“I was embarrassed to use my African name” - BBC Africa

Education in Africa is based on post-colonial curriculums whose content taught little and often skewed African history and culture and its place in the world.
We went to the Children in Freedom School in Kenya to find out how their Afrocentric approach differs from the norm, and how the parents and students have embraced it.
Produced, filmed and edited by Njoroge Muigai
#Afrocentrism #AfrocentricEducation #BBCAfrica
Additional filming by Ashley Ogonda
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Website: www.bbc.com/africa
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[@activistbook3809]

About time. Protect this school at all costs

[@dawnb.1127]

Protect it from what?

[@tawanamufasa291]

@@dawnb.1127 Do u not know China is colonising as we speak. There are schools which already practice madarin along side the native

[@mpalmer7800]

Should be taking some Africans from the West into that school

[@dawnb.1127]

@@tawanamufasa291 what is China colonizing, China is all over the world, they are in Asian countries, they are in countries in europe and the western world, Africa is not the only continent that they are on, so until the entire world start speaking mandarin, then you can talk about colonization.

[@activistbook3809]

@@tawanamufasa291 China is not colonising. Please stop the lies.

[@gidd]

I love this This should be the standard all over the continent

[@MR-xf8xg]

All over the African world. I started my process in the 90s and have been steadily more sane with each passing year.

[@StarLight-sl9ok]

Totally agree, it will take so many years to decolonize the continent but this is such a beautiful start.

[@MR-xf8xg]

Promote it among all those you know and it will be.

[@MR-xf8xg]

@@StarLight-sl9ok yes. Things take as long as take. Please look and see how long it took for europe to colonize africa and see it wasnt that long at all. A single human lifetime. Certsinly we hsve thst tongove to its decolonization too. The difference is this process doesn't use trauma and v!olence so may take twice as long.

[@alphonsebonhomme]

@@MR-xf8xgi

[@minaj7029]

Proud to be an African much love from Kenya 🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪

[@childreninfreedomschoolstv2014]

Thank you

[@Sweetdification]

I'm Born USA Citizen but Glad to be AfiKan from Alkelubelan 🇬🇼🇬🇳🇨🇮

[@deshajames2224]

From the caribbean, this is simply beautiful. I love it.

[@cyrilsneer5957]

You lot need to DE COLONIALIZE AND CHANGE YOUR SLAVE NAMES

[@louisa4218]

"The world is changing, and the education system should not remain the same as before." Very well said, and good for her for not letting others discourage her from sending her children to the school she felt was best for them! It is a huge shame that a child should be made ashamed of their African name in their own native country. I am so happy that these children are able to feel pride in their names, languages, and cultural identity. What a hope for the future!

[@MR-xf8xg]

I AM SO HAPPY TO LIVE TO SEE THIS. THIS WAS DONE FOR ME AS AN ADULT AND I FEEL THE SAME AS THE CHILDREN DESCRIBE. TO HEAR CONTINENTAL AFRICANS CLAIMING THIS IS THRILLING!!!

[@gottimaranzano9409]

I love it, I don't think someone can fail maths and science subjects if you taught in a language that you understand. We don't need to be taught in English. Let English be taught a subject. Chinese, French, Italians ,Japanese you named it teach their kids in their own languages, imagine learning Maths or science subjects in Swahili? That's where the NASA generation will come from..

[@dyawr]

@@gottimaranzano9409 True, they might assimilate better in their mother tongue (the one they use at home, mostly). 🤔

[@gottimaranzano9409]

@@dyawr Well said. If we need to decolonization our minds we have to learn in our mother tongues. We will have more genius kids. Language scholars they have to create all these scientific words , in maths ,physics business and commerce etc In our languages. That's where the secret is.

[@Future88746]

Kenyans never run out of smart ideas. This is incredible!! 💡

[@carolinew.m.5271]

I am happy to witness this major change process. It took me more than 3 decades to finally start loving who I am: my Africanicity. I wear my giant afro with unconditional self-love and self-acceptance. Loving and welcoming this change movement. Asante.

[@dedeag9300]

Yes I can relate . Unfortunately the west and white supremacy works extra hard to make sure we don't love ourselves

[@Sheba_316]

‘How you look is ok, it’s beautiful,it’s acceptable and it’s the norm."

[@MeronMelese-nk1sg]

I love Kenya 💕 much love from Ethiopia 🇪🇹

[@GeneralHensaleey]

Proud to be an African from Somalia 🇸🇴

[@shantalshani2030]

I really appreciate this, every country in Africa should do this. greetings from Netherlands/Uganda

[@FreeDom-ij1gb]

What a beautiful vision!! Africa's restoration is no longer a far away dream. God bless our true educators. Love from Italy. 🇰🇪

[@Natty_kitty]

This school sounds amazing. We need to relearn how to love ourselves and be proud of our heritage. I immediately thought the school uniforms were cool. Congratulations

[@dineshbhat7978]

Come and settle in INDIA, dear AFRICANS.

[@dandamuxima]

We have some schools here in Brazil that are fighting to engage an african based education. We have many african people here living in diaspora. They speak Yoruba language, Kimbundu, Umbundu, etc.

[@IvyProsper]

That's amazing.

[@UAMAK777]

Love it!!!

[@MrOu83]

BATUCADA - If any country needs to promote Afrocentrism among its Black population, it is Brazil. Especially after the “successful campaign to eradicate Blackness and “ Improve The Race” by encouraging interracial sexual, marriage, and otherwise frowning upon being Black.

[@dandamuxima]

@@MrOu83 The enslavement of our african forefathers was the inicial point for all this mess, when the europeans masters raped our mothers. Later, after the falacy of the slavery abolition signed by Princess Isabel, the old Republic created the myth of the "democracy of the three races" (indigenous, africans and europeans) but they only supported these last ones, sponsoring them with farms, money and status. They also brought italians, germans, polish and many others to whitening the population. Black brazilians mindset is changing, despite of these secular problems. Many of us are awaking and being proud of our roots. Actually, just like in the past but now even stronger, we 're getting each day more inspired by our forefathers, we have been living and keeping the ancestral traditions and marrying black people. (Rincon Sapiência: Pretos e Pretas estão se amando (blacks are falling in love with each other) Of course, there's much to change but we're working for this. Ase oo

[@fredadenekan6177]

There is a balance to be struck here, the children and educators should FIND it....African children are not different from children from any other places and should not be thought that they are different because the first five year of one's family life is very important in the innate understanding and Who one is and teachers are not often presence....so when one has past that age and you are telling them of the innate understanding do you now agree that they may have missed it then if they are missing it work lies in family structural understanding in early childhood... Many Africans play to blackness and it limits them and rob them of the understanding of the bigger World they faced. How do incontinent Africams looked at displaced Africans in Americas and in other places they are in? As strength or weakness? I leave you to judge. And Who those children are not only in the name they answered to, neither the apparel they wear nor food they eat....Who is not define by none of these. Do African children need to learn honesty and be honest as in Who they are like the none Africans defined themselves as Who. I believe so.

[@aperson7151]

As someone who went to schools in Nigeria that heavily restricted cultural practices except the biennial culture day of event, I hope this becomes more popular. Tired of seeing African schools that stop children from expressing parts of their culture and even restricting their natural hair texture

[@anaispersephone6041]

This is the future of African education and I'm so here for it.

[@PM-lh8eg]

Aww they're so cute and so proud of the teachers to teach more about their culture xx

[@abel_seti]

This is so so cool and awesome in an ever changing world. Our value,identity and heritage is in our native languages and culture👌🏾 👏🏾 🇰🇪

[@MapaloYuzya_1508]

Woow!! This is amazing much love for Africa I'm a proud Zambian 🇿🇲🇿🇲❤️ a proud African a Mambwe of Mbala Discrict #ProudAfrican #PanAfrican #Africanacity

[@berthekabwe871]

🇿🇲🇿🇲🇿🇲

[@Glo-Ria]

Very good we need more schools like these . Much love ❤️ 🇿🇼

[@MaLiArtworks186]

We need Freedom Schools around the world!

[@harambeegardens8705]

Yours is the best comment! 👌🏾

[@cherylk.2474]

IvoryPearl, I agree so much with your comment. Languages and cultures all over the world are being forgotten and destroyed. These heritage treasures need to be protected and nurtured, once they are lost, they are lost forever.

[@nancyscuisine]

Wow this is beautiful I love their uniform this is really amazing and different.

[@KushQueen9]

This is beautiful and this is what we need to see more of!!! Very proud to be South Sudanese!!!!! Our Motherland is incredible and we have a RICH history!!! Our names are beautiful our native languages and everything in our culture. Let's get these Eurocentric ideologies out of our children's schools once and for all. My name Abei is my grandmothers name and it means God's gift so I'm super proud. I hope to open a school one day as my grandfather was a teacher and very passionate about education. He gave so many the opportunity to be educated and thanks to him, people's lives changed.

[@dineshbhat7978]

Come and settle in INDIA, dear AFRICANS.

[@KushQueen9]

@@dineshbhat7978 India is beautiful but I would rather settle in my motherland Dinesh. The mother of mankind.

[@ShatterlineUpdates]

Love kenya 🇰🇪 so much! Been there for several years For me this country is the pride of Africa

[@danielchukwu4212]

Sounds good to me, and I share the same sentiment that a child should be educated within his or her cultural settings which enables the child to develop intellectually because concepts become more relatable

[@t.wkangethe4814]

I already embrace and love this school💕💕❤️We are Africans and Africa is our beautiful business

[@dineshbhat7978]

Come and settle in INDIA, dear AFRICANS.

[@ritaokigbo1297]

Bob Marley said we need to free ourselves from mental slavery. The couple that started this school should be commended for doing this. Africans should learn about African history before learning about European history. African languages should be taught before they are forgotten. The Chinese still speak either mandarin or Cantonese besides being fluent in English.

[@Sheba_316]

Wow!! "Language is a very important oil in shaping identity." Wish most African parents would understand this.

[@reubenbryant]

I love this. That school sounds absolutely amazing. Giving black children the tools to love who they are is so important. Every child should be taught to embrace and love their heritage, whatever that might be.

[@xl6941]

We needed this growing up. 😫😫

[@silentnight9655]

Never too late.

[@janesabore2965]

This is what we need

[@sollymadeit]

💙 every day must be Africa day We must celebrate Africa in every single day of our lives.

[@harambeegardens8705]

EVERY DAY!!!!!!!!!

[@tarottman3926]

It's amazing I'm so happy African culture is being owned. Be proud for who you are and where you come from no matter who you are. We are all human we are all one. Much love ❤

[@keepitreal335]

Wow am so impressed this program is very useful and it should be used not only in diaspora but in all schools in Africa to decolonize our people bcoz I have realized that mental slavery in Africa is still a big challenge, whoever came up with this brilliant program deserves aa international award

[@angelladavis2250]

Astonishing you have to teach Afrocentric in Africa.

[@keepitreal335]

@@angelladavis2250 oooh yes do you have a problem with that?

[@angelladavis2250]

@@keepitreal335 OH NO, NOT AT ALL. JUST THAT THAT AFROCENTRISM WAS A WAY OF LIFE.

[@DozzeKE]

@@angelladavis2250 the colonizers aren't around but they did an immaculate job. Nobody knows what "Africanism" is any more. But am glad we are slowly reprogramming, starting in my house, teaching my kids about their land and old ways of life.

[@keepitreal335]

@@DozzeKE me too

[@DozzeKE]

@AfricaWorldBooks are doing an amazing job, promoting and fighting for African authors, encouraging parents to let their kids read and learn African culture. This is wonderful

[@UAMAK777]

I absolutely love it!!!!

[@truthpluslove]

Yep its absolutely necessary to review our education system. Well done Kenya.

[@gacherimwiti3857]

Our OWN curriculum!!! Proud African!!proud Kenyan 🇰🇪 !!

[@dineshbhat7978]

Come and settle in INDIA, dear AFRICANS.

[@ukitakesephiroth186]

I love this I think it should apply to A LOT of countries, first learn your culture, your heritage, your language THEN learn about others

[@jeffchurum1431]

Way to go Kenya , this is just awesome.

[@kenfamenterprise7204]

Steps to real independence...next let's learn how to adequately divide,share and use our resources equitably and sustainably...yes we can...

[@harambeegardens8705]

This is key. SHARING. COOPERATION. MUTUALITY.

[@bluebuffy5]

Love the representation 🇳🇬

[@leafgreen2840]

Beautiful During my primary school days and beyond, learning was done in local language and its taught us moral, knowledge and cultural values, unlike the present where everything is done in alien language.

[@ummlili]

This is absolutely beautiful to see. I second the other comments.. we need these schools all around Africa! Love who you are!

[@SEASONINGS22]

this system must be implemented in entire Continentof Africa 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@k.c.5426]

This is wonderful!!😄❤️🖤💚Sending love from your AA sister here in the U.S. 💜💜💜

[@michellemartin2330]

I love this concept! ♥️♥️♥️

[@africananecdotestv]

It's about time we Afrikans remembered ourselves. No longer shall we be ashamed of our names, no longer shall we be ashamed of our skin color or hair texture, no longer shall we be ashamed of our language, our foods, or our traditional medz. No longer shall we be ashamed. It's starts with us! #tujipende

[@esthergichuru4624]

Wooow!this is awesome ❤️

[@aponirayn9099]

Love this!!!!😍😍

[@truthpluslove]

That's what its all about. God bless Africa and all Africa friends

[@childreninfreedomschoolstv2014]

Thank you

[@calebdoe5962]

I remember when we were punished for speaking indigenous Ghanaian languages in school

[@bellaolum9768]

Imagine, such brainwashing!

[@hilarymasaraure3960]

In Zimbabwe kids are still being punished for speaking in our native language. Its English all the way

[@blessed403]

The same thing here in Nigeria 🇳🇬 if you speak your indigenous language there’s amount of money you will pay or punish

[@iyiolaabosede9500]

@@blessed403 nope not in the north part of Nigeria they strictly speak Hausa 🤣I am not even from there the day I spoke English they gave me this African look 👀 and I just shut up my mouth it’s was very difficult to get friends shii everyone over there so connected and traditional

[@jonbanks653]

Way to go!!!!! Great school and very much needed

[@andred7684]

This is so cute, nice and heart-warming.

[@allanbimanywa8712]

Nice, thanks for doing something. Innovative couple

[@grenalien]

Habari & good luck from Canada!!

[@Moko_Bomoi]

Love this !! GREAT respect from Jamaica 🇯🇲 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@reginaldgreene6092]

BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL 🤩

[@calpag]

This school is a good start and I hope this program extends to all of Africa.

[@healthiswealth6480]

BEAUTIFUL!!! I AM SO PROUD THAT THIS IS HAPPENING!!! PLEASE CONTINUE...SIGNED MRS. TOLUWANI❤❤❤

[@Dear_IAV]

This is just beautiful 💌

[@harryspicemavela3915]

Kenya for Africa to the world

[@JBoo]

Africa is more beautiful than I once thought. The food, the culture, the wardrobe etc.

[@yerfillinois8254]

How beautiful would it be if they had an exchange program with African American kids. This is beautiful n kudos to this teachers and school

[@jonathandosu3561]

I love this. Big love from🇬🇭✌🏿❤️

[@perfectpeanut9321]

God bless you abundantly. I'm so happy for what you are doing. Now I hope for our children. Thank you

[@monicanamarome2446]

My mum worked on a similar project in Uganda. She wrote a paper on how children can be taught in mother tongue, however our community still struggles to see the authenticity in this kind of education.

[@TashanEmmett]

THIS IS PERFECT!!!!

[@masimbamafura1675]

Amazing!

[@ericgicheha8795]

So proud

[@bellaolum9768]

This is just awesome! 🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪

[@dineshbhat7978]

Come and settle in INDIA, dear AFRICANS.

[@tanuibarnabas2099]

This is powerful!

[@paulerinle2988]

Africa wake up from your slumber Africa rise up Africa sing your own song Africa build your own society Africa arise from colonial education Africa rise to your destiny greatness.

[@janendegwa5462]

This is nice learning mother tongue let's not lose our language because all our knowledge is in songs if you don't know the language all our songs won't make sence

[@melokulekumalo2225]

This is awesome and so necessary! We should be supporting this type of schooling globally! I was awakened at age 40! I researched my Ancestral Heritage and changed my name legally. I then began to teach myself and my family Swahili. We now have a dual citizenship to Ghana continue to embrace our culture and it's people. Today people find it strange when they do not see me in full Afrikan attire! I feel more grounded and centered. I no longer identity with just a color. Or a eurocentric religion. Kabila langu ni Balanta na Zulu! I am Afrikan (Alkebulani) and I am Proud! I was born in Chicago Illinois USA. Today I live in Taifa Ghana, Africa and Atlanta Georgia, USA. My today is fulfilling, purposeful and most of ALL "Culturally Congruent!" Ubuntu Ma'at Ase'🙏🏿

[@sneakerhead6625]

It’s such a shame that this even has to exist because of mental colonisation and loss of african identity but I really like that this is being taught in schools and not just having to rely on parents to show this at home

[@silentnight9655]

Very interesting and uplifting. Surprised that child was ''embarrassed'' over his African name. On another note, the BBC spent it's entire life spreading stories about Africa and Africans. Now all of a sudden it is fashionable to be ''black conscious''. Okay!

[@ummlili]

good point.. because it gets views -_-

[@silentnight9655]

@@ummlili True.

[@suzlast4518]

Wow great work keep it up well done this is real for future generation

[@immaculatef2198]

Love to see it 🧡🧡🧡

[@Inka_Morrisson]

Kenya is doing things RIGHT ❤ from Côte d'Ivoire

[@thegreatness122]

Absolutely wonderful 🏆

[@kgopotsophasha6556]

Beautiful. Just beautiful 😍

[@harambeegardens8705]

One more time... BEAUTIFUL!

[@mpholegodi3080]

Am so loving this much luv

[@pattyfisher8839]

Am so proud of them. These children are so lucky

[@afiogem]

We need this in Ghana 🇬🇭

[@donaldmwenesi4964]

This is amazing,.

[@bayoroji]

👏👏👏 this is great!

[@nisrilmawoda]

My home land Kenya 🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪

[@dineshbhat7978]

Come and settle in INDIA, dear AFRICANS.

[@17thUnicorn]

Beautiful!!

[@ereibimpepple7177]

Beautiful

[@ltjc4230]

Love this. Wish I could be there.

[@EuniceKwallahEJ]

I am a teacher here in UK and would absolutely love to come and explore your school. I want to hear children speak in their languages, play those old time games "watatawatiriri nyumba itu njega" that would make my hairs stand!

[@--SHEPHERD-OF-MOTHER-EARTH--]

It should... Wakanda Forever!

[@HardCold-Alquan]

Wakanada is fake.

[@k.c.5426]

No. AFRICA forever!! Wakanda is fantasy, Africa real.

[@shaboopie12]

Good on the BBC.

[@lisagriffin8221]

Hope it starts at this school and spreads to the rest of Kenya. We need to go back to our original roots and undo what colonisation did to us. I wish I was taught my mother tongue (Kalenjin) in School

[@PHlophe]

what we should be doing ( my parents did with me anyway and i did with mine ) is stop giving our kids name such as Zara, lisa, Penolope . its corny and it doesn't even sync with the patronym.

[@lisagriffin8221]

@@PHlophe I agree with you (I don't use my real name online if that's what you were assuming of me)

[@kingkevin442]

Never have ever been prouder to be Kenyan. I love my country nd my people so much!! This is the Way to go. By the way this is what Dr Umar Johnson wanted to do in America but his dream died.

[@luketarus2769]

Wonderful video. This enables the kids to have self-identity hence boosting their self-esteem among other things.

[@mentormary5992]

Am proud to be an African. ..I love Africa

[@jamesmaina7004]

This is beautiful and colorful