The British African Entrepreneurial Journey.

In the first book of its kind, Dr Christopher A. Johnson examines the contributions of African settlers to the British economy from 1793 to the present day. The book evidences the true nature of intercultural, intra-ethnic and multi-social features of people of African descent.

Why do you think the book is so important in the current climate?

It’s significance must not be underestimated especially at a time when evidence from post-pandemic reports, highlights growing inequalities across various mainstream provisions for minority communities. The persistent lack of a definitive policy strategy for ethnic or immigrant entrepreneurship is another cause for concern. Extant literature including routine studies on minority ethnic entrepreneurship, is/are bereft of business leaders by clearly stated ethnic affiliation or nationality, more so, their true heritage background. Then, there is limited knowledge of, and understanding on, how to utilise the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) model to categorise ethnic firms by relevant industry sector and business segmentation.

What do you hope to achieve by writing the book? Undoubtedly, this new edifice will have a pervasive effect on national, regional, and national socio-economic policy imperatives. Firstly, it will help change the ethnocentric perception of the African diaspora particularly in the western metropolis. Secondly, it will create a paradigm shift in the way people of African and other ethnic descent, are classified in social group terms. Thirdly, the book can be used as a policy tool to measure the organisation and performance of ethnic firms by industry sector and business segmentation. Fourthly, the book will have a profound impact on the way in which Africans and their ethnic ‘cousins’ are seen in their involvement and participation in business, industry, the professions, sciences, and civic affairs at local, regional, national, and international levels. Fifthly, it will strengthen cultural kinship, economic solidarity, and social cohesion amongst communities, in their understanding, acknowledgement and appreciation of the importance of the ‘ethnic dividend’ to British society as a whole.

Who is the book targeting in terms of an audience and why?

Apart from ethnic and other businesses, the British African Entrepreneurship Journey book is also invaluable for analysts, business counsellors, consultants, educators, employment advisors, economists, enterprise networks, government agencies, policy makers, public institutions, work researchers, students, and work coaches. Others who have an abiding interest in immigrant entrepreneurship and social enterprise, will find this publication very edifying and refreshing.

What challenges did you find while writing the book?

Like most rare publications of this type, there were understandable challenges. Chief among them were, poor information, inaccurate data, lack of a central database for minority firms and under-representation of minority firms in public sector or mainstream decision-making bodies. Other problems were some Africans’ ambivalence towards being interviewed. Some felt their contribution to society was unimportant. Others wondered whether the book would make a difference to their economic and social lives. Except for the solitary Phoenix Newspaper, major mainstream, and ethnic media agencies, were reluctant to publish information on matters pertaining to the book’s publication. During and after the pandemic period, there was little if any, real assistance, and support for minority ethnic firms. Young Africans maximised opportunities offered by the pandemic crisis to start-up micro firms in industry sectors; that is, home-based and technology-driven enterprises.

They’ve been perceived as homogenous or belonging to a single entity/group.

When is the book out? Where can it be purchased? The book was published by Global Entrepreneurial Development Services (GEDS) Ltd July 2022. It can be purchased by ordering at email:baebook@geds.solutionsand also dial mobile telephone: 07891 479 255 or 07787 702 092.