Arriving in 2013 as a wide-eyed youth, Kash found opportunity, growth, and a home—marked by milestones like citizenship, property ownership, and deep connections. Yet, in 2025, economic uncertainty, a housing crisis, and job market struggles have prompted Kash to leave for new horizons. This personal journey reflects a broader diaspora grappling with a changing West.
Kash’s gratitude is clear: Canada provided a first job, car, relationship, and memories. But the Canada of 2025, they note, isn’t the one they arrived in. Economic challenges have dimmed the promise of opportunity, pushing Kash to pursue bold dreams elsewhere. This isn’t a permanent goodbye, but a “temporary pause” filled with hope and appreciation.
Contrastingly, David Hundeyin’s fiery response to the same post critiques diasporans like Kash for misreading global trends. Hundeyin argues that Africans swapping Canada for Australia or the UK for Saudi Arabia are “geopolitical zombies” ignoring the West’s decline. He points to the global economic shift toward Asia, evidenced by the U.S.-China trade war and Western immigration crackdowns. Hundeyin urges Africans to liquidate Western assets and invest in Africa while their “dollars, pounds, and euros” still hold value, warning that the “amusement park is closing.”
Together, Kash’s reflective farewell and Hundeyin’s sharp analysis highlight a pivotal moment for the African diaspora and stakeholders—business leaders, policymakers, and communities—navigating a world in transition.
The Economic Context: A West in Flux Kash’s concerns are rooted in reality. Canada’s housing crisis has escalated, with average home prices in Toronto and Vancouver surpassing $1 million CAD, outstripping wage growth. Inflation, at 3-4% in 2024, and job market stagnation in sectors like tech have hit immigrants hard, many facing underemployment despite qualifications. These challenges fuel the restlessness Kash articulates.
Hundeyin’s broader critique aligns with global trends. The IMF projects Asia will drive over 50% of global GDP by 2030, while Western nations grapple with aging populations and tightening immigration policies. The UK’s Rwanda deportation plan and U.S. border measures signal a growing anti-immigrant sentiment, complicating diasporan choices.
Africa’s Moment: Hundeyin’s Call to Action Hundeyin’s insistence on returning to Africa is timely. With a projected population of 2.5 billion by 2050, Africa offers a vast consumer market and labor force. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and tech hubs in Nigeria and Kenya present opportunities for diasporans like Kash to leverage their Western-earned skills and capital. But Hundeyin stresses urgency: the window to act is closing as global economic power shifts.
Implications for Stakeholders Business leaders must address talent retention in the West by tackling affordability and job barriers to keep skilled immigrants like Kash. In Africa, enterprises should incentivize returning diasporans, channeling their expertise into local growth.
Policymakers face a dual task: stabilizing Western economies with inclusive immigration policies, and, in Africa, fostering repatriation through better governance and infrastructure. These will determine whether diasporans answer Hundeyin’s call to “put shovels in the ground.”
For diasporans, the choice—stay in the West, move elsewhere, or return to Africa—is personal but globally significant. Kash’s hope and Hundeyin’s urgency underscore the need for strategic foresight.
Conclusion: A Diaspora at a Crossroads Kelly Kash’s farewell to Canada and David Hundeyin’s stark warning frame a defining moment. As the West falters and Asia rises, African diasporans face a choice: chase fading Western dreams or shape Africa’s future. Stakeholders must create conditions for diasporans to thrive, wherever they call home. For Kash, Canada remains a “home away from home,” but Hundeyin’s words echo: the global stage is shifting, and the diaspora must act.
Sources: X posts by Kelly Kash and David Hundeyin; IMF projections; Canadian housing data.
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