The Love Central - Why Gen Z Africans Are Rejecting Their Parents' Love Languages The Love Central - Why Gen Z Africans Are Rejecting Their Parents' Love Languages

Why Gen Z Africans Are Rejecting Their Parents’ Love Languages

The transformation in how Gen Z Africans perceive and express love isn’t about rejecting but about expanding and adapting love languages to fit their world. 
Why Gen Z Africans Are Rejecting Their Parents' Love Languages
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What’s going on? Why are Gen Z Africans seemingly rejecting the age-old ways of showing affection that their parents swear by? 

A 20-year-old Ghanaian student living in Toronto spends hours crafting the perfect Instagram birthday post for her mother, complete with throwback photos and heartfelt captions. 

Meanwhile, her mother wonders why her daughter couldn’t just call to sing the traditional birthday song like they’ve always done back home.

The Love Central - Why Gen Z Africans Are Rejecting Their Parents' Love Languages
Gen Z Africans crave open discussions about feelings mental health and personal struggles Image source Freepik

African Parents’ Love Languages

For most African parents, love languages were shaped by cultural traditions, economic realities, and survival priorities. 

Their expressions of love typically manifest in paying school fees, sending money for upkeep, and investing in children’s education are considered ultimate expressions of parental love. 

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A Kenyan mother working three jobs to fund her children’s education sees this sacrifice as her love letter to them. 

The Zimbabwean father who drives five hours to deliver home-cooked meals to his university student is expressing love through nurturing.

Strict parenting, high academic expectations, and constant career advice are viewed as preparing children for success. The Ugandan father who demands straight A’s does so believing academic excellence equals future security equals love.

Additionally, many African parents, especially those who experienced poverty, show love by buying expensive items – from the latest gadgets to designer clothes – things they never had growing up.

The Gen Z African Revolution

Today’s Gen Z Africans are reimagining love languages in ways that often perplex their parents. They crave open discussions about feelings, mental health, and personal struggles. 

A South African Gen Z might value a parent’s willingness to listen to their anxiety concerns more than receiving money for therapy sessions.

Rather than the traditional family gatherings centered around meals or celebrations, Gen Z Africans seek meaningful one-on-one time. A Cameroonian student might prefer a coffee date with their dad over his expensive gifts.

“I love you,” “I’m proud of you,” and “Your feelings are valid” – phrases rarely heard in traditional African households – are now actively sought by Gen Z

The Moroccan daughter who achieved career success wants to hear her parents say they’re proud, not just receive a new car as congratulations.

Respect for individual choices in career, lifestyle, and relationships is increasingly viewed as an expression of love. 

The Senegalese Gen Z working in creative arts wants parental support for their career choice more than financial backing for a “conventional” profession.

The Love Central - Why Gen Z Africans Are Rejecting Their Parents' Love Languages
Gen Z Africans are not rejecting love theyre evolving it Image source Freepik

Why the Shift?

Gen Z Africans are not rejecting love; they’re evolving it. Several factors contribute:

  • Global Influence: With the internet, they’ve been exposed to a global village of love expressions, blending these with their cultural roots.
  • Cultural Shifts: The push for individual identity and expression in Africa has led to a reevaluation of traditional roles and expressions of love, aligning more with global youth culture.
  • Technology: The omnipresence of digital communication channels has changed how love is expressed and understood, prioritizing immediacy, visibility, and interaction.
  • Mental Health Awareness: There’s a greater focus on mental well-being, where love is seen as supportive, open, and communicative rather than just practical.

In South Africa, a study by Edelman showed that Gen Z Africans are leading social change through digital activism, which includes redefining love languages to be more inclusive and expressive.

Conclusion

The transformation in how Gen Z Africans perceive and express love isn’t about rejecting but about expanding and adapting love languages to fit their world. 

It’s a call for parents and older generations to understand and engage with these new expressions, fostering a bridge of love that spans both the digital and the cultural divide. 

As we move forward, the language of love among Africans worldwide will continue to evolve, reflecting the vibrant, diverse, and interconnected lives of this dynamic generation.

READ: How to Stick to Your Love Resolutions Beyond January

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