PRESERVING AFRICAN FAMILY VALUES IN A DIGITALIZED AND SECULAR SOCIETY: THE EXPERIENCE OF DIASPORA PARENTS
Most Africans worldwide believe that African culture must always be preserved and treasured. Although mindful of the fact that every culture has a common tendency towards stability or change since no society exists in a vacuum, it is apparent that global influences seem to have disrupted and broadly introduced diverse forms of cultural alienation all over the world, Africa inclusive. Consequently, much of African culture’s contents have been distorted, and some lost completely in different spheres of life, particularly the dominant cultural traits distinguishing Africa from the rest of the world1. While African cultures are so diverse that it varies from one culture to another, specific values are deeply ingrained into the whole African culture. Conversely, challenges are identified as hindrances to the practical preservation of these cultural values in a digitalized and secular society, predominantly for migrant parents raising their children in foreign lands. For them and others concerned, it seems necessary to consciously reawaken the African values and have them live out wherever ensuring sustainability.
Keywords: african, diaspora, digitalized, experience, family, parents, preserving, secular, society, values