The Beauty and Burden of Diversity in Europe

Upfront I want to say that it would be a mistake and a disservice to reality, to declare multiculturalism dead. It is, instead, undergoing a difficult, sometimes painful, evolution. This evolution is pensive. I have lived this tension firsthand. I am a husband raising a family between cultures. I am a father watching my European-born sons navigate identity in spaces that sometimes subtly questioned their belonging. I am a first-time young grandfather now contemplating what Europe my grandson will inherit. He is a beautiful mix of African Nigerian and European Belgian heritage. Will he be capable of entering any room on this continent not as a “token” of diversity? Will he be capable of enter simply as a European, fully at home?

That evidence of the evolution is there if we choose to see it. We see it in our sons and their generation. They do not beg for belonging. But they claim it confidently as their right. The claim is clear in the job interviews they attend, where their skills, not colour, are put in the focus. It is clear in daring to negotiate a pay raise audaciously. This comes after a positive work evaluation. They use a tone that suggests they are happy to leave if not sufficiently appreciated. Younger generations of different colours and creed across Belgium and Europe are more cosmopolitan. They are not chained to narrow definitions of identity. They are growing up bilingual, trilingual, seamlessly blending cultures. Intercultural marriages are steadily increasing. Public life, once overwhelmingly homogenous, is beginning to reflect the diverse societies it serves. The other reality that we must choose to see is that there remains much ground to cover.

When I first arrived in Belgium, wide-eyed and armed with youthful idealism, the word “multiculturalism” seemed like a promise. I saw it as a living testament that people from all walks of life could coexist, contribute, and thrive together. It wasn’t long before I realized a disparity existed. The ideal was spoken about in polished policy documents and political speeches. However, its practice was more complicated and deeply human. The first reality that hit me involved a debate. Should our Ostend City Council do a needs analysis of the living conditions of new migrants? Or should they adopt and adapt one done elsewhere? The debate revealed a divide. Some genuinely want to know the needs of new co-inhabitants. Others didn’t care if a new local integration policy was based on skewed data. They simply want to be seen as having done something required of them by higher authorities.

I am a first-generation Nigerian diaspora. I carried more than just my suitcase. I also carried my culture, my dreams, and my resolve. Over the years, I have watched Belgium, and indeed Europe, wrestle with the beauty and the burden of diversity. The truth is, multiculturalism here is a work in progress. It is messy, imperfect, often frustrating, but, at its core, full of promise.

I experienced this duality firsthand when I joined the Belgian Civil Service in the Municipal Department of Social Welfare. Before my entry, many of those I would eventually call colleagues only knew me from a distance. As a co-social activist, a neighbour, a community member, an “outsider-friend,” if you will. But becoming a colleague was different; a big Black man occupying that professional space was, for many, an unfamiliar sight. It was not hostility in the open sense. Instead, there was a persistent tension that hovered in small gestures. There were also quiet exclusions, subtle intimidation, and awkward silences.

I persevered because I had to. I did it not just for myself as first in the role. I did it for the other migrants who looked up to me. They believed their dreams could find space here too. Slowly, for most, the discomfort gave way to acceptance. But for a tiny minority, it remained unacceptable till the end. Their frozen stares and silent disapproval were daily reminders that the journey towards true multiculturalism is not linear. It is layered with human frailty. Still, I walked the path with my head high. I knew that every small victory widened the road for those who would come after me.

The most defining moment of my public life came when I was elected. I was the first non-Belgian-born person to hold political office in West Flanders. It was historic, yet deeply disorienting for many. It wasn’t overt rejection I faced, but a palpable uncertainty. Many simply didn’t know what to do with me. They were unsure how to place me. They struggled to welcome me into a tradition. Until then, it had seen political leadership through only one cultural lens.

But again, I leaned not on validation, but on my mandate. My mandate is the sacred trust of the people who elected me. People who saw in me not just an outsider, but a partner in their collective future. I navigated the complex terrains of politics. Subtle exclusions often hurt more than explicit ones. These experiences taught me the value of resilience over resentment. It taught me that representation is not just about occupying a seat at the table. It’s about reshaping the table itself. This allows for many more seats to be added for all who are yet to come.

Increasingly, the future of Europe must go beyond multiculturalism, which is the respectful coexistence of distinct communities. It should move toward interculturalism. Here, genuine dialogue, interaction, and mutual transformation become the norm. Mine was Europe of multiculturalism. It was about learning to live side by side. The Europe I dream of for my grandson is that of interculturalism. It should be about daring to live together, hand in hand. Not in fear of losing our distinctiveness, but in the confidence that our shared humanity enriches us all. Stated differently, multiculturalism brought us thus far; interculturalism should take us further. Multiculturalism and interculturalism in Europe are not about achieving perfect harmony. They are about the willingness to keep trying, to keep talking, and to keep building. Together!

My own journey has taught me a few things. Perseverance, compassion, and open-hearted honesty are still the best compasses we have. And with those in hand, I remain an optimist. Not a blind one, but a stubborn one. Even though we have stumbled, I believe in Belgium. I believe Europe and all of us who call it home will find a way ahead. Not just side by side, but hand in hand. When, not if we succeed, multiculturalism will give way for interculturalism. It will no longer be an embattled concept in Belgium and Europe. It will simply be the way things are. That should be the Europe worth fighting for.

These reflections by Collins Nweke came on the heels of #EuropeDay2025. Belgian of Nigerian roots, Collins is former Green Councillor at Ostend City Council Belgium. He is a husband, active father and grandfather who sees himself as a global citizen.