Why African Parents Don’t Believe in Mental Health

24/08/2025 19 min

Listen "Why African Parents Don’t Believe in Mental Health"

Episode Synopsis

Why does it sometimes feel like African parents don’t believe in mental health? In this episode of They Lied About Africa, I unpack the silence many of us grew up with — where “I love you” showed up as a plate of food, therapy was replaced with prayer, and boundaries were seen as disrespect — and trace it back to colonization, immigration, and survival. Together, we’ll explore how ancestral healing practices were erased, why silence became protection, and how reclaiming our voices today is key to building stronger families, communities, and a future for Africa.