麻豆社

Dickens Olewe meets a new generation of black Italians fighting to claim their place in a society that鈥檚 still very white 鈥� among them the rapper Tommy Kuti, whose work explores his Afro-Italian identity, the writer Igiaba Scego, whose parents grew up in one of Italy鈥檚 African colonies, and Michelle Francine Ngonmo, one of the founders of Milan鈥檚 Afro-Fashion week. These young black activists are coming of age in the midst of the migrant crisis and the rise of the political right. Born and bred in Italy, they feel deeply Italian but are not always recognised as such.

Dickens also meets Italy鈥檚 first and only black senator, Tony Iwobi. Born and raised in Nigeria, Senator Iwobi moved to Italy as a young man and carved out a successful career in business. Now he鈥檚 immigration spokespersonfor the right-wing Lega party and wants to stop the illegal flow of migrants coming to Italy from Africa. We follow Iwobi in the Senate in Rome and finds out what it鈥檚 like to be black in a party that鈥檚 widely perceived as racist.

At a festival on the bank of the River Tiber, Dickens meets aspiring politician Paolo Diop from the Far-Right Brothers of Italy. Diop moved to Italy from Senegal as a baby and describes himself as 鈥渁n Italian nationalist and an African nationalist鈥� who wants to 鈥渕ake Africa great鈥� by sending migrants home.

Producer: Helen Grady.

(Image: Afro-Italian rapper and musician Tommy Kuti in Milan. Credit: Helen Grady/麻豆社)