Peter Mbago Wakholi

African Cultural Education and the African Youth in Western Australia: Experimenting with the Ujamaa Circle Peter Mbago Wakholi

This book examines cultural identity issues that concern a specific group of African migrant youth. As a minority group in a predominantly Eurocentric society they are faced with cultural challenges that influence their being: Racism and the pressure to assimilate into the dominant culture being the key ones. The development of ideas for this book was based on dialogical approach developed by Dr. Akinyela, known as, the Afrikan-Centered Cultural Democracy, which proposes that African people must construct a 'new'African identity and must begin to perceive and inteprete-the world in its entirety from an African psychological, spiritual, and cultural frame of reference. Through the Ujamaa Circle process the youth participants along with the facilitator(author) examined challenges to their cultural identities and alternative liberatory options. They were also of the opinion that there should be an ongoing African cultural education program to facilitate cultural re-evaluation and continuity. This book will be of benefit to Educators, Youth Workers, Artists and Counselors working with young people of African descent. The book will be of benefit to African parents as well.