ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND THE HUMANITIES Volume 3, Number 2

Abstract

This study explores the difficulties that the Ethiopian immigrants encounter in their attempts to adapt to the Canadian society during the last twenty years. Although the journey of these immigrants seemed adventurous, the completion of their journey was strained by the collision of despair against optimism. Their rosy settlement ventures were dreadfully marred as their hopes were unexpectedly displaced by anguish and frustration. Prevailing social realities curbed their ability to define their identities and eroded their talent in negotiating power relationships. Settling in Toronto came with certain level of disempowering and unsettled blights generated by social and economic despondency but it also has served forced migrants to temporarily feel relieved. Nevertheless, unemployment and low economic status of Ethiopian immigrants has restricted their freedom and compelled them to regularly drift rather than integrating. Consequently, the migratory blushing scenario with its magnetic power has failed these immigrants at their destinations. The loss of social and unique cultural capital as well as the incompatibility of their human capital with that of the host society has triggered the perpetual frustration of their aspirations. The deferred ambitions have strongly affected their emotional well-being in every nook and cranny of Toronto. However, Ethiopian immigrants were not passive spectators of their own plights but they remained active respondents to situations. Hence, they created mahibers, edirs and ekubs in order to overcome despondencies they encountered year after year.