Multicultural Marriages and Relationships on the Island

More and more Ålandic people are marrying or having a relationship with people from different cultural backgrounds. This can be easily noticed, where ever you go to within Mariehamn.

When I talk about multi cultural marriage or relationship, I am simply referring to a marriage or relationship between a foreigner and a Finnish citizen. This has become so common nowadays, with the advance in technology and the availability of different flights to different destinations.

Majority of the foreign men and women living on the Island are either married or cohabiting with a Finnish national. At Medis, where many foreign nationals enrol to study Swedish, more than 80% are married or on cohabitation.

The few foreign nationals on the Island, who has not migrated because of love, include the IFK footballers from Africa and the refugees from Kurdistan/Iran. Some of the refugees are also attending Medis, as part of efforts in getting them integrate easily within the Ålandic community. Some of them live with their families and have succeeded in creating their own smaller community on the Island.

I have also noticed that, the other group of people, who has not also migrated because of love, are the foreigners from the new EU states like Lettland, Romania, Lithenia etc. Some of them moved to the Island with their partners. Currently, in Medis there are lot of them also trying to learn Swedish and planning to stay longer on Åland.

In a chat with one of the girls from Lettland, she disclosed that she has no plans of returning to her native country. According to her, she has finally decided to make Åland her final home. Her husband is also from Lettland and they both live together outside Mariehamn.

Majority of the women from Thailand, Philippines and few other Asian countries are married and living with Ålandic men. A good example is Tony Wikström, the proud winner of the Singing Bees Contest on Swedish TV3. His wife is from Asia and currently they have three children. During the Singing Bees Contest, we were all proud of them, especially when the whole family held and displayed the Åland flag for every one to see and expressing how proud they are to be residents of Åland.

Currently, I think there is only one African married and living together with a Finnish national. There are few of us, who were once married and have children on the Island.

The newest mullato baby on Åland, was born on the 7th November 2008 at 02.28am at the Åland Centralsjukhus. Her mum was living in Stockholm and it was there she met a Nigerian and they felt in love. The baby is called Kayleen and lives with her mum in Finström. When asked why she decided to name the baby Kayleen, this was what she said:-

‘Well, when she was in my stomach, I was thinking that she was a boy. I don’t know why - it was just a feeling I had. One day I saw a music video by the Swedish singer, Ken Ring. The song was about his son, whose name was Kelian and he was showed on the video. He was so cute, so I decided I will also name my baby Kelian.
One of my friends didn’t know how to spell the name and so she spelled it as ‘Kayleen.’ Which happens to be a girl name and that’s how I decided to call my daughter Kayleen.’

The young baby’s father is currently in Nigeria. He is expected to join them, very soon. Kayleen is the first child of both her mum and dad.

There are not many mullato kids on Åland. The few I know have moved from the Island and are now living on the mainland. Last summer, I met a mullato boy at the library, I cannot remember his age, but I think he is around 13-15 years old. We had a very interesting conversation and he was very happy meeting me. According to him, his mum is a native of Åland but his father is from Jamaica and they all live in the USA now. The boy is so proud of having the surname, GARVEY and he claims to be a descendant of Marcus Garvey. For the benefit of those who don’t know, Marcus Garvey was a national hero of Jamaica, who wanted all black men in the USA and all other parts of the world to return back to Africa. He is seen as a prophet by the Rastafarians (Bob Marley and others).

In many of these multicultural families, the children grow up speaking both English and Swedish. Most of the Ålandic natives, speak English to their foreign wives/husbands and this offers the children the opportunity to pick up the language so quickly. There are some children, who just don’t want to try English after being exposed to Swedish at the Dagis and primary schools.

‘When ever I speak English to my son, he responds in Swedish. It’s so difficult to get him speak English, although he understands the language.’ A British national on Åland told me. He has been living here for more than ten years and he is one of the successful immigrants on Åland.

There are some children, who are exposed to more than two languages, especially if both of their parents are immigrants on the Island. I have two very young friends of mine, who have parents from Russia and Scotland and therefore they are exposed to English, Russian and Swedish.

Multicultural marriages and relationships are converting Åland into another Island with diverse cultures. This why the Multi Cultural Society is becoming very important and the monthly cultural cafés at Café Bönan is doing a lot in encouraging cultural appreciation on the Island. I have always suggested the need to expand the cultural cafés and targeting a larger audience.