Growing up in the Camp. Cultural Diversity, Conviviality and Ethnic Identity
The cultural diversity of Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya is remarkable. Refugees from a dozen of countries live there together. This article examines the nature of their coexistence and its effect on the ethnic identity of young Somalis who grew up in the camp. We argue that a culture of conviviality has developed, but that ethnicity still shapes social life. We underline that the experience of the camp influences the belonging of young people and note that the camp can be described as a space of resistance. In doing so, we show that notions drawn from the literature on interethnic cohabitation in cities or on the ethnic identity of immigrants are relevant to understand the experience of refugees in camps.