African street-hawkers in Rome?

Question

I read an article about them in Economist magazine 2 weeks ago,

they are all from one country in Africa and all seem to be religious (probably Muslim.....i forgot..)

does anyone know their race or nationality or even the way to get in touch with them ? ?

Answer 1

I believe I was told they're from Senegal.

Answer 2

i don't know where are they from but streets of Rome are full of them.....they sell everything - bags, guide-books, umbrellas etc......and it's quite difficult to get rid of them :)

Answer 3

There may be people from Senegal and Ghana living in Italy, but in my experience while I was living there, the LARGE majority of African people that live in Italy are from Algeria and Tunisia (my friend from the Basilicata confirmed this).  Italy has a growing problem of illegal immigration from a number of countries in the last decade or so.  Bosnian, Serbian, and Alabanian immigrants (along with North African countries) have continued to pour in.

As far as "getting in touch with them", I don't know how to answer that question.  If I asked you "how do I get in touch with the Mexicans living in the United States" would that make any sense?

Answer 4

The majority are from Senegal and many from Ghana. They are illegal and authorities in Italian cities have made some effort to keep them from operating, but it is difficult to enforce, and frankly from what I have seen in Venice the 'vigili' and other law enforcement turn a blind eye to this scourge. I would think the best way to get in touch with them would be to hang out the money transfer businesses or telephone centers where they either wait for day jobs or send the money they make back home.

Legally, the Senegalese or Ghanian embassy in Rome can help you contact them.

Answer 5

And they are quite annoying. They should be illigal.

Answer 6

Italy is multi-cultural now, with immigrants from many African countries. When i was there 8 months ago, there were immigrants from Peru,Albania,and many other lands. The world we live in is getting smaller every day, it's ECONOMICS!!!!

Answer 7

Many of them come from Senegal.

Its usually easy to tell when Senegal’s national soccer team wins something…  

others come from Ghana.

And opposed to some answers above me… I like them!

They are usually quite, modest and friendly.

The streets of Rome are much more colorful when they are around and it’s easy not to get annoyed if you know how to…

(I’ll appreciate a link for the article of the economists BTW)

and yes. many of them are “illegal” and so are the stuff they sell but the producers and suppliers of this illegal stuff comes mostly from Naples… and that area.