Local author explores cultural integration through comedy in ‘How To Speak Punjabi in Brampton’

Finding a balance between honouring cultural traditions and starting a new life is something many in Brampton and newcomers across Canada can relate to – a parity local author Onyeka Nwelue explores in his book How To Speak Punjabi in Brampton.

The story follows the fictional Balminder Jagvir Singh – an Indian immigrant living in Brampton who has his new life turned upside down when his parents arrive in Canada with an arranged bride for their son.

And with none of the three newcomers speaking English, the book follows Singh’s comical misadventures as he’s caught between tradition and modernity while juggling his personal ambitions with his family’s expectations – a balancing act that requires “a nimble mind, a resilient spirit, and the courage to walk the fine line between who he is and who he aspires to become,” the synopsis reads.

“I’m trying to create humour out of tragedy. It’s just my way of also looking at the world,” the Brampton author said of the book at a reading earlier this month.

Born in Nigeria, Nwelue has written 22 books with most being self-published. In 2018, his works The Beginning of Everything Colourful and The Lagos Cuban Jazz Club were shortlisted for prizes by the Association of Nigerian Authors.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown congratulated Nwelue with a certificate of recognition saying the book “highlights the rich cultural diversity of our city but also fosters greater understanding and connection among its residents.”

“Your work is a testament to the power of literature in bridging cultures and languages, and it reflects the inclusive spirit of Brampton,” the mayor wrote.

Nwelue’s book How To Speak Punjabi in Brampton is available through Abibiman Publishing online on retailers like Amazon.

 

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