Remittances

As defined by Viviana Zelizer, remittance payments as consisting of:

"Money and other resources acquired by migrants at their destinations and sent back to their home communities as support for persons and activities. Remittances most often go to family members who have stayed behind or returned but sometimes also support more distant connections, such as neighbors, priests and politicians." – Viviana Zelizer¹

Although remittance payments are common in many migrant communities, they are statistically a major source of income for many sub-Saharan African countries. Not only are they a crucial form of finacial support for the home community, but they 'ensure an inter-generational link between migrants and home-place.'²

¹ Zelizer

² Adepoju