Africa is the most linguistically diverse continent
in the world in spite of this Africans have inferiority complex and believe
that foreign languages are superior to their native languages. In fact,
hegemonic languages within Africa will become more important however; the fate
that lies ahead of less prominent languages is that they will soon
disappear.
African
renaissance can keep African languages from extinction
Although European languages are wildly spoken in the
African continent, African languages are a key to African
renaissance. Actually the rebirth of the African
continent depends on African’s embracing their native languages. Therefore
African languages ought to be as equal to colonial languages.
A picture of a child with an African map painted on
the face. Children are a sign of the future. What does the future hold for the
future generation in Africa?
(Photo augustana.edu)
Can
Heritage Day preserve indigenous languages?
Every year the 24th of September marks
the day for South Africans’ to celebrate Heritage
Day.
Nevertheless, how can we as South Africans celebrate Heritage Day while we
consider our indigenous languages inferior? Avuxeni, molo, sawubona, lotjhani,
dumela, age, realotjha, ndaa. Future generations might not experience the
beauty of saying hello in their mother tongue. In no time, 10 of 11
official South African languages could face extinction.
Actually parents of several African household’s do not understand the
importance of their children learning their mother tongue. Although some
African languages still exist, by not teaching future generations the
importance of those languages, they could easily die out. As a result Africans will
be giving away their language, their culture and their identity.
Kenyan student during the 12th Annual
International Festival at the University of
Johannesburg (19 September 2014).
(Photo
Katekani Chabalala)
Prominent
cultures consider other languages as shameful
Throughout my years in high school, speaking my
mother tongue Xitsonga was considered a joke by other learners of different
cultures. Actually they made it seem as thou it ought to be shameful to speak my
native tongue in public. This is the reason people are so in denial about their
roots and choose to identify themselves as part of prominent cultures such as
Zulu which is considered acceptable within South African societies. So called
“South Africans” have a funny way of degrading other African nationalities and
cultures. A term I dubbed as “pull an African down syndrome”. They are too
narrow-minded and unable to realise that while they are mocking fellow
Africans’, indigenous languages are dying due to lack of preservation, while
western vernacular reigns supreme.
Musa Maluleke in Xitsonga traditional attire on
Heritage Day in Johannesburg.
(Photo Katekani Chabalala)
The West colonised all four corners of the world and
initiated English as a medium of instruction even non-English speaking
countries neglected their mother tongue in favour of preserving a Western
vernacular. However, the fate that lies ahead of indigenous African languages
being extinct should not come to pass. Therefore “mayivuke IAfrica” a Zulu
lingo stating: “let Africa awake”, and realise that they have the potential to
preserve their mother-tongue by spreading it globally. Let Africans be so proud
of their languages and do everything in their power to preserve them. By
letting our languages die we are letting out culture to die. Indeed mayivuke
IAfrica!
Love you all dearly,
Katekani Chabalala
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