Something extraordinary happened recently. I sat down with Ginevra Grasso of Conoscere TV. She is the presenter of an internationally broadcast Italian television channel. Together, we talked about my book, Beyond the Goat Pen: An African Woman’s Journey.
The interview is now live on YouTube. So today, I want to share what we discussed. Because the conversation went far deeper than I expected.
We did not just talk about the book. We also talked about something that keeps me awake at night.
The Crisis Nobody Is Talking About Loudly Enough
Every year, millions of Africans cross borders. They do so in search of better opportunities. They also leave for safer environments and brighter futures. This movement is necessary. It is often courageous. However, it comes at a cost.
Family ties stretch. Sometimes, they break completely.
When a mother leaves her children to work abroad, something shifts. When a father builds a new life in another country, distance grows. When siblings grow up on different continents, silence fills the gap. That silence creates disconnection. And disconnection creates pain.
The ones who feel that pain most deeply are the next generation.
What Gen Z and Gen Alpha Are Telling Us
Gen Z and Gen Alpha are the most connected generation in history. They have the internet, social media, and artificial intelligence. However, connection to the world is not the same as connection to your roots.
These young people are sharp. They are also deeply impatient with anything that feels false. So they will not sit quietly in toxic family environments simply because of blood. They will not endure control or silence in the name of culture. They will not tolerate toxicity — even from family.
This is not a flaw. It is, however, a clear signal to us all.
Therefore, if we want the next generation to stay connected to their heritage, we must give them something worth holding on to. We must offer love. We must also offer peace and safety.
DNA Is Not the Core of Relationships
This is the message I shared on Conoscere TV. I believe it deeply.
DNA does not make a relationship. Blood does not automatically create belonging. A family held together by fear, guilt, or obligation is not truly a family. It is, however, a cage.
The generation behind us will not live in cages. So we must do better.
What creates genuine family bonds is the quality of our connection. It is also the consistency of our love and the safety of our presence. Therefore, to remain connected to our roots, there must be love and peace at the foundation.
Watch the Full Interview
You can now watch the full Conoscere TV interview on YouTube. In it, I share the story behind Beyond the Goat Pen. I also talk about the themes that drove me to write it. Additionally, I share my message to every African family navigating migration, culture, and the next generation.
About the Book
Beyond the Goat Pen: An African Woman’s Journey is available now. I wrote it for every African woman who has ever felt trapped. I also wrote it for mothers in the diaspora who are holding their families together across oceans. Additionally, it is for daughters who are navigating two worlds at once.
So if you have ever had to choose between belonging and becoming — this book is for you.
📖 Order your copy here: https://amzn.eu/d/0efl039c
The Conoscere TV interview reminded me of why I write, why I coach, and why I advocate. Because families matter. Because the next generation deserves better. And because love and peace — not DNA — are the true foundation of everything worth building.
Thank you to Ginevra Grasso and the Conoscere TV team. Thank you also to every reader who continues to share this journey with me.
Latifah Ajetunmobi