Elsa Majibo’s comments reignite ‘black tax’ debate

Kenyan influencer Elsa Majimbo sparked a heated debate on social media earlier this month after she made a now-deleted statement on TikTok saying that “sending money back home or extended family is a very common practice among Africans and I hate it with all my heart.”

The 23-year-old, who shot to fame during the coronavirus pandemic with her comedy videos, struck a nerve with her 1.8 million followers as she discussed the so-called “black tax”.

Those black Africans who achieve a degree of success, both at home and abroad, find themselves having to support less affluent family members.

Giving back is seen as an intrinsic part of the African philosophy of “Ubuntu,” which emphasizes the importance of family and community rather than the individual.

The question many people have is whether this is an unnecessary, unwelcome burden or part of a community obligation to help others.

But Ms Majimbo, who currently lives in the United States, is fighting against this practice.

In the video, she said her father had supported extended family members for years and now they were looking to her for help. She directed her anger at an unnamed relative.

“You’ve been asking my dad for money since before I was born. I was born, I grew up, I grew up, and now you’re asking me for money – you lazy (expletive). I’m not going to feed your habit.”

While some agreed with her views, others questioned her stance. It is unclear why the video was removed from TikTok and Ms Majimbo’s management team declined the BBC’s request for comment.

But for many, no matter what they personally feel, it is impossible to refuse to help relatives because they have grown up in the community.

You may feel a sense of pride in helping to care for your family, even if that might be too much.

A former Zimbabwean teacher in her 50s who asked not to be named told the BBC that 30 years ago, almost all of her first pay cheque (380 Zimbabwe dollars) went directly to her nine siblings.

“After buying (school) uniforms, clothes and groceries, I was left with $20,” she told the BBC, with a mixture of honour and exasperation.

Although this meant she had to buy food on credit, she said that as the eldest child in the family, she should be given money as soon as she started earning it.

Her salary is not just for her, but also for her family.

After getting married, her responsibilities grew. Once, she was pickpocketed on her way to the bank to deposit a check and had to borrow money to pay for her brother-in-law’s tuition. It took her two years to pay off the loan.

Sandra Ajalo, a 28-year-old Ugandan hairstylist, is grateful for the help her relatives gave her family while she was growing up.

Ms. Ajalo and her three siblings were raised by a single mother, with relatives providing her with everything from paying school fees to buying groceries and even medical expenses.

“This is not a burden, this is a collective help,” she told the BBC.

But when she saw Ms Majibo’s video, she understood what the social media star was trying to achieve, especially now that the Ugandan is able to help other family members.

“It can be all-consuming and it can be frustrating, but we need it. No man is an island. We have to help each other in any way we can.”

Dr. Chipo Dandre, assistant professor of Africana studies at Wellesley College in the United States, believes that the necessity of the “black tax” is rooted in colonialism.

This system of oppression concentrated resources in the hands of colonial powers or a very small number of settlers, making it impossible for the majority of people to accumulate assets.

Professor Dandre said this had “resulted in many black families losing generational wealth”.

In many cases, rather than being resolved, inequalities have reappeared after independence.

Dr Dandre added that paying the “black tax” often becomes a “never-ending cycle” because the money sent back home often only temporarily fills a hole that will open up again later.

Another factor is that, unlike in richer countries, many African countries cannot afford basic health care, decent pensions or school fees. So these costs are borne only by the wealthiest in the family, Dr. Dandre said.

“The state has no pensions, we are the pensions. Families are stepping in to fulfill the government’s role.”

“We give because of ubuntu. We are forced to take care of each other.”

According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development, in 2023, the total amount of money remitted by African migrants to their home countries was about $95bn (£72bn), almost the size of Kenya’s economy.

For Africans abroad, the pressure can be greater because people have higher expectations because they think Africans abroad make a lot of money.

Gabe Mutseyekwa, 35, a Zimbabwean man who has lived in Germany for more than five years, was adamantly against it and told his family he would stop making monthly payments because it was preventing him from saving for his future.

His family didn’t react well – but eventually they came to terms with it.

“They realized I was lonely and that I needed to accomplish something,” he said.

When he was a student working part-time, he sent about €2,000 ($2,200; £1,700) home for family emergencies.

He told the BBC: “There needs to be a balance between being financially responsible and having an individual’s financial health.”

Many people have noticed that, especially if the person is wealthy, his family will feel that he is entitled to your money.

This particularly angered former Nigerian footballer Mikel John Obi, who was at the Rio Ferdinand hosts the podcast.

“When you come from Africa, when you earn money, it’s not yours. It’s not just yours. You have these relatives, cousins, whatever you want to call them,” he said.

He added that his relatives had given birth to several children and hoped that he could take care of them.

Although not everyone agrees with Elsa Majimbo’s statement, it seems to have touched a nerve, especially among the younger generation.

But Dr Dandre believes that unless Africa can truly develop, “black taxes will always exist”.

Additional reporting by Tony Vinyoh