African Languages - the Gateway to Development

BY: .

The Director of the Institute of Kiswahili Studies, Dr Aldrin Mutembei, delivered a keynote address at the recent College of Humanities African Languages colloquium.

Mutembei discussed: African Languages as a Gateway to Development: Reflections on Kiswahili as a Language for Africa’s Integration and Renaissance.

Mutembei said: ‘The African Academy of Languages – ACALAN, conceptualises African integration and development through African languages. It is through African languages that the continent will restore its dignity, respect and claim its rightful world economic and social position.

‘For Africa to realise its aspirations, we Africans need to respect African values and promote mutual understanding among ourselves. Indeed, through African languages, we need to maintain peace, for that is what the African philosophy of Ubuntu is all about.’

Mutembei said there was indisputable evidence both historical and circumstantial that former colonial tyrants were, and continued to be, in a constant struggle against the development of African languages.

Following the example of Kiswahili’s linguistic and literary affluence, Mutembei argued that African languages demonstrated the potential not only for Africa’s integration and renaissance, but the ability to maintain peace and mutual understanding and respect.

‘Combining with economic prospects, African languages such as Kiswahili are likely to stand for and boost African development. Using the Ubuntu philosophy and following the intertextuality approach, there are many possible reasons for the spread of Kiswahili in different nations in modern times, and the rationale for its acceptance in a multilingual African environment.

‘Policy makers in Africa should give priority to African languages, paving the way to a realistic education system, freedom of expression, stimulation of innovative ideas and creativity, and the ultimate development of the African people,’ said Mutembei.

A Senior Lecturer in African Literature at the University of Dar Es Salaam, Mutembei’s research interests are African Orature and Public Health and the development of Kiswahili language and literature.

Mutembei, who has been instrumental in establishing Kiswahili university programmes in various institutions in Africa, received his PhD from Leiden University in The Netherlands in 2001 and has published five books and numerous articles in national and international journals.  

-           Melissa Mungroo