(Re)Inventing Oneself: A Rhizomatic Exploration of Bosnian Migration Through Auto/Ethnography

Since its independence from SFR Yugoslavia in 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina has navigated three major waves of mobility: the forced migrations of the early 1990s, the repatriation of the late 1990s to early 2000s, and the onset of voluntary emigration to the West in the 2010s. This continuous flux has pressed Bosnians to perpetually evolve and reconceptualise their identities amidst shifting sociocultural landscapes. However, the existing body of fragmented literature often misses the profound link between these migratory phases and identity transformation. This chapter seeks to fill this void by examining the dynamic reconfiguration of Bosnian identities through these distinct periods of migration. Utilising Deleuze and Guattari’s rhizome as a lens, this study explores the experiences of Nikola Lero, a Bosnian writer, activist, and migrant, employing a blend of auto/biography, auto/ethnography, and poetic inquiry. It investigates the driving forces behind migration and the evolution of migrant, ethnic, national, and regional identities. Through six research-poems, this work uncovers significant shifts in identity perception, unfolding a narrative of emerging nomadism fuelled by unending movement. The chapter introduces a novel theoretical and methodological paradigm to migration studies, offering a fresh perspective on the interplay between self-identity and mobility, underscored by an art-based analytical approach.