Kojo Nkunim, an influential traveller from Africa, was born and raised in Bomso, a town in Kumasi, Ghana. He relocated to the US in 2010, and he and his wife Michelle have since had two children.
The Nkunims are a multicultural family that deliberately make sure their two girls, Afia, who is two years old, and Andiaso, who is ten months old, are exposed to both of the cultures that make up their distinct identity.
They are constantly exposed to American culture since they live here.
The Nkunims place a high value on their daughters learning about and experiencing their Ghanaian ancestry while also incorporating it into their daily life.
In July 2022, the Nkunims visited Ghana to spend time with relatives in Bomso and get a taste of the local culture.
Kojo Nkunim adds, “Our first stop after arriving in Ghana was to visit my mom in Tepa.” “They were overjoyed to finally see their nana, who they had never met in person before.
Anidaso was only three months old at the time, but my mother and sisters quickly carried Afia on their backs, where she had a blast. She fell in love with her family right away, and I’ve never seen her happier.
Kojo was able to show his girls certain aspects of his early life, such as the house he grew up in and the hospital where he was born.
As a father, these were precious and heartfelt times for him. He truly loved sharing foods from his childhood with them.
The now-viral father gives the following advice to Diaspora parents who want to introduce and expose their kids to their native countries.
Maintain family ties
There are many reasons why parents decide to introduce their young children to their ancestral regions at a young age, and there are many advantages to doing so.
“Since the majority of my family still resides in Ghana, it’s crucial for my children to maintain relationships with them throughout their lives,” Kojo Nkunim emphasizes.
“There is no doubt that we must spend time there because I want children to have meaningful interactions with our complete family, the majority of whom are living abroad.”
Through video conversations and photo sharing, you can keep the relationship going even while you’re at home.
Their distant family members’ features and voices will bring back pleasant recollections of their time spent together as well as pleasant visions of their ancestral home.
Preserve the legacy
“My great uncle was one of the most renowned Ashanti kings, and both lines of my family were born into the Ghanaian monarchy.
Therefore, I consider it important for my children to understand their lineage and something I want them to be proud to know.
Before he passed away, my father was compiling a complete history of our family and petitioning to reclaim some of the land and kingship that are rightfully ours.
I hope that one day, people will be able to walk on that land and understand what our family built there so many years ago.”
Infuse the culture
The Nkunims, who comes from a mixed family, want their daughters to be aware of the beauty of both of their families’ cultures, not only the contemporary American society to which they are regularly exposed.
“There is so much about their history that they cannot learn from books, television shows, or motion pictures. Immersion in the culture is the goal.
Since I didn’t move there until I was an adult, I want them to experience the beauty of their native country,” he says.
“The morals and customs I was raised with served as the basis for who I have become, and the foundation is laid so early in life.”
Kojo Nkunim emphasizes the value of communicating to your children in your local tongue for parents in Western nations.
“In addition to books and some cartoons, we use it in conversation. It’s incredible to hear Afia perform songs that I used to sing as a child.
Another simple way to share culture is through food.
“Our family will dine together from a single platter using our hands. Although some individuals find it difficult to comprehend, it is a personal and cultural experience to share as a family.”
The Nkunims are eager to return to Ghana in May and spend more time there.
