THE THIRD VOICE ROUND

Moderators

• Austine Umele (MA in Media Studies, MIC)

• Edith Ike-Eboh (MA in Media Studies, MIC)

• Trisha Rainsford (Coordinator of the Irish Bahá’I Office of Public Affairs)

(Note: The round table reports were separately written by all moderators Austine Umele, Edith Ike-Eboh, and Trisha Rainsford, who were facilitating the discussions. The final round table report herein was compiled by Austine Okopi Umele (MAMS, MIC.)

Introduction

This report details the outcomes of three separate round table discussions – breakout sessions - of Africa Day event in MIC to celebrate the theme: “The Way We Left”. The discussions, suggestions and recommendations made herein were a result of an organic and authentic viewpoints by attendees of the conference who were divided to three groups. Each discussion table/group focused on separate issues in an open manner where all attendees had the opportunity to contribute their beliefs and opinions to the discussions.

The discussions extracted from the keynote address which enlightened on what it means to be Africa and African, the challenges and predicaments of the African residents in Ireland. This was followed by an insightful pitching of the Yoruba people and their culture, aptly captured under the sub-theme, “What is in an African Name?” by the Royalty Princess of the Yoruba ethnic group, in Nigeria. The third presentation focused on “Child Rearing – Nigerian and Irish Case Study”, a narration of PhD candidate in MIC on the dilemma and challenges of motherhood as an immigrant mother in Ireland, nurturing, training, and parenting child(ren) in Africa versus being a new resident of Ireland. Finally, “The Way We Arrived” contrasted journeys to Africa and Europe and the need to secure equal opportunities for all on the labour market.

Below is a run-through of the set of theme questions for roundtable discussions which deliberated a multicultural society, understanding of Africa or Africans, notable discriminatory practices, a fair model society, the myriads of challenges and the dilemma that accompany childbearing in Ireland. Find alongside each set of questions, the responses of the attendees/participants, all on the Africa Day Conference:

ROUNDTABLE 1

Moderated by Austine Okopi Umele

Questions:

• “What makes a society multi-cultural? (Cue question - If a name is too difficult to pronounce or write, how can we migrate towards a multi-cultural society)?”

• “Do we want a multicultural society?”

• “How do we want a multi-cultural society?”

Question 1: What makes a society multi-cultural?

Some of the attendees/participants submitted their views as follows:

• “A society is multi-cultural when a diverse group of cultures work together respectfully, compassionately, and in harmony to better the lives of the greater part of all societies’ culture and group”.

• “A diverse society with people of different races, skin colours, and traditions. People aren’t afraid to embrace and show-off their differences, and differences are celebrated, individual cultures are kept, but people take part in locational culture as well (e.g., African Immigrants in Ireland still practicing culture, but still adopts Irish culture as well.) Accommodating language”

• “Living together with multiple groups of people harmoniously without erasing our culture and differences.”

• “Accepting and celebrating all cultures. Everyone brings their culture their culture to society and live amongst each other peacefully.

• “One that embraces differences and acknowledges the equal worthiness of each culture and dignity of each individual. A society that isn’t afraid to open itself to learning/admit of its own ignorance, discard preconceptions.”

• “A society where each culture has the opportunity to live together equally and express their culture. Diversity while retaining your own culture”

• “Multiple different religions, ethnicities, and cultures, living together harmoniously.”

• “Cultural diversity, togetherness.”

• “People showing empathy to each other.”

• “Stores that sell native items and exhibit different customs at strategic locations will allow individuals to be taken back to their culture, people feel at home while still far away from home”

• “open-mindedness, understanding and acceptance.”

• “Mutual respect of different cultures and recognition of differences without judgement. If a name is too difficult to pronounce/write, the first step is learning and pushing yourself to ask questions.”

• “Celebrating and uniting with others of different cultures, respecting others and appreciating different cultures, asking questions, if curious, finding a way to connect, integrating it into your life, wanting your life, wanting to learn, openness, release prior ‘knowledge’. Appreciate other people’s food, dress, language, maintaining differences of personal cultures, but learning more and not be bias.”

Question 2: Do we (you) want a multicultural society?

Some of the participants were very categorical:

• “Yes, I want a multi-cultural society! Diversity equals strength, so, a multicultural society will yield great benefits for all peoples”.

• “Yes! Diversity provides an opportunity for the world to learn about new cultures and experience different ways of life.”

• “Yes, to create a more diverse future and peacefully blended society.”

• “Yes, I do, learning other cultures is so fascinating, without multiculturalism, life would just be boring and stagnant, life is about life-long learning, if we do not learn and embrace other culture, we are falling flat on this goal.

• “People asking how to pronounce names, listening to each other, showing respect to different cultures and recognising the need to consider our increasing diverse society.”

• “We can migrate towards a multicultural by asking questions and exercising different ideas and values. Individuals will be able to sample different viewpoints.”

• “Yes, a multicultural society is necessary to exhibit the idea that no one culture is superior and that everyone has a right to individual belief. As we have seen in the past, forcing cultures on others lead to hardships and resilience.”

• “I would say the intermingling of people of different cultures. If a name is too difficult to pronounce or write, ask people to spell it phonetically and sound it out.”

• “Yes, I believe everyone wants it, but there are always obstacles we sometimes find hard to overcome.”

• “Yes, a society that is aware of the differences within them and works to learn more about the people living in it.”

• “Yes, it makes life more interesting, and allows for a more worldly view and appreciation of others.”

Question 3: How do we want a multi-cultural society?

The participants shared their views as follows

• “I believe a multicultural society is possible through respect, openness, and conversation. By getting rid of any single stories that we may hold about other cultures, we will be able to have an open mind and fully understand the other cultures, without any biases.”

• “Everyone should accept and respect each other. People should be open-minded. People should ‘embrace’ their differences, beliefs, traditions, original cultures should be kept and new cultures should be embraced. Have various cultural places in areas; for instance, China Town and Little Italy in New York City. We are one and should find similarities amongst cultures.”

• “By acknowledging each other’s differences and being open-minded to others, while living together peacefully.”

• “To be able to ask questions and be open to learn about new cultures. To live and respect one another without prior judgements. Not to lose yourself but not be scared away from differences.”

• “Vibrant, equal, immersive, open, harmonious, non-judgemental.”

• “If we do not know how to pronounce someone’s name. I feel he should have no shame in asking how to pronounce it, make the effort to learn.”

• “Learn, find out. Equal citizenship, respect, exchange of ideas and experiences”

• “Food festivals, Food fairs, Fashion fairs, Language.”

• “A society that can bond over cultural similarities and embrace any differences.”

• “To be fair and sharing, while retaining and respecting personal individual differences.”

• “People wanting to immerse themselves in all of the culture.”

• “Making everyone comfortable to share who they are. No judgement or bullying.”

ROUNDTABLE 2

Moderated by Edith Ike-Eboh

Questions:

• “What comes to your mind when someone says Africa or Africans?”

• What discriminatory practices do we see in our society?

• What are the things that make us stand out as a fair model society?

Question 1: What comes to your mind when someone says Africa or Africans?

The following were the views of the participants:

• Africa is a continent made up of many countries with different Languages, Cultural and ethnic groups.

• Africa is synonymous with Poverty.

• When people think of Africa, they think of a place to go and see animals of different species.

• Africa reminds people of the history of slavery, freedom and Independence.

• Africa is a region that needs a lot of donations and charity to survive.

• Africans are happy and hospitable people

• Africans have beautiful cultures, good climate, numerous mineral resources and many good things to contribute to the global community

• To change the negative perception of Africa, the participants were of the opinion that there is the need for the western media to report the good side of Africa other than projecting Africa in the wrong/negative perspective in the global media.

• They suggested that there is an urgent need to broaden the world view of Africa adding that there is a need for more representation of Africa in modules / teaching in MIC as well as integrating them into the system as many Africans are currently studying in the school.

Question 2: What discriminatory practices do we see in our society?

Focusing on the Irish society, participants listed some of these discriminatory practices to include the following:

• Stereotype and negative perception of Africa and African

• Cultural discrimination

• Discrimination in the labour market and workplace

• Lack of respect for one another

• Denial of Job offers due to use of African names.

Question 3: What are the things that make us stand out as a fair model society?

The participants concomitantly agreed that, the following, if practiced, will bring about a fair society:

• Reform of Education system

• Understanding the history of the African Continent

• Tell more good stories about Africa to the younger generation

• Ensure more integration and less separation.

• Stop unfair practices based on stereotypes

ROUNDTABLE 3

Moderated by Trisha Rainsford

Questions:

• What does it mean to rear a child?

• Which child rearing practises do we find that are unique to certain cultures?

• Identity crisis can be destructive, and this starts from the way children are raised. How can African parents prevent this crisis in the way they raise their children?

Question 1: What does it mean to rear a child?

• Love, support, making sure children grow up to be good people. Pass on values like kindness, patience etc. Try to find balance between love and support and still allowing a child to develop as an individual.

• Parents should be good role models and not just speak of their values.

• Parents should demonstrate ‘operationalized’ values.

• Parents learning a lot from their children.

Question 2: Which child rearing practices do we find that are unique to certain cultures

The participants responded thus:

• Cultural differences - every society has its own culture and these are reflected in child rearing practices.

• Differences in approaches to education. Varying degrees of emphasis on education.

• Differences in food. Importance of food in passing on culture to children. This can be difficult if ingredients aren’t readily available. Different cultures have different types of motivational influences.

• Gender differences - in some countries girls are educated to be subservient to boys in a very direct way. In Western countries this subservience of girls and women may not be obvious but still exists at a level, as most Western societies have a patriarchal structure.

Question 3: Identity crisis can be destructive, and this starts from the way children are raised, how can African parents prevent this crisis in the way they raise their children?

The participants of the roundtable discussion suggested the following:

• Language is central to identity.

• One of the participants of this forum being a child of migrants (in France), had the experience of not learning to speak her parents’ first language, and therefore, she could not communicate properly with her grandparents. Many participants of the section seemed to relate with this experience.

• Discussion on the role that can be played by cultural centres in helping children learn about other cultures in their heritage.

• It was unanimously agreed by the group that schools are the most important link in the chain, as ‘identity crisis’ is not a natural thing, it is created by lack of spaces for cultural expression and exchange. Instead of being seen as a problem to be overcome, cultural differences should rather be celebrated and be part of ordinary school life. Examples given on how schools can help include:

• “Trans-languaging” (that is, encouraging children to use all of their language repertoire in school - not just the English language).

• “Celebrations and traditions of all the cultures represented in the school can be acknowledged and shared with the whole school as a matter of course not just as a token”.

• Finally, the participants of the third breakout group unanimously posed a very profound question – “Who owns the country?”, with no easy or clearcut answers being given or figured out.

Summary and Conclusion

Overall, the various submissions by the different attendees represent diverse views and opinions, based on a unifying resolution that for a society to be multicultural, it must embrace, accommodate, and tolerate diverse cultural practices, belief systems, fashion, lifestyles, languages, and everything that represent their identity. Therefore, in their opinions, a multicultural society regards and respects the totality of every human living within its environs, without stereotypical policies, culture or practices that demean a people’s identity or tell some sort of a single story about them. It projects the idea that, for example, the Halloween celebrations across Europe may be identified within Africa’s cultural practices, such as indigenous dances, foods, fashions, literature, arts, and festivals, like, the Nigerian Igbo celebrations of new yam. This highlights the issue of differences and not that of strangeness or alienness, and equally reinforces that those elements that symbolize aspects of African identity should be appreciated. When this is done, there is a greater chance that we can promote a unity and diversity for a better and more inclusive society, which is fairer to all humans, irrespective of background or race or belief or orientation etc. The responses of the attendees pulled together unanimously and bespeak that Africa and Africans deserve to be treated and represented fairly for the betterment of all, and for the Irish society to experience a more holistic growth and development of her polity.