This project will map the impact of gentrification on Yoruba diaspora led churches in south-east London. The Nigerian diaspora is the largest migrant diaspora in south-east London and the most common ethnicity of Nigerians in London is Yoruba. The borough of Southwark in south London reportedly contains the highest concentration of African Christians anywhere in the world outside of Africa, and religion is a suitable lens to explore Yoruba diasporic place-making as it plays a key role in people’s daily lives.

Areas of south-east London such as Peckham and Woolwich, which have large numbers of Yoruba diaspora led churches, have seen a rise in popularity leading to urban regeneration and gentrification. Existing scholarship suggests that gentrification leads to ethnic displacement, as gentrifiers tend to be whiter than the communities that are being gentrified. Therefore, this project will adopt an interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from anthropology, religious studies, migration studies, urban studies and African studies to better understand the impact of gentrification on the Yoruba diaspora led churches.

My research will adopt a participatory ‘mapping’ methodology, inviting participants to create/engage with digital and physical maps to reflect upon their daily experiences and discuss features that are important from their points of view, i.e. thoughts/feelings about the local area following gentrification. The intention in using participatory mapping is to invite participant-led communication which gives insight into migrants’ forms of place-making which are often invisible – i.e. not usually represented in urban policy/research – thereby representing alternative perspectives on gentrification.