Diaspora communities

A diaspora is a group of people who do not live in their country or region of origin but who maintain cultural, religious, social or other connections to it.

The term comes from the Greek word meaning 'to scatter' and it was first used to describe the dispersion of Jewish communities in ancient times. The term is now used more widely to describe communities that are living outside their ancestral homeland as a result of migration.

The USA is an example of a country with many diaspora communities, including African American, Mexican American and Irish American communities.

People migrate for different reasons. Some move for economic reasons, such as employment opportunities or different living conditions. Others migrate to escape persecution, discrimination or restrictions on their rights and freedoms. Some people are forced to move due to events such as wars, natural disasters and famines. These are some of the reasons why people migrate.

The first Welsh people arrived in Patagonia on 28 July 1865 on board a ship called Mimosa. They had sailed from Liverpool to Argentina to establish a Welsh-speaking colony called Y Wladfa.

More people followed them especially between 1880-87 and 1904-12. This was mainly because of depression in the Welsh coalfields.

Many Welsh people lived in the Chubut Valley in the Andes. There are towns and villages in Patagonia with Welsh names such as Trelew, Dolavon (Dôl Afon) and Trevelin (Tre Felin).

The Irish diaspora in the USA is one of the largest in the country.

The Great Famine of the 1840s caused mass emigration from Ireland. When the potato crop failed, around one million people died and up to two million people emigrated between 1845 and 1855, with many moving to North America and Great Britain.

Although many Irish Americans today are second or third generation descendants of migrants, many still retain a strong interest in their heritage.

New York City hosts the world’s largest St Patrick’s Day parade, with about two million spectators each year. The Chicago River is also dyed green annually as part of St Patrick's Day celebrations.

Many cities within the UK are home to diaspora communities with origins in countries including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The UK has had links with South Asia since the 17th century, when the British East India Company established trading posts in India. Later, much of the region became part of the British Empire.

India and Pakistan became independent countries in 1947. Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan, became an independent country in 1971, following the separation of East and West Pakistan.

South Asian influences can be seen throughout British culture, including food, music, sport and film. Flims such as East is East and Bend it like Beckham explore the experiences of British South Asian communities.