April 4: Calcutta may squirm at the mention of racial prejudice, but Africans living in the city have experiences to share that smack of colour bias as much as the violence targeting black people in Greater Noida or Bangalore.

From club footballers to students, almost every person of African origin to have stayed in the city for some length of time has faced more than just the stray stare, slur or an act of hate. An I-League player has had his car tyres deflated on several occasions in the locality where he resides. Abuse is common and the girlfriend of at least one African has been the victim of shaming.

"The attitude of Calcuttans towards us, especially sportsmen, used to be very nice. But this has changed, and very fast at that," said footballer-turned-agent John Chinedu Nwoke from Nigeria, who lives in Jadavpur with his Bengali wife and their daughter.

Amid global condemnation and Delhi's silence on the attacks, Metro spoke to four Africans about how it is to be black and living in Calcutta.

LUIS NIGI EBAMI, 36

Nigerian footballer who used to play for Chirag United in the premier division of the I-League; resides in Picnic Garden

Luis regularly finds his parked Hyundai Santro with flat tyres; he has no idea who hates him so much. A few months ago, someone had smashed the car's windshield. "I lost my cool that day and demanded to know what the security guard of the garage was doing. I pay a rent of Rs 1,000 for the garage to keep my car safe. I still do not know who was behind it," recounted the footballer, throwing his hands up in desperation.

His sense of belonging has not been affected, though. He is married to a local girl and refers to Calcutta, where he has lived for 10 years, as "my city". But he consciously makes no effort to learn Bengali lest he understand the meanings of the words directed at him by strangers on the streets.

"I took this decision (not to learn the language) early. I had stepped out with one of my footballer friends when some boys said something in Bengali as I passed. I asked my friend and found out that he had called me a monkey. That is when I decided not to learn the language," said Luis, shirtless and sprawled on a bench along the pavement opposite Victoria Memorial after training on the Maidan with some fellow Nigerian footballers.

Luis was part of the Nigerian under-21 team and had played club football in his country and Singapore before coming to Calcutta. He now makes a living playing local tournaments for multiple small clubs.

JAMES GBILEE, 29

Former Shillong Lajong striker from Liberia; resident of Kalikapur

James has faced "a lot of trouble" renting a place to stay in. And it is getting harder, according to him.

"My former landlord in Kalikapur would often raid my house to see what we were doing whenever my friends would visit me. And to think we were all boys. We would generally keep our voices down because we did not want any trouble. Suddenly, he announced one day that no friends could visit me," recalled James, who plays for Arrows FC in the Chennai League but chooses to live in Calcutta.

Bringing a girl home is a strict no-no and anyone who breaks this rule risks being abused, James has learnt the hard way.

Many African footballers and students rent a house together so that they can split the rent. But whenever someone's girlfriend pays a visit, the neighbours are generally nosey.

"They imagine that the girl is a prostitute and was with all three or four boys residing there, which is bizarre," said James.

In Mukundapur, on the city's southern fringe, a Nigerian was allegedly assaulted by some local youths because "girls would visit him often".

"When I first came here five years ago, people were much more welcoming. It is different now. Abuse is hurled whenever we step out, as if provoking us to react," said James, who has played for Kalighat Milan Sangha and Police AC in the past.

KENNEDY AMPONSAH YEBOAH, 28

Ghanaian studying law at Sarsuna Law College; stays in Kalikapur with his wife and sister, both first-year BCom students

At 5ft and 3.5 inches, Kennedy is unlike the average African who stands out with a tall, strong build. But that does not spare him the discrimination, be it while shopping for groceries at Jamuna Market in Kalikapur or taking a rickshaw ride.

"The local rickshaw-pullers demand Rs 20 to 30 or as they please for a ride from the Bypass to my house. The actual fare is Rs 15," he said.

Kennedy's wife Ogomoditse Sehathololo, who is from Botswana, and sister Evelyn Pomea joined him barely four months ago to study BCom at Sarsuna College. Their arrival has made him even more circumspect about the local population.

"We generally travel together and avoid going out at night. I have categorically asked my wife and sister not to argue over Rs 10 or 15 because you never know what that can lead to," Kennedy said.

Many Africans like him admit that they are not comfortable with the idea of bringing their families to Calcutta because of the "general atmosphere".

"From the vegetable vendor to the auto drivers, everyone is out to fleece you. If you protest on occasion, a mob will gather in no time and support the local person. Maybe three times out of 10 there will one Calcuttan who will point out that what is happening is wrong. Then you feel good," smiled Kennedy, who hails from a place in Ghana called Sunyani.

JOHN CHINEDU NWOKE, 35

Former ONGC player in the second division of the I-League; now a football agent residing in Jadavpur

John's Hyundai i20 felt the burden of his ownership when he was recently attending the birthday party of the son of a fellow Nigerian. "I returned to find two tyres deflated. Someone had also made designs on the body of the car using a rod or something like that," he said.

John's car was back to looking "new" after he spent Rs 48,000 on repairs, but the incident left him shaken. He credits his Bengali wife Sukanya with helping him move on.

"She was born and brought up in Calcutta and works in a stock-broking company. She is a strong woman," he said with a smile.

Incidents like his car being vandalised and the assault on a Nigerian in Mukundapur have prompted John and some others to form the Association of Nigerian Citizens in West Bengal, of which he is the president.

The organisation currently has 300-odd members from African countries, a little less than half of them Nigerians.

At meetings of the association, young students and footballers coming to Calcutta are told about the "cultural differences" between India and Africa, which they insist is "more open".

"We primarily ask the youngsters to be in sync with Indian culture as long as they are here and to never get provoked by any incident," John said.

Have you noticed any instance of racial prejudice in Calcutta? Tell ttmetro@abpmail.com