Ghanaian-Maltese Ahmed Bugri, who has lived on the island for 18 years, is often confused with an illegal immigrant, but he is proud to be Maltese and takes the insults in his stride, even though the labels hurt.

As pastor and coordinator of the Marsa Open Centre, he believes he can be a bridge between Maltese and Africans, even though this can have its consequences.

“The Africans expect too much while the Maltese expect me not to take the African side,” the father of three and law student says.

He explains that Marsa can be a shock for people, but a comfort for others, especially those immigrants who face persecution and seek solace behind the centre’s walls.

“Some immigrants face hostility, not from everybody because there are many Maltese who are generous... but then you have the few who pass by and spray pepper spray in immigrants’ eyes,” he adds.

Mr Bugri is in the unusual position of understanding the psyche of both Maltese and African communities and in an interview with Ariadne Massa he attempts to give a clearer picture of migration in Malta and the cultural differences that can lead to misunderstandings.

He points out that the death of Sudanese immigrant Suleiman Ismail Abubaker in a Paceville brawl brought several issues to the fore and forced migrants and Maltese alike to rethink their stance.

However, he is disappointed that far-right Imperium Europa leader Norman Lowell was allowed to contest the European Parliament election: “I think that was a blow.”

Watch excerpts of the interview above. Read the entire interview in today’s edition of The Sunday Times.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090628/interview/im-black-and-i-am-maltese