Cultural Preservation – Connections to the Rural Perspective

Episode Summary: In this episode, hosts Itai Kuwodza and Shawn Smith are joined by guest Chuck Smith for a heartfelt conversation about the importance of cultural preservation within the African Nova Scotian community. They discuss the power of storytelling, the role of family traditions, music, and sports in maintaining cultural identity. The conversation also addresses the challenges and opportunities associated with passing these traditions on to future generations.

Episode Highlights:

• The significance of sharing family stories and oral history
• Farming, resourcefulness, and the tradition of working the land
• The generational influence and evolution of Black music, and its role in shaping community identity.
• The Provincial Black Basketball Association and sports as a pillar of community
• The importance of education and integrating Black history into school curriculums
• The value of honoring unsung community heroes and elders

Credits:

• Hosted by Shawn Smith and Itai Kuwodza
• Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS) as part of the LCCS Forum
• Special thanks to the Black Cultural Center, Black Loyalist Heritage Center, and St. Mary’s University for their support

Notable Quotes:

• “It’s important to share those stories. Sometimes you’re not in spaces that you can share stories, so it’s important that we create these spaces.”
• “Music has been a big part of my life through my dad, my cousins, and my community.”
• “You owe it to future generations, and the ancestors, to keep this going.”

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