The leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement, Bro Ldr Mbandaka has condemned what he says are prejudices towards the African family and misconceptions against the African culture.

"One has to consider the kind of prejudices that exist in this society towards the African family and misconceptions about our culture and traditions. There is an idea that African families are very draconian in the way we raise our children. ”

Brother Mbandaka was contributing to a discussion on Voice of Africa Radio in support of Gloria Dwomoh; a Ghanaian woman jailed for 3 years for allegedly “force-feeding” her daughter resulting in her death. He said his first instinct was one of sympathy for the Dwomoh family.

“I want to extend my condolence for the family who is facing a double tragedy and trauma at the moment with the loss of their baby and then the arrest, trial and imprisonment of the mother of the child. The father of the child has confidence in his wife's parenting abilities."

 When asked by the host what was happening in the African community with regards to the issue, Bro Mbandaka replied “There is a presumption that African families are inadequate in raising our children and somehow need the good practice of white English families to help us raise them."

 According to Bro Mbandaka, 'African people are living in a racist society and world where we have to grapple with all kinds of negative prejudices about everything to do with our culture.’

 Africans, he stressed live in a society that seeks to pathologize, demonize, criminalize the African culture and had to be careful how they represented the culture and people in public.

"Our intentions are good but we might be interpreted in a way that spreads confusion. The whole phenomenon of force-feeding, how is it defined in law?"He asked.

The Alkebu-Lan leader cited that there was tremendous childcare activities going on in the African community and that African people are known for being warm, caring and loving in the upbringing of children.

“From the days of slavery to colonialism to now in the present, European families have used African mothers to raise their children. So how can it be that now we do not have the skills to raise our own children? I fear that there is an element of racism about the cultural practices of Africans"

 Bro Mbandaka said one of his biggest concerns was that these things happen in the community because the community was weak and called on the African community to stand behind Gloria.

“We don't even know if this woman is getting proper legal support. We need to make sure as a community that this woman is getting correct legal representation. We need a strong political movement behind this woman."

By Florence Simpson/Voice of Africa Radio/UK