No Way Back: Precarity and the dread of ‘Moscovich’ among Congolese migrants in South Africa.

Over the last few decades, South Africa has seen a significant influx of Congolese migrants who have either fled to seek safe sanctuary or greener pastures. However, the dreams of many Congolese in South Africa have been dashed because of the various forms of discrimination, insecurity, and xenophobia that they face upon arrival. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused many to lose their livelihood opportunities, worsening their living conditions. Despite these challenges, the idea of going back home is often not considered an option for fear of being labelled moscovitch. Drawing on extensive fieldwork conducted among Congolese and Somali migrants living in South Africa in 2021, this paper argues that Congolese citizens refrain from returning to their home country for fear of being ‘moscovitchised.’ Inspired by Congolese plays, Moscovitch is a nickname given to a young Congolese who returned from studies in Moscow (Russia) after many years with only books.

Today, the term is commonly employed in popular discourse as a form of social sanction directed at Congolese migrants who return home empty-handed after an unsuccessful migration experience. This sanction frequently extends beyond the individuals themselves to include their families. As migration has failed to yield improved social status, socio-economically disadvantaged Congolese migrants in South Africa often find themselves effectively marooned. Their lives are characterized by a state of liminality: they are unable to achieve meaningful success in the host country, yet they do not seriously contemplate returning to their country of origin for limited prospects as well as concerns related to their children’s education and social adaptation. This condition has significant adverse effects on their mental well-being.