During Africa’s colonial period, indigenous languages had been suppressed all over the continent in favour of the language of the colonizing power. In the modern day, that legacy has meant that many of Africa’s indigenous languages still are at risk of extinction.
Unfortunately, I am a part of the cohort of Africans who do not speak their indigenous language. Rather, over the years, I picked up other languages such as French and German, because those were the languages that were taught in the schools I went to.
My lack of knowledge of my indigenous language, Ibibio, does not stem from a lack of pride or anything of the sort. In fact, more than anything, I would love to be proficient in my native language. However, I still find myself with an incredibly limited understanding of the language, limited to only a few greetings and phrases.
I believe that I, like many other Africans, despite having an interest in learning our native languages, but are not living among a community that speaks the same language, all come across the same issues. Issues such as:
Lack of Language Learning Resources
Later on in life, as I began to take a greater interest in languages and I thought it would be a great idea to finally begin the process of learning my own indigenous language of Ibibio. I thought I would simply go online in order to at least pick up on the basics, then I would go to my parents (who can speak Ibibio fluently) and impress them with what I learned.
I assumed wrongly, that the same way I have been able continue to learn French and German online, by consuming lots of language learning content, would also be applicable to learning Ibibio. I assumed so because if you plan on learning German or French, there are literally thousands of online classes, podcasts, movies, websites, etc., at your disposal.
Unfortunately, that was not the case with Ibibio; the most I could find were a handful of online dictionaries and YouTube videos. In the end, I managed to make it through with that and have picked up a handful of common phrases and nouns. However, if I were to go further than that, I would probably have to go back to Akwa Ibom in Nigeria and attend classes there, like my parents when they were younger.
Basically, a lot of the time, if you are not physically present among your language-speaking community, where you can naturally pick up the language, achieving any kind of proficiency can be next to impossible.
Lack of Relevance
Another significant challenge confronting many of Africa’s indigenous languages is their decreasing relevance. As mentioned earlier, if the sole means of learning a language is through immersion within a community proficient in that language, individuals may lose motivation to learn and speak it when they are no longer part of that community.
Another issue that many families would take into account is economic activities. The reality is that fluency in languages, such as English and French, will provide most Africans with much greater economic opportunities both at home and abroad. In comparison to our indigenous languages, which may only provide limited opportunities within a limited geographical area. As a result, many would prefer to take up more the more widely spoken languages globally compared to their indigenous language.
With so much of our the internet, media, global politics and entertainment being in English, being proficient in English would be much more beneficial for most Africans. As a result, picking up an indigenous language would feel unnecessary to many.
Lack of Motivation
I have often heard many people online from non-English speaking countries explain that a major motivation to learn English for them was due to American Media. Because American movies, TV shows, video games, social media etc., are mainly published in English, if you would like to interact with the culture, you would need to learn English. That bandwagon effect manages to serve as a major source of motivation for billions around the world to learn the English language.
I can testify personally, outside of music and gospel music especially (of which there is a lot), there is little-to-no media published in my indigenous language of Ibibio. Yet, I know for a fact, that if I had access to a litany of really enjoyable content in Ibibio, my motivation to learn the language would instantly increase.
A large part of my motivation to learn French and German is because of their media as well. For example, I regularly watch reels on Instagram narrated in German and French, I have watched various movies and series in both languages and I love listening to French music as well. Therefore, I can attest that interacting with culture can be a major source of motivation to become proficient in a language.
There are some African cultures where a lot of content is produced in their languages, for example, I am aware of many South African programs and South African music produced in Zulu and Afrikaans. In Nigeria, there is lots of content made in Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa as well. However, there are still many African languages that lack any media produced in them, which could serve as additional motivation for their indigenous populations to become proficient in these languages.
In conclusion, the plight of Africa’s indigenous languages is a multifaceted issue that requires attention and action from various stakeholders. The historical suppression of these languages during the colonial era has left a lasting legacy of marginalization and neglect. Today, many young Africans, like myself, find themselves disconnected from their linguistic heritage, navigating a world dominated by global languages such as English and French.
Addressing the decline of indigenous languages requires a concerted effort to overcome these numerous challenges, including a lack of resources for language learning, diminishing relevance in an increasingly globalized world, and a shortage of motivation among speakers. To reverse this trend, it is essential to invest in language education programs, promote cultural revitalization initiatives, and create platforms for the production and dissemination of indigenous language media and literature.
Moreover, fostering a sense of pride and identity in one’s linguistic heritage is crucial for preserving the rich linguistic diversity present in our continent. By recognizing the value of indigenous languages and embracing them as integral components of African identity, we can ensure that they continue to thrive for generations to come.
As Africans, must not allow this trend to continue as it has been over the last few decades. Only through collective action and commitment can we ensure that Africa’s languages are not lost to the sands of time but remain vibrant expressions of our shared heritage and legacy.
