But in the case of our own kids who were born and raised here, in the Diaspora, it is all a different story. First, most do not even know the name of the country where their parents came from. Secondly, they do not speak our language, rather they are so "akatanized" they will curse you out if you try to think about it. When you encounter these kids, amazingly, they tell you point blank they are Americans. "You've got a dollar, man?" they would ask you. "You saw that game last night, man?" they would ask you, too. They would tell you who would be likely picked in the NBA and NFL Drafts. They know their names by heart.

The irony here is, why these lost kids are asking questions trivial, their parents watch and applaud on the ground that they have kids who belong, the "Yankee way." Nobody teaches these kids about our literature. Nobody tells them where they came from. Nobody cares.

You don't see that in other communities. Take for instance a five year old of the Diasporan Jew, wears a skull cap to the Synagogue every Friday and would remind you as a five year old that "To forget is to proclaim Hitler innocent." So too, is the awareness that since time their people had been persecuted. They learn that from the synagogues. And they have their own day care centers where the Jewish faith and culture is taught.

My question here is, what are we doing about our own kids who do not know their culture, where they came from, the origin of their history and the sad phenomenon that happened to their people as in the Jews? What are their parents telling them? Do their parents care? If not, what should be done?

Well Ummunna, for a starter, a short excursion, as this is what the wise call, two minds, one thought or is it (one thinking)?

It took me over 12 years after meeting my second half to become a father (I have since understood, it is typical Igbo problem). Meanwhile, I learnt never to ask Igbo parents, why their children could not speak Igbo. As a rule, the standard reply, was, wait until you get yours. Actually, my concern was owing to my experience.

When I became a father the first time, the first casualty was my daughter, as I could not recite a single moonlight story. I had to feed her with Danish stories.

Background:

I was born in Kano, and went to the then Ibo Union School, where speaking Igbo was regarded as vernacular, and we were punished. Unlike, the Yoruba dominated Holy Trinity School; hence I never learnt my mother tongue. It helped, when I publicly confessed my shortcomings in the Nigeria World last year, since then reading some of the postings and all of a sudden, I don’t feel left out. Albeit I was vexed at the unset, I now appreciate all you patriots with your Igbo texts.

Luckily, my big brother wrote a book in Danish (The Igbo man), which I read for younger daughter of 7, as a goodnight reading, this opportunity her big sister did not have. But, I have told her at length about the war – and now that she can read English, I showed her my write-up from last year: ‘A rap with my daughter on Happy Survival’. My girls are called Nkechi and Chika.

So Nwanna, we do care. But when it comes to not insisting that they learn our language, the truth is, partly lack of Igbo literatures and partly we are not patriotic. Since many of us have given up Nigeria, it does not make sense to start teaching the children a language they will never use.

After one of my write-ups, here is an extract from a mail I received from an Igbo sister. With that I bid you well in the hope my posting puts some perspective in your quest to resolving the Igbo dilemma.

· The idea about a memorial for the Biafran heroes is excellent. It was not a good experience but it is definitely part of our history.

· I will suggest the Biafran war be taught at schools as part of Nigerian history. American history-- their civil war - all about the war is taught to students in both high school and colleges.

Yes, it is true we have classical cases of ‘ ignorance toward the upbringing of the newer generation of Igbos in the Diaspora’. What I will characterize as, having misunderstood the child upbringing philosophy of the West, for example freedom with responsibility. And that when a child understands his or her mother tongue, the child learns a foreign language faster.

Most of us want our children to speak in the fake oyibo accent without realizing the harm we are causing those children. 80% of Hispanics kids born in the US can speak Spanish, and in essence, relate to their culture and background. How many of our kids can relate to our culture?

I observed a Chinese mother and her 8 year old son in the super market. He apparently wanted some candy and kept asking the mother for the candy in english. She just ignored him. After some time, he asked for the candy in chinese and she finally recognized his presence and bought him the candy.

First of all I must say that I don't have children yet. I am not even married yet. But that will not prevent me from adding my 2cents.

I have seen countless examples from other ethnic groups like the chinese, Indians, Eastern Europeans.

Looking at these groups, the excuse of 2 busy working parents can be eliminated because everybody from this group should have the same problem if that was the case.

Our biggest problem which has been pointed out above is Inferiority Complex!! Some people might not agree with this but I strongly believe this.

The moment we believe and take pride in our culture and heritage, even the children will pursue the knowledge themselves eargerly.

If any of you have had the opportunity to attend a Chinese party, when you get there, not a single word English is spoken. All the children included. When the same children open their mouth to speak English, if you were not looking at them, you will think that they were Caucasians.

You have all been to Biafranigeria parties. The opposite is the case. You will hear pockets of groups speaking in the native vanacular and when you listen amongst the kids, you will only hear them speaking in English. Anytime I see this, I get ashamed. The Damage that the "white man" did to us is indeed great.

I have had the opportunity of doing some studies in the Carribbean. When I got there, people were excited to hear me speak english with an African accent! They will come to me and make me speak in African, the fasination you see on their faces is thrilling!! Even though they did not understand me.

Living with the Carribeans showed me firsthand what happens to a people with their culture and language stripped from them.

We have it, and we are stripping it away from our children.

AS an Igbo, the greatest good you can do to your child in Diaspora is to instill the language and culture which gave us the knowhow, the confidence to survive in the harsh world outside our enclave.

Actualizing Biafra will be a very important key that will begin the emancipation of our mind.

It is time for us to have something to be proud of.