Exploring Diasporic Information Needs for the “Motherland”

Abstract

Centuries after the infamous slave trade era, there has been an influx of the diaspora to visit the continent of Africa. These nationalities, a lot of whom call the continent the “motherland”, undertake these trips for a variety of reasons, including reconnecting with ancestors. This study explores the information needs of the African American diaspora when travelling to Ghana, and compares their accounts with local Ghanaians. Using qualitative methodology, the findings suggest that for tourists, this lack of information has sometimes led to disappointment as the reality can sometimes be different than expectations. These travelers need accurate information related to food, culture, politics, language, and society. The results of this research are useful to the African American diasporic community, librarians in area studies or at universities where students may embark on trips to Africa, or for public librarians who engage with people interested in diasporic tourism.