Black Tax' - Why Some Young Africans Want To Stop Sending Money Back Home "Sending money back home or to your extended family is such a common African practice that I absolutely hate," said Kenyan influencer Elsa Majimbo earlier this month in a now-deleted TikTok rant that sparked a furious debate on social media. The 23-year-old, who shot to fame during the covid pandemic with her comedic videos, touched a nerve when it came to discussing with her 1.8 million followers what is known as “black tax”. This is when black Africans who achieve a modicum of success, whether at home or abroad, find themselves having to support less well-off family members. Giving back is seen as an intrinsic part of the African philosophy of ubuntu, which stresses the importance of the family and community, rather than the individual. The question for many is whether this is an unnecessary and unwelcome burden or part of a community obligation to help pull others up. But Ms Majimbo, now based in the US, is pushing back against the practice. In the video she said her father had supported members of the extended family for years and now they were looking to her for help. She turned her anger on one particular unnamed relative. "You’ve been asking my dad for money since before I was born. I was born, I was raised, I grew up, now you’re asking me for money - you lazy [expletive]. I’m not feeding your habits." "It can be straining, it can be frustrating, but we need it... We have to help each other however we can"", Source: Sandra Ajalo, Source description: Ugandan hairstylist, Image: Sandra Ajalo While some have agreed, others have taken issue with her position. It is not clear why the video was removed from TikTok and Ms Majimbo's management team did not respond to a BBC request for comment. But for many, regardless of what they might personally think, it is just not possible to refuse to help relatives because of the sense of community in which they were raised. There can be a sense of pride in helping take care of the family although it can become too much. A former teacher in Zimbabwe in her 50s, who asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC that 30 years ago almost her entire first pay cheque of 380 Zimbabwe dollars went straight to her nine siblings. "After I finished buying [school] uniforms, clothes and groceries, I had $20 left," she told the BBC in a voice that suggested both honour and annoyance. Although this meant she had to buy food on credit, she said that as the eldest child it was expected she would hand over cash the moment she began to start earning. Her salary did not belong to her alone but to her family as well. When she got married, her responsibilities extended even further. At one point, she had to take out a loan to pay her brother-in-law’s tuition fees after she was pickpocketed on her way to deposit a cheque at the bank. It took her two years to pay off. Sandra Ajalo, a 28-year-old hairstylist in Uganda, is grateful for the help that relatives extended to her family when she was growing up. "There needs to be a balance between bearing this financial responsibility and your personal financial health"", Source: Gabe Mutseyekwa, Source description: Zimbabwean living in Germany, Image: Gabe Mutseyekwa Ms Ajalo and her three siblings were raised by a single mother and relatives assisted her with various things, from paying school fees, to groceries and even medical expenses. "It's not a burden, it's a communal helping," she told the BBC. But when she saw Ms Majimbo's video she understood where the social media star was coming from, especially as the Ugandan was now in a position to help other family members. "It can be straining, it can be frustrating, but we need it. No man is an island. We have to help each other however we can." Dr Chipo Dendere, an assistant professor in Africana studies at Wellesley College in the US, argues that the necessity of "black tax" is rooted in colonialism. The system of oppression that concentrated resources in the hands of the colonial power or a tiny minority of settlers made it impossible for the majority to accumulate assets.