Pánsá Pánsá Podcast

There are two parts to this episode. Please listen to both parts in order to get the essence of the conversation. We wanted to provide extensive conservation on this topic as we cover substantial information that can be useful to our community.

Cultural practice defines how we identify ourselves. The social role placed on individuals and the gender expectation and communication level could be restrictive where specific topics such as sex and gender identity are not discussed. It is difficult to operate in a system where diversity of beliefs is not embraced, individuality is taboo, and growing outside the norm is considered distasteful. How is it possible for children to openly express pain or express innermost thoughts? Or the less powerful members of our society have to conform to social norms, and they do not have a voice to speak out when they are maltreated, sexually abused, and exploited.

In this episode, Baaba and I dialogued with Biodun Abudu, a Nigerian American author, an artist, and an entrepreneur. Mr. Abudu self-published three books, including Tales of My Skin, Stolen Sanity, and Forbidden Scripture. In this episode, Mr. Abudu discusses his publications and his upcoming projects. We further explore sexuality and gender identity in Nigeria and within the African Immigrant community in America. We would talk about the challenges facing those struggling with gender identity and the risk associated with coming out. We discussed Cultural & Religious Values & Conflict with Gender Identity & Secrecy. We talked about how these beliefs increase in sexual abuse of women and sometimes on children. Mr. Abudu provides advice on educating the parents about the LGBTQ+ community and the danger that comes with shying away from uncomfortable conversations such as sex and sexual abuse.

1.  The Center: The Center is the heart and home of NYC’s LGBTQ community, providing programs for health, wellness and community connection.Website www.gaycenter.org

2.  Advocacy and Support Organizations for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Communities (Under Child Welfare and Information Gateway) Have services all over the US. https://www.childwelfare.gov › organizations

3.  PFLAG NYC support group: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People — is the founding chapter of PFLAG, the nation’s foremost family-based organization committed to the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Launched in New York City in 1973 by mothers and fathers who stood up for their gay children, PFLAG NYC started a national movement that now has more than 250,000 members and supporters in over 500 chapters throughout the United States. http://www.pflagnyc.org

4. For Asylum connection for those LGBTQ+ community facing deportation launched

Asylum Connect Catalog as a resource platform for those fleeing persecution due to sexual orientation or gender identity.

www.asylumconnect.org/help-my-client

In this episode, Baaba and I explore what drives African immigrant parents and their children apart. In the African immigrant community, our Parental skills come from experience, and it is based on how we were raised. Still, many of us are unwilling to incorporate new skills since we have relocated into a new world, new era, and understanding that our children face different challenges unfamiliar to parents. 

We touched on the conflict of cultures in the immigrant home, the pressure parents place on kids to conform to narrow definitions of success, and how African parenting skills translate into western society. As a parent and immigrant, we explore my upbringing related to the cultural and religious context I was raised in? What were some of the values I was presented with? What techniques did my parents used on me with regards to like their discipline style, confidence-building style, engagement with your emotional well-being, etc.).

We reflect on how those upbringing could shed light on our parenting skills and our parental style.  We did discuss the differences in morals, values, and ethics between African cultures and American culture? (i.e., respect between elders and youth, ways of disciplining children, children as extensions of parent vs. children as independent persons, communication styles, suppression of emotions vs. encouragement of emotional expressions, the importance of religion, etc.)

How is the African parenting style distinct from the American style? How can African parents blend African and American child-raising styles to build up well-balanced kids who do not struggle so much with their identities? We discuss four parenting styles: Authoritarian Parenting, Authoritative Parenting, Neglectful Parenting, and Permissive Parenting.

In this episode, Baaba and I explore what drives African immigrant parents and their children apart. In the African immigrant community, our Parental skills come from past experience, and it is based on how we were raised. Still, many of us are unwilling to incorporate new skills since we have relocated into a new world, new era, and understanding that our children face different challenges unfamiliar to parents. 

We touched on the conflict of cultures in the immigrant home, the pressure parents place on kids to conform to narrow definitions of success, and how African parenting skills translate into western society. As a parent and immigrant, we explore my upbringing related to the cultural and religious context I was raised in? What were some of the values I was presented with? What techniques did my parents used on me with regards to like their discipline style, confidence-building style, engagement with your emotional well-being, etc.).

We reflect on how those upbringing could shed light on our parenting skills and our parental style.  We did discuss the differences in morals, values, and ethics between African cultures and American culture? (i.e., respect between elders and youth, ways of disciplining children, children as extensions of parent vs. children as independent persons, communication styles, suppression of emotions vs. encouragement of emotional expressions, the importance of religion, etc.)

How is the African parenting style distinct from the American style? How can African parents blend African and American child-raising styles to build up well-balanced kids who do not struggle so much with their identities? We discuss four parenting styles: Authoritarian Parenting, Authoritative Parenting, Neglectful Parenting, and Permissive Parenting.

Welcome to Pansa Pansa Live where we have uncomfortable, unsensensored and inconvenient truth. This is a podcast where we discuss the lives of African immigrants and their assimilation into Western society as they raise younger generations in a country that is quite different from their own. We also explore the experiences of children of immigrants as they balance the African and Western cultures. In this episode, Baaba and I introduce ourselves, we talk about how Pansa Pansa emerged and why these conversations about the African immigrant experience are needed in our community.

This is the introductory voice to all episodes