A video showing Kenyans dancing to the popular Ohangla song ‘Nyasembo’ by Odongo Swagg at a barbecue party in Galway, Ireland, has triggered a wave of racism online, with some Europeans calling for the expulsion of African immigrants from the continent.
The undated video captures a lively scene of Kenyans celebrating, interacting, and enjoying music, beer cans in hand, at a seemingly innocuous social gathering.
However, the sight of Africans joyously expressing their culture has sparked outrage among a section of Irish people and Europeans.
For some, this celebration is viewed as an affront to Irish culture and a brazen display of immigrant presence in Europe.
Controversial Irish blogger Michael O’Keefe was one of the first to share the video on his X account, lamenting the changes in rural Ireland.
His post quickly attracted a flood of hateful comments, with many expressing disdain for the Kenyans and immigrants in general. One commenter, going by the handle @SeanWaters, insinuated that the partygoers were living off welfare, while another, Scottish unionist Robbie Twenion, reminisced about a time when Ireland was less diverse, calling the current situation a “travesty.”
The racist sentiments did not stop there. Another commenter, Karen Bibb, expressed anger at what she called “White erasure,” accusing Africans of aggressively asserting themselves in European spaces. Others echoed similar sentiments, with some using derogatory language to describe the Kenyans.
Despite the vitriol, some voices of reason emerged, defending the Kenyans and questioning the double standards of those attacking them.
A Kenyan living in Germany pointed out the irony of Europeans criticizing Africans for living in Europe while ignoring the presence of Europeans in Africa.
