What happens to the African tradition of communal child-rearing when families move thousands of kilometres away from home? For many parents raising children in Canada, this question is becoming increasingly relevant.

The familiar saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” carries a different weight when grandparents, relatives and trusted neighbours are no longer close enough to offer everyday support. Beyond navigating childcare and work responsibilities, immigrant parents must also decide which cultural values to preserve, which parenting practices to reconsider and how to help their children find belonging in a different society.

These questions provide a timely backdrop as Nollywood actors and married couple Linda Ejiofor Suleiman and Ibrahim Suleiman bring their Due Parenting Podcast Live to Calgary on October 17, 2026, promising an evening of candid conversations about parenthood, family relationships and the experiences that rarely make it into parenting manuals.

The Couple Behind Due Parenting Podcast

Launched in 2022, the Due Parenting Podcast grew from Linda and Ibrahim’s recognition that although information about pregnancy, childbirth and raising children was widely available, honest discussions about the emotional realities of parenting were harder to find.

Through conversations with guests and fellow parents, the couple have explored topics ranging from fatherhood and motherhood to childhood trauma, postpartum depression, family finances and the pressures of raising children.

Their approach places lived experiences alongside practical knowledge, creating room for parents to discuss their uncertainties without the expectation that every family must have everything figured out.

Raising African Children in Canada: When Two Cultures Meet

For African immigrant families, parenting can involve navigating expectations that extend beyond the household.

A 2025 study published in the Journal of Family Issues, involving 32 African immigrant parents and 14 community leaders in Alberta, identified tensions between African cultural values and Canadian social expectations. Researchers also documented concerns about children’s identity, belonging and the diminishing role of elders in raising children.

These findings raise questions many families may recognize. How can parents maintain respect for elders while encouraging open communication? How do they preserve African languages and traditions when their children are growing up Canadian? And what happens when the extended family support they once relied upon is no longer readily available?

There are no universal answers. African families bring different histories, beliefs and experiences to parenthood, and the process of adapting to a new environment can challenge even long-held assumptions.

The Calgary Conversation Matters Right Now

Although these issues are not all confirmed topics on the Calgary programme, they illustrate why open parenting conversations can resonate beyond a single household.

For parents balancing cultural expectations, employment, marriage and family responsibilities, hearing different perspectives can create opportunities to reconsider familiar practices and build connections with others facing similar challenges.

The upcoming live podcast offers that possibility through storytelling, guest discussions and practical parenting insights.

Organized by Xtertainment Network, Due Parenting Podcast Live in Calgary will bring Linda and Ibrahim’s conversations from the recording studio to an audience of parents, parents-to-be, caregivers and others interested in family wellbeing.

Attendees can expect discussions from both maternal and paternal perspectives, relatable experiences, laughter and opportunities for meaningful connection.

Event Details: Due Parenting Podcast Live in Calgary

For families raising the next generation across cultures, the conversation extends beyond how children should be raised. It also asks what parents can learn, unlearn and carry forward from their own upbringing.

As Due Parenting arrives in Calgary, its message offers a reminder that while parenting experiences differ, no family should have to navigate every challenge alone.