Tongues of the Diaspora: Creole as a Bridge to Belonging
In a world where language is often commodified and measured by its economic utility, Creole stands defiantly as a language of resistance, cultural wealth, and ancestral connection. For sisters Indira and Kimhia Toussaint—educators, creatives, and founders of Twossaints, a platform dedicated to Creole culture and language—Creole is more than just a mode of communication. It’s a vessel of memory, pride, and resistance that ties individuals across the African diaspora to their roots and to each other.
Language as Legacy
Born in Saint Lucia and later raised in London, the Toussaint sisters grew up straddling two worlds. But thanks to their mother’s fierce dedication to preserving their heritage, they never lost their connection to home. “There was a point where our mom banned us from speaking English in the house,” they recall with laughter and pride. “She wanted us to only speak Creole, so we wouldn’t lose it.”
This deliberate decision wasn't merely about language—it was about identity. In a world where Creole has often been dismissed as a “poor people’s language,” the Toussaints were taught to embrace it as a birthright. “Creole is a language of survival, of resistance, of joy, of passion,” they emphasize. It encapsulates a people's refusal to be erased or assimilated, even in the face of colonial pressure.
Creole as a Global Thread
The history of Creole languages is one of global convergence and survival. From the Caribbean to Cape Verde, from Haiti to Louisiana, Creole languages emerged from colonial contact zones—where African, Indigenous, and European languages collided. Yet far from being broken or lesser versions of dominant tongues, Creoles are sophisticated, living expressions of intercultural creativity and adaptation.
In Saint Lucia, French Creole (Kwéyòl) developed from a blend of Arawakan, Cariban, West African, and European influences. These layered origins not only make it linguistically rich but also deeply historical. “The structure of Creole, like saying ‘cat the’ instead of ‘the cat,’ actually comes from West African languages like Mandinka and Wolof,” the sisters explain. “It's our ancient knowledge reimagined in a new form.”
Cultural Empowerment Through Language
Through Twossaints, the sisters are reclaiming and celebrating Creole by offering online classes, hosting cultural supper clubs, and leading youth programs in both the UK and Saint Lucia. Their initiatives are not about nostalgia—they are about healing, connection, and empowerment.
“One of our students wrote a birthday card in Creole to his grandmother, and she cried. She was so moved that he had learned her language,” Indira shares. These stories underscore how language can bridge generational gaps, restore dignity, and deepen community ties.
Their work also challenges the capitalist notion that only profitable languages matter. “People say, ‘Why learn a language that won’t make you money?’ But our languages hold knowledge—about plants, healing, spirituality—that isn’t found in English or French,” says Kimhia. “There’s so much power in being able to speak the language of your ancestors.”
Each year, through their partnership with Caribbean Collective…
Indira and Kimhia Toussaint lead an immersive cultural program that brings students from the UK to Saint Lucia. The initiative offers a transformative experience—combining Creole language lessons, local arts workshops, and deep cultural exchange. If you’re a teacher, parent, or community leader—especially from a school with a high population of melanated children—this is your sign to get in touch. Empower your students with the gift of heritage and identity. To learn more or collaborate, you can contact the sisters via their Instagram, LinkedIn, our their Website.
A Future Rooted in the Past
Looking forward, the Toussaints are determined to continue expanding their mission. Through partnerships with UK schools, summer immersion trips to Saint Lucia, and curriculum development, they hope to build pride in Creole among younger generations—especially those raised in the diaspora.
Their ultimate goal? “To show people that our language isn’t dying. It’s evolving. And we’re evolving with it.”
In an age where globalization threatens to flatten cultural specificity, Creole reminds us of the power of remembering, of returning, and of speaking in our own voice. For Indira and Kimhia Toussaint, and for countless others across the diaspora, Creole is not just a language—it is a living archive of identity.