Segregation

Adeola Aderounmu

Some parts of Stockholm in Sweden have been experiencing violent demonstrations. It all started from a place called Husby this last weekend.

Young people have been burning down Everything they can lay their Eyes and hands on-cars, schools and other structures.

Burnt cars in Husby, Stockholm (picture from www.thelocal.se)

Burnt cars in Husby, Stockholm (picture from http://www.thelocal.se)

It is unclear what has triggered these violent demonstrations which have spread to other places like Flemingsberg, Norsborg, Jakobsberg and Rinkeby.

It may not be unconnected to the killing of a 69-year old man recently in Husby. The man was armed with what appears to be a knife or a matchet and had a hostage when he was killed by gun shots from the police.

A friend of mine posted a facebook stating that when he lived in Husby he saw neglect in the area. He stated poor living conditions and low standard of education in Husby.

According to him he said he knew that Husby was waiting to boil for a long time now and that whatever triggered the riots was not the real issue but that the government has turned its Eyes away for too long from the area.

I will update this page when I know more…or not..

Cars on fire in Husby, Stockholm (picture from www.thelocal.se)

Cars on fire in Husby, Stockholm (picture from http://www.thelocal.se)

Personally I’d wished the problem was nipped in the bud. Stockholm is beautiful city and there are better ways to address the problems than schools and cars being burnt down.

All images are from http://www.thelocal.se

The most stupid question in the world

By Adeola Aderounmu

Just recently at 2 separate places two people spoke about the question that irritated them the most when talking to people in Sweden.

These two people will probably never meet or have reasons to meet unless I bring them together. I know them from different places and by chance occurrences.

One of them a young woman who has lived in Sweden since she was 2 and who recently returned to Sweden after living abroad for more than 10 years.

The other person is a professor who has lived in Sweden for more than 30 years.

As far as they are concerned the most stupid question in the world is when someone ask you “where are you from”?
This question is arguably the most common question in Sweden. Somehow if you are not careful you will be asking people that question too, unconsciously. This is because you have had to answer this question a million times as an immigrant settled in Sweden.

The argument is that when you live in the United States, it is hard to be asked such a question. Even in Abu Dhabi, you will likely not have to answer that question at all. But in Sweden, be prepared, it is coming again.
There are some children and some parents who have spent their entire life in Sweden, yet they are asked daily by acquaintances and strangers-where are you from?

Some children go home and tell their parents-that they answered-I am from Uganda and Nigeria. Or I am from Sweden and Gambia. But their parents want them to answer like this-I am from Sweden, I was born here.

It is sad actually that no matter your heritage, no matter how long you’ve lived in Sweden and no matter if you are born in Sweden the most common question and of course the most stupid question in the world remains-where are you from?