Mauritanian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Mauritania lies in north-west Africa, where the Sahara meets the Atlantic Ocean. The ancient towns of Chinguetti and Ouadane, with their libraries of old manuscripts, are recognised by UNESCO. Arabic is the official language. Mauritanians in Britain include students and professionals.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 6,034 people living in the city had been born in Central and Western African countries other than Ghana and Nigeria, a group that includes Mauritania.

Working for Birmingham

Mauritanian students and professionals study and work in fields such as business, Islamic studies, engineering and healthcare. Many are multilingual, speaking Arabic, French and English, and bring those skills to their work and studies.

Birmingham grew rich as the city of a thousand trades, and that spirit of making and doing is still strong. Today the trades sit alongside healthcare, education, finance, law, logistics and technology. The Mauritanian community brings energy to that mix, from people starting small businesses to those caring for patients, teaching in classrooms and keeping homes and workplaces in good repair.

Culture and community life

Mauritania is sometimes called the land of a million poets, and poetry is deeply valued. Tea is served in three glasses, each sweeter than the last, as a sign of hospitality. Eid is the highlight of the year, and couscous and grilled meats are shared at gatherings.

In a city where scores of languages are spoken, the Mauritanian community adds another voice to the conversation. Its members, old and new, are helping to make Birmingham the confident, outward-looking city it wants to be.