
349 Estimated Population
108 Low – 590 High
Cote D'Ivoire
458 Estimated Population
173 Low – 743 High
458 Estimated Population
173 Low – 743 High
Liberia
2770 Estimated Population
2080 Low – 3460 High
2770 Estimated Population
2080 Low – 3460 High
Our ISLE storytellers documented families living in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area who emigrated from multiple countries in Africa.
In doing so, the storytellers discovered three key themes: family, faith and farming. From forging connections with religious communities in the area to establishing farming practices to fill a produce gap for African immigrants, these families have played a hand in irrevocably shaping Iowa’s culture.
In doing so, the storytellers discovered three key themes: family, faith and farming. From forging connections with religious communities in the area to establishing farming practices to fill a produce gap for African immigrants, these families have played a hand in irrevocably shaping Iowa’s culture.
FAMILY
A throughline between every narrative our storytellers discovered was family, and that idea became a primary theme across the board in every element within the project. Our subjects told stories about choosing to raise a family in the U.S., leaving their families to immigrate here and building family-oriented businesses.
FARMING
Most of the subjects our storytellers documented had backgrounds in agriculture and farming before coming to the U.S., and some of them chose to continue that work once they immigrated to Cedar Rapids. Through nonprofits like Feed Iowa First and programming from the city of Cedar Rapids, our subjects found land to tend and grow diverse crops.
FAITH
A commonality between our subjects was creating community through religion and faith. Some subjects serve as leaders in their churches, participate in church bands or help run technology for their congregation.
