Sicilians are raised to hate our island – but those of us who flee are seen as the enemy | Viola di Grado

Constant invasions, poverty and the shadow of the mafia are driving people to leave for a better life. What is needed to prevent this ‘brain escape’ and create a healthier sense of identity and belonging? When I moved from Italy to London 15 years ago, one of the things I found most baffling was how, in such a gloriously multicultural city, people still tended to form social groups based on where they came from. At first I thought it was something to do with my personality, but the reason became clearer one day when I walked into a coffee shop. As I ordered, I recognised the barista’s Sicilian . . .