Parenting in migration: the lived experiences of Congolese parents and their young adult children living in South Africa.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how Congolese immigrant parents in South Africa navigate the challenges of raising children in a new cultural and socio-political environment and how their young adult children experience identity, belonging and integration. The study aimed to explore how migration influences parenting practices, the transmission of cultural values and the adaptation strategies employed by both generations. Set within the broader context of intra-African migration, this research responds to a gap in the literature by focusing on the lived experiences of Congolese families in South Africa, where migration dynamics differ from those in Western host countries. This phenomenological study drew on semi-structured interviews with Congolese parents and their young adult children who were either born in South Africa or arrived at a young age. Using Social Identity Theory, Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory and Acculturation Theory as guiding frameworks, the research examined how Congolese parents blend their cultural traditions with South African practices and how both parents and children adapt to a hybrid cultural environment. The findings reveal that parents rely heavily on community-based social networks to maintain cultural ties and transmit values to their children providing resources and a sense of belonging. Participants noted that South African societal norms often compared to American models because of the emphasis on children’s rights created tensions with traditional Congolese parenting expectations. Unlike African immigrants in Western countries the families in this study reported minimal engagement with the welfare system though two institutions, the Department of Home Affairs and schools, were identified as highly influential in shaping integration experiences. Schools emerged as critical spaces where young adults confronted questions of identity and belonging and learned local languages which supported their assimilation. Key challenges included documentation barriers, high unemployment or underemployment and persistent xenophobia, all of which negatively affected parenting. This study contributes to anthropology by offering a detailed account of intra-African migration and highlighting the unique parenting adaptations of Congolese immigrant families in South Africa expanding the literature beyond the prevailing Western and non-Western migration focus.