Early Childhood Education of the African Child in the Diaspora--The Missing Link.

"Africans in the Diaspora" refers to peoples of African origin dispersed throughout South America, the Caribbean, and North America as a result of the Atlantic slave trade carried out by European nations from the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries. The paper first provides an historical overview of the Diaspora. It then discusses the "Children's Readers on Africa Series," books that introduce young African American children to their cultural heritage. The Series depicts aspects of African culture through language, folklore, rhymes, songs, games, and proverbs. The Series focuses on Nigeria and its languages, not only because it is the most populous African nation but also because there are perhaps more persons of Nigerian origin in the United States than of any other African nation. The paper briefly discusses the geographical location, history, and culture of the following Nigerian peoples: Efik/Ibibio, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. The Series aims to give the children of Africa and the African Diaspora the beginnings of a collective value system of sharing and working together in harmony and peace. (BT)