Understanding the importance of home-country skills of African immigrant entrepreneurs in South Africa

Objective: The article aims to understand and describe the impact of home-country skills on African immigrant entrepreneurial endeavours in a host country. Furthermore, the article investigates how home-country entrepreneurial skills affect immigrant entrepreneurial motivations, activities, and out...

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Main Authors: Bernard Lama Ngota, Elroy Eugene Smith, Pamella Ayanda Deliwe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cracow University of Economics 2025-06-01
Series:Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eber.uek.krakow.pl/eber/article/view/2569
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author Bernard Lama Ngota
Elroy Eugene Smith
Pamella Ayanda Deliwe
author_facet Bernard Lama Ngota
Elroy Eugene Smith
Pamella Ayanda Deliwe
author_sort Bernard Lama Ngota
collection DOAJ
description Objective: The article aims to understand and describe the impact of home-country skills on African immigrant entrepreneurial endeavours in a host country. Furthermore, the article investigates how home-country entrepreneurial skills affect immigrant entrepreneurial motivations, activities, and outcomes. Research Design & Methods: Following an interpretivist research paradigm, we applied a qualitative research approach. We identified 12 African immigrant entrepreneurs through purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews with the participants. We then analysed the collected data using a content analysis. Findings: We observed that African immigrant entrepreneurs who migrate with skills obtained through owning or being involved in a business, and apprenticeship in their home country, are much more prepared for entrepreneurship in their host country. Furthermore, the findings suggested that African immigrant entrepreneurs associated with a family business gain entrepreneurial skills and are more ready to start up a business venture in their host country. Implications & Recommendations: The study identified a gap in the literature regarding the entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of African immigrant home-country residents in the host country context. The obtained results are useful for immigrant entrepreneurial practice, particularly for immigrants considering going international. Contribution & Value Added: It is the first study in a developing country that investigates the significance of African immigrant home-country skills in motivating entrepreneurship in the host country.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Cracow University of Economics
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series Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review
spelling doaj-art-b2a3fe0ea3af42868c8c0c1759dc214f2025-08-20T02:37:42ZengCracow University of EconomicsEntrepreneurial Business and Economics Review2353-88212025-06-0113210.15678/EBER.2025.130203Understanding the importance of home-country skills of African immigrant entrepreneurs in South AfricaBernard Lama Ngota0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0767-4118Elroy Eugene Smith 1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5567-1627Pamella Ayanda Deliwe2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2897-8030Nelson Mandela UniversityNelson Mandela University Nelson Mandela University Objective: The article aims to understand and describe the impact of home-country skills on African immigrant entrepreneurial endeavours in a host country. Furthermore, the article investigates how home-country entrepreneurial skills affect immigrant entrepreneurial motivations, activities, and outcomes. Research Design & Methods: Following an interpretivist research paradigm, we applied a qualitative research approach. We identified 12 African immigrant entrepreneurs through purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews with the participants. We then analysed the collected data using a content analysis. Findings: We observed that African immigrant entrepreneurs who migrate with skills obtained through owning or being involved in a business, and apprenticeship in their home country, are much more prepared for entrepreneurship in their host country. Furthermore, the findings suggested that African immigrant entrepreneurs associated with a family business gain entrepreneurial skills and are more ready to start up a business venture in their host country. Implications & Recommendations: The study identified a gap in the literature regarding the entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of African immigrant home-country residents in the host country context. The obtained results are useful for immigrant entrepreneurial practice, particularly for immigrants considering going international. Contribution & Value Added: It is the first study in a developing country that investigates the significance of African immigrant home-country skills in motivating entrepreneurship in the host country. https://eber.uek.krakow.pl/eber/article/view/2569African immigrant entrepreneurshipentrepreneurial skillshome countryentrepreneurshipAfrican businessSouth Africa
spellingShingle Bernard Lama Ngota
Elroy Eugene Smith
Pamella Ayanda Deliwe
Understanding the importance of home-country skills of African immigrant entrepreneurs in South Africa
Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review
African immigrant entrepreneurship
entrepreneurial skills
home country
entrepreneurship
African business
South Africa
title Understanding the importance of home-country skills of African immigrant entrepreneurs in South Africa
title_full Understanding the importance of home-country skills of African immigrant entrepreneurs in South Africa
title_fullStr Understanding the importance of home-country skills of African immigrant entrepreneurs in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Understanding the importance of home-country skills of African immigrant entrepreneurs in South Africa
title_short Understanding the importance of home-country skills of African immigrant entrepreneurs in South Africa
title_sort understanding the importance of home country skills of african immigrant entrepreneurs in south africa
topic African immigrant entrepreneurship
entrepreneurial skills
home country
entrepreneurship
African business
South Africa
url https://eber.uek.krakow.pl/eber/article/view/2569
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AT pamellaayandadeliwe understandingtheimportanceofhomecountryskillsofafricanimmigrantentrepreneursinsouthafrica