African Languages First

The government should prioritise the introduction of African languages in the education system over Asian languages.

Educating the masses must be done in the languages of the masses so that development becomes a mass phenomenon.

Africa in general and Namibia in particular must invest in the development of African languages, as African languages are not only markers of cultural identity, but are also capable of encouraging national and continental pride.

If our system can accommodate European and Asian languages, in particular Mandarin, it should also accommodate continental languages, especially Swahili, which is spoken in over seven countries in Africa.

How will we be able to develop our continental economy and stop relying on European and Asian countries if we can’t practise diversity among ourselves as a continent? Our Namibian languages only stand a chance to be taught in other African countries – not in China or France.

As a continent that may be on the verge of losing all its natural resources to other powerful continents, we think it is time to consider joining forces to help each other rise to the occasion, but language is a barrier.

A society cannot develop if language is the monopoly of a small and restricted minority. A lack of positive communication and collaboration is the main challenge to African development and culture.

Language is no ordinary tool you can just choose over another. Language is the central feature of any culture. It relates to the social, economic, and political aspects of people’s lives.

We do not know or want to know when this study was conducted and which teachers chose an Asian language over an African language.

Former Tanzanian president John Magufuli was an excellent leader who believed in and understood the power of unity, but when he came up with this ideology, we turned him down.

A better approach would have been to introduce one or two of our languages in Tanzania.

Intelligent Katire, Students’ Union of Namibia