About Event (In-Person)
Culture and language are important elements of a society. They serve as mechanisms through which people define themselves and from which individuals shape their identity. Many Africans migrate from their motherland to live abroad and in order to successfully navigate American society, it is crucial to assimilate to some degree. However, in the process of settling into their new lives abroad, many immigrants continue to find it challenging to retain their cultural values and to successfully pass on their culture and native language(s) to their children. Given this reality, Africans in the diaspora are in need of practical ways to pass on their culture and language to younger generations.
In this NC Talk, Dr. Taiye will engage in an interactive session where she will focus on providing solutions to address the issues faced by immigrants in relation to the preservation of cultural values and passing on native languages to the younger generations. During this session, participants will learn the following:
The richness of African cultural practices using the culture of the Yoruba people as an example
Benefits of retaining indigenous African cultural values in the Western society
Consequences of the collective African diaspora not actively engaging the next generation in matters related to language, cultural heritage and identity.
Helpful tips for teaching children an African language in the home, using the Yoruba language as an example
Tools and resources to learn or teach an African language