The Found in Translation Podcast

Found in Translation #4: Chigo


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0:32 Introduction

1:11 Chigo’s story

4:44 The post-colonial seeds of Anti-Black sentiments from Africans

7:33 Potential remedies towards a more positive global representation of Black Americans

8:22 The responsibility of today’s generation of Africans to address toxic aspects of our culture

10:46 Chigo’s identity journey through literature

11:28 No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe

11:45 Half of a Yellow Sun and the Nigerian Biafran War

14:08 Transcendent Kingdom and the disconnect in first-gen familial relationships

15:21 Transcendent Kingdom and religion

15:51 Deep-rooted attachment to Christianity in West African culture

18:55 Christianity as a tool of White Supremacy

20:03 Spirituality as a very personal and individual practice

21:01 The demonization of traditional spiritual practices in African media

23:36 Are we getting closer to a return to authentic African spiritual traditions?

27:45 Spirituality as an organizing tool against white supremacy

30:44 The importance of watering down dense information to make it easier to consume

31:29 “I would frame it as understanding your culture”

33:53 Chigo’s Pan-Africanist journey

35:34 “you can’t destroy the master’s house with the master’s tools“

36:21 “in fortifying Africa you will collapse imperialistic systems“

36:47 Individual vs collective power

37:11 Comfort as a tool of oppression

41:41 Progressive aspects of culture as weapons of comfort

45:45 “What’s the role of the heterosexual community in deconstructing heteronormativity in the US and Africa?”

46:16 The importance of challenging gender roles

50:20 Chauvinism

58:01 self-censoring

1:00:50 The importance of community-building

1:01:27 Chigo’s community garden

1:06:24 “Different cultures in Africa have celebrated and revered queer and trans people in their community”

1:09:54 Identity reclamation/“How do we navigate a return to traditional contexts of African culture?”

1:11:32“Is there anything you’d like to say to people who share the same cultural space as you but are still early in their self-actualization journey?”


Texts Referenced

  • No Longer at Ease by Chinua  Achebe
  • Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Adichie
  • Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
  • A Guide for Organizing Defense against White Supremacist, Patriarchal, and Fascist Violence by Ahjamu Umi
  • The Spirit of Intimacy: Ancient Teachings In The Ways Of Relationships by Sobonfu Somé

  • Authors Referenced

    • Chinua  Achebe
    • Chimamanda Adichie
    • Yaa Gyasi
    • Akwaeke Emezi
    • Ahjamu Umi
    • Sobonfu Somé

    • Found in Translation is a Pan-African documentary interview series exploring the cultural intersectionality of African descendants across the global diaspora. Guests reflect on the layers of their identity and the role of culture in the modern world.

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