In preparing to share my perspective on the proverbial “village”, I wanted to confirm my understanding and investigate the origins of phrase. Where does it come from? What meaning or meanings did the originator intend to impart?

My search for its specific origins beyond “African proverb” was unfortunately unsuccessful. Lost to time, or more likely a result of my illiteracy in the languages of the peoples far too often grouped only at the continental level — Africa.

However, my search did thankfully arrive at a notable quotable that I believe will resonate with many of us that were raised here:

“Proverb or not, ‘It takes a whole village to raise a child’ reflects a social reality some of us who grew up in rural areas of Africa can easily relate to. As a child, my conduct was a concern of everybody, not just my parents, especially if it involved misconduct. Any adult had the right to rebuke and discipline me, and would make my mischief known to my parents who in turn would also mete their own ‘punishment’. The concern of course was the moral wellbeing of the community.”— Lawrence Mbogoni (African Studies professor)

This approach to collective parenting was common in my youth and, I believe, at odds with the capitalist concept of the “nuclear family”. Even as we as a nation have accelerated our embrace of American capitalism’s rugged individualism and obsession with economic growth, our collectivist approach to preparing our future generations must persist, and in many cases, thankfully, still does today.

In my observation, encouragement and positive reinforcement are greater long-term influences on behaviour than punishment, and as such, I would like to shift the focus from Mbogoni’s on to the benefits my family have and continue to experience through belonging to our own villages. Constituted not only by familial relations, but also our chosen family — those of social happenstance. Both groups assist in their overlapping and distinctive ways with the myriad of roles and responsibilities required to develop well-balanced humans.

There is, of course, the tangible: transportation assistance, attending the various school activities such as grandparents’ day, and providing mom and dad with much appreciated moments of reprieve from parenting — eg, date night. But even more importantly, the village can fill equally valuable roles to both us and the children: friend, cheerleader, commiseration and confidant.

Where it’s healthy to do so — because some villagers are toxic — we should all endeavour to expand these villages of ours to encompass all of us working together towards a better tomorrow.