Linguistic Human Rights & CODA Identity in East Africa
An exploratory study on the intersection of sign language policy, cultural belonging, and legal frameworks for Children of Deaf Adults in Kenya and Rwanda.
The Sidelined Gem: Between Two Worlds
Have you ever stopped to think about how language shapes the way we see the world? Not just the words we speak, but the stories, cultures and identities they carry? Now imagine growing up in a world where the language you first understand isn’t spoken but seen.
Children of Deaf Adults(CODAs) hearing individuals who are born in Deaf households, often learn sign language as their first language. They move between two worlds; the Deaf world and the hearing world; belonging to both, yet sometimes feeling fully seen in neither.
"The Sidelined Gem" is a platform that will explore and tell the stories that sit quietly between cultures, languages and identities. From linguistic human rights to Deaf culture, from education and policy to interpretation and identity, this space invites you to see, listen and reflect.
Meet Dziri: A Journey Rooted in Language, Identity and Purpose
Aminah N’kadziri Idd fondly known as Dziri was born and raised in the Deaf community by her young widowed mother. From an early age, her environment shaped her into a defender of human rights, a path that would later lead her to pursue a career in law. But law alone was not enough. Growing up at the intersection of Deaf and hearing worlds, Dziri experienced firsthand the communication gaps that exist between the two. This reality drew her into sign language not just as a tool for communication, but as a space of identity, culture and inquiry. A defining moment came when a mentor challenged her: “Why don’t you do something about it instead of venting?” That question sparked a deeper journey.
Driven by curiosity, Dziri began asking questions many had overlooked: Is Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) an indigenous language? Whose first language is sign language? Who nurtures and sustains it outside formal education systems? These questions evolved into a lifelong quest for understanding.
The late Idd Mwakuyu Terroh left behind a legacy embodied in Dziri; a daughter and a son in one; resilient, inquisitive and deeply rooted in her African identity. Proud of her name, she embraces “Dziri” as both identity and purpose.
Today, she stands as an intellectual in pursuit of answers to questions often unasked or whispered. As a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), she draws from lived experience, academic grounding and cultural belonging to build a body of knowledge on linguistic human rights. Her work seeks to document, question and expand understanding while creating space for more scholars and researchers to explore the rich, complex world of CODAs.
Dziri is, truly, a daughter of the soil: transforming lived experience into knowledge and knowledge into legacy.
Latest Reflections
reflections
The Language of Silence: Navigating CODA Identity
Growing up between hearing and deaf worlds taught me that silence is not empty—it speaks in gestures, glances, and grace.
Jan 1, 1970Read more →
articles
African Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Kenyan Sign Language
What began as a single research idea now signals the beginning of a wider conversation. At the heart of this discussion lies an important question:
Oct 15, 2025Read more →
Research Themes & Focus Areas
"N'kadziri's research centers on Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs), exploring their unique linguistic and cultural positioning..."
Linguistic Human Rights
Advocating for the recognition of sign languages as valid indigenous knowledge systems.
Deaf Culture & Identity
Documenting the lived experiences and cultural ecosystems of Deaf communities.
CODA Representation
Giving voice to the "in-between" generation of Children of Deaf Adults.
Inclusive Education Policy
Bridging the gap between legislative frameworks and classroom reality.
Let's Connect
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