Upon her arrival in Derry 14 years ago, the first resident to inquire about Lilian Seenoi-Barr’s homeland was none other than John Hume. Her paths crossed with Hume’s near Sainsbury’s when out shopping. Hume asked her about her origins, to which she responded, “Kenya”. He invited her to consider Derry as her new home. Unaware of Hume’s identity, it was her spouse Paul Barr who informed her about Hume.
Now a 42-year-old woman who had been an advocate for women’s rights in Kenya, Seenoi-Barr fondly reminisces about her journey to becoming the founder of the North West Migrants Forum (NWMF), an anti-racism charity in Derry. She also made history as the first black mayor of Northern Ireland. She attributes her success to this chance encounter, which she describes as a byproduct of destiny aligning in her favour.
She admitted she would have deemed anyone suggesting her eventual ascendency to mayorship upon her arrival on 23rd December 2010 as mad. Having spent 14 years in Derry and being a staunch advocate of social justice and gender rights, particularly for Maasai girls, she boasts a comprehensive understanding of the power of politics and its potential contribution to people.
The significance of becoming a politician, especially in Northern Ireland—a region often marred by divisions labelled as ‘green and orange’—isn’t lost on any immigrant. Having been involved in politics is not just an honour, but an opportunity she gladly embraced in anticipation of a new dawn.
Wherever she takes office as mayor of Derry City, Seenoi-Barr is humbled and appreciative of the opportunity. She recalls this as she prepares to do so at Derry’s Guildhall, home to former SDLP leader’s esteemed peace prizes.
“Hailing from Narok in Kenya’s Rift Valley, Seenoi-Barr, who became Derry’s incoming first citizen and a councillor in 2021, takes pride in her Maasai roots. Part of an expansive 14-member Irish Catholic family, she often jests, “I always tell everyone we’re an Irish Catholic family.” She declares the Maasai are recognised for adhering to their customs, displaying courage, and displaying a spirit of generosity, depicting them as extremely kind-hearted.
On her wrists, she can be seen wearing traditional beaded bracelets, representing both the Kenyan colours and those of her tribe. She believes her culture is a key source of her identity and speaks highly of their positive practices while acknowledging some negative aspects such as polygamy and female genital mutilation. Although she was raised in a monogamous household, she witnessed instances of polygamy among her uncles.
Her parents prioritised her education, a purpose stemming from her mother who herself left school before reaching 10 and married at 16. She was determined to ensure all her children received an education. To this end, Seenoi-Barr was enrolled in a boarding school, where she rarely met any other Maasai girls. As she matured, she started to comprehend that such measures were taken to safeguard her.
She speaks fondly of her experience in the SDLP, claiming it chose her just as Derry did. She recollects instances of warm community interaction even before she began her community work. She shares an instance when walking with her non-verbal yet often vocal son, onlookers expressed a desire to assist rather than reacting with surprise.
During her stroll in the city centre, a stranger asks if she’s the mayor, and he expresses his pleasure at meeting her, despite identifying as a ‘Shinner’. Finally, she speaks of her life in Derry, where she feels fully embraced and content.”
Delving into gender rights activism, she cofounded an organisation alongside her sibling, a project committed to enhancing Maasai education and rescuing unwilling bride prospects. The initiative involved visiting communities, providing education to women, carrying out empowerment programmes, and offering salvation to girls who were adverse to marriage.
Her real footing in activism was laid down by these experiences, which she found incredibly fulfilling—providing a girl with education, securing her a scholarship, and ultimately enabling her to make a difference in her life. However, this line of work came with its own perils. Death threats were cast against her and her autistic child Brian was also targeted as, as per Maasai traditions, disabilities are seen as harbingers of bad luck.
Being a young, single mother and facing threats to her life and her child’s because of his condition, presented her with the toughest decision of her life—ensuring her child’s safety. This pressing need brought her to Ireland, where disabilities are not linked to misfortune or considered as curses, instead, they are viewed as blessings.
An invitation from Changaro Trust, a local charity with volunteers in Kenya led her to Derry, where she started extending help to fresh immigrants and in 2012, she established the NWMF. It started as a casual support group and has now broadened its work with over 125 nationalities. As the director of programmes, she has vocalized concerns regarding the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation system and the “invisible hard Border” for immigrants, which limits routine activities like fuelling up in Donegal. She pointed out how even attending a Girls Aloud concert in Belfast was problematic for people based in Donegal, compelling them to travel to Dublin.
She firmly believes that immigrants would be better off in a united Ireland, and says she would be hard-pressed to find an immigrant who thinks otherwise.
Seenoi-Barr forcefully refutes recent allegations made by Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee. She has asserted that 80 percent of the asylum applicants in the country enter from the Northern region. Seenoi-Barr robustly denies this as untrue, specifically urging the Irish Government for conclusive data. She posits these claims were merely a ploy to divert attention from their own errors and accuses good politicians of echoing far-right narratives.
Conversation also included some ongoing trends such as, the British government’s resolve to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, the new phenomenon of tent cities in Dublin, and targeted assaults on facilities earmarked to accommodate these individuals. The noticeably composed Seenoi-Barr attributes the anger and animosity to ‘profound ignorance’ within societal circles, and points the finger at governments who deliberately stir up migrants issues to distract from their own shortcomings.
Seenoi-Barr, who’s been in the country since 2010, alleges migrants have been politically exploited. She notes that pressing domestic issues like housing, healthcare, and public services crises did not originate with and aren’t worsened by migrants, rather, these enduring issues stem from the government’s lack of investment in crucial public services.
She openly questions the Irish Government’s attraction towards the British stance on immigration, stating this alignment has disillusioned the Irish populace. She confidently declares that lack of funds is not the issue and bemoans the political decision not to utilise the considerable surplus to improve areas like housing, public services, educational programmes, employment, and social benefits.
Seenoi-Barr is equally critical at the silence of those politicians who are ordinarily inclined to reject racism, this silence, she believes, emboldens the loud and divisive voices within the society. She appeals for resistance and a more vocal defense against these narratives, especially since Ireland should not mirror the immigration actions of an altogether different country, the UK.
Remembering her time in Kenya, she reminisces about the nuns visiting her high school, aimed at recruiting nurses for Ireland. She questions the irony of how valuable immigrants are for society yet are sometimes regarded as a problem.
Referring to the 2021 Census, she notes the shifting demographics in Northern Ireland. The data showed 65,600 people, equating to 3.4% of the population, represent ethnic minority groups. While low, this number is steadily rising and has doubled since 2011 and quadrupled since 2001.
The census also revealed that 150,000 residents (6.5%) of Northern Ireland were born outside the UK and Ireland, marking the highest number ever recorded.
Over her 14-year residence, Seenoi-Barr has observed significant changes. From shopping in Belfast and Letterkenny for African goods to getting her son’s hair cut, these necessities can now be fulfilled locally.
The significant demographic shift prompts the need for a major reformation in Northern Ireland’s political structures, to ensure immigrants feel comfortable engaging in political activities.
Seenoi-Barr emphasizes the lack of policies in place to represent underprivileged communities, including immigrants, disabled individuals, women, the youth, and the LGBTQ community.
The 2020 Black Lives Matter protests acted as a critical moment, organised by Seenoi-Barr herself, in Derry. It served as a wake-up call for many to re-evaluate their understanding of racism.
Seenoi-Barr has faced her share of adversities, including death threats and racial harassment, most notably from Alex Jones, an infamous American conspiracy theorist. These threats ensued after she was selected as Northern Ireland’s first black mayor. Despite these obstacles, Seenoi-Barr remains hopeful of Northern Ireland transforming into a multicultural society.
She portrayed the period as “rather distressing” for her close ones and appreciated the incredible support she was given, particularly from her party. She noted that avoiding social media was a key factor in overcoming the challenging times.
She stated, “Never before have I been the recipient of such tremendous support. I received a letter from the Taoiseach, was contacted by the First Minister [Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin] and was invited to meet the King. This all came about due to the desire for progress in Northern Ireland, a development that not everyone can handle.”
Jason Barr and Shauna Cusack, fellow councillors, demonstrated their disapproval of how Seenoi-Barr was chosen, criticising the lack of a voting process among party members. Both chose to leave the party and become independent.
Seenoi-Barr defended the process stating, “The selection method wasn’t my doing, but the party’s. Still, I fully participated.’
Afterwards, the SDLP expressed regret for the poor communication regarding the selection process and acknowledged that it reflected negatively on what should have been a positive event.
Seenoi-Barr aspires for her term as mayor to inspire more immigrants to engage in politics. She intends to demonstrate that success is within reach.
“There’s a need for immigrants in Northern Ireland’s political landscape. We aren’t burdened with political history. Our focus is on addressing pressing everyday issues,” she stated.
In the previous council election, candidates from ethnic minorities were scarce but, according to Seenoi-Barr, they are paving the way.
When out and about, she is often approached by young girls who see themselves in her.
“Young black girls felt encouraged to get involved in politics because they identify with me. Even white girls from the community, inspired by the fact that if Lilian, who was not born here, can do it, then they can too.”
As an avid fan of the popular Channel 4 series, Seenoi-Barr, now known as Derry Girl, has made Derry her home.
Each individual who visits us at the NWMF bureau should view ‘Derry Girls’ on the television we have installed on our top floor as it offers distinct insights concerning Derry. I firmly believe that it’s high time for me, the novel girl from Derry, to be portrayed in ‘Derry Girls’.