Memory Practices of the Afghan and Somali Diasporas in the USA and Italy.

Memory is a crucial resource for people in exile who have to deal with new and often hostile environments, since it keeps their transnational ties alive and shapes their collective identifications.

Memory, however, is today increasingly subject to challenges, rearticulations and negotiations, especially when it refers to individual and collective practices, more and more confronted with global dynamics.

MEMODIAS aims to explore these dynamics through an ethnographic inquire on the memory of conflict, exile and return among Afghan and Somali diasporas in Italy and the USA.

Reflecting my previous mixed experience as researcher and practitioner in the field of migrant memories, my project enhances the implementation of participatory research methods and practices which can facilitate a circularity between the researcher and diaspora members as “co-researchers”.

While exploring the interdiasporic forms of mnemonic solidarity in the transnational space between US and Italy, the project’s scientific and societal impacts will be strictly entangled and interdependent.

MEMODIAS overall theoretical framework draws from Memory and Migration/Diaspora studies, Media, Art and Performance studies, Cultural studies, and Critical Global studies, subjects of my training activities which will include Gender studies. Research methods will be particularly focused on self-narrative practices.

This approach will enhance the capability of participants to become active in policy making processes and to envisage new future possibilities of cohabitation.

MEMODIAS dissemination and communication target scholars (through scientific publications), diasporas members, policy makers, journalists, educators and a broader public (through social media, civic events and an educational toolkit).

Inspired by two brilliant supervisors while working in stimulating research environments in Italy and the US, I will have the chance to broaden my network and build future collaborations.