BrytaAfrica today, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, released “The Story We Must Not Lose: What African Parents Are Saying About Language, History, and Identity”, a new report that gives voice to concerned many African families carry quietly: that children may grow up knowing the world, but not knowing where they come from.

The report is based on BrytaAfrica's 2026 Cultural Transmission Survey, which gathered responses from Africans on the continent and in the diaspora. The findings show that parents want more than cultural decoration. They want children to inherit language, history, names, stories, values, and a real sense of belonging.

The survey found that 81.4% of respondents believe African language is essential to cultural identity, and 72.6% say it is very important that younger generations speak or understand their African mother tongue. Families also pointed to real barriers, including foreign-language dominance, parents speaking different languages at home, reduced daily use, and schools not giving enough space to African languages.

The concern around history is even stronger. 85.8% of respondents said younger generations are not learning enough about African history and culture. Parents want children to learn a fuller story of Africa - not only slavery, colonization, or struggle, but also African kingdoms, leaders, folktales, philosophies, inventions, and contemporary African excellence.

"Children's Day is not only a time to celebrate children; it is also a time to ask what we are passing on to them," said Rita Abiodun, Co-founder of BrytaAfrica. "African children deserve access to the languages, stories, histories, and cultural knowledge that help them understand who they are, where they come from, and how they belong."

The report calls for simple but deliberate action across homes, schools, media, and technology. It urges families to make African languages and stories part of everyday life, schools to teach African history with depth and dignity, and media and technology builders to create joyful, high-quality African content children can see, hear, and love.

Key findings from the survey

82.3% of respondents currently live in Africa

73.9% are originally from Nigeria

67.3% have children

70.9% say raising children outside Africa creates challenges in maintaining cultural identity

77.1% say cultural values and traditions are among the hardest parts of African identity to preserve in the diaspora

73.9% say stronger family and community engagement would help children stay connected to African culture

Why this report matters

For many African families, culture is not abstract. It is the language a grandparent speaks, the proverb a parent repeats, the meaning behind a child's name, and the story of where a family comes from. The survey shows that many parents fear these connections are becoming harder to pass on.

This is no longer only a diaspora concern. Most respondents live in Africa, yet the pressure is also present in African cities where children are surrounded by English-first schools, foreign media, and digital platforms that rarely center African languages and stories.

"This is not a report about nostalgia," Abiodun added. "It is about the future. If children are going to build confidently in the world, they should not have to do it disconnected from the languages, histories, and wisdom that shaped their people."

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