African Language Teaching | Afrikanists Assemble | Episode 13

In each episode of Afrikanists Assemble, people from various academic backgrounds answer a question related to the field of Afrikanistik and African Studies. We post a new episode the first day of every month!

This month’s question is: “What is your opinion on the state of African language teaching, and what is your utopian vision for it?”

Let us know how you would answer in the comments!

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro; “Rindan” - V Man D Viper

01:12 African-language teaching has come a long way, but there’s still a disproportionate lack of learning resources; Let’s teach African languages in European high schools - Emiliano Minerba (speaking in Italian)

03:10 We can be optimistic about the attention African languages are starting to get; Let’s integrate more computer science into teaching them - Dikko Muhammad

05:18 We have to hike to get to African languages; Let’s teach primary school students that there are African languages - Annmarie Drury

08:13 African-language teaching is a recent development in Francophone West Africa and deteriorating in Central Africa; Let’s equip them to handle communication in national life - Crispin Maalu-Bungi (speaking in French)

10:51 Nupe language teaching was undermined by the federal government; Let’s reverse these decisions and make mother-tongue teaching compulsory through 6th grade - Victor Shiru

14:15 We’re currently too concerned with the profitability of language courses; Let’s offer more languages with more immersion - Duncan Tarrant

16:56 Some African-language teaching is still banned in Africa; Let’s offer more languages and create more jobs for Africans - Emmanuella Bih

19:33 The state of African-language teaching in Nigeria is extremely poor; Let’s do an advocacy campaign to boost language ideologies - Judith Mgbemena

23:08 The teaching of African languages has made great strides in teaching tools and methods, but is still isolated from other disciplines; Let’s increase collaboration between schools on and off the continent - Serena Talento

24:52 Learning African languages is currently not attractive to students in formal education; Let’s teach African languages within other subjects - Kole Odutola

27:58 In Africa, African languages are currently taught in other languages; Let’s increase the course offerings at all education levels within each community - Osedebamen Oamen

30:12 African-language degrees are currently laughed at and seen as inferior; Let’s boost the wages of professionals in African languages so that they are taken seriously - Manta G. Yadok

32:17 Endemic racism is part of the way we see Africa today; Let’s teach African languages in European high schools - Roberto Gaudioso (speaking in Italian)

35:30 Credits; “Rindan” - V Man D Viper

EPISODE 13 CONTRIBUTORS:

Emiliano Minerba - University of Naples ‘L’Orientale’ / University of Bayreuth
Dikko Muhammad - University of Bayreuth
Annmarie Drury - Queens College, City University New York
Crispin Maalu-Bungi - University of Kinshasa
Victor Shiru - Federal University of Lafia
Duncan Tarrant - University of Bayreuth
Emmanuella Bih - University of Cologne
Judith Mgbemena - Federal University of Wukari
Serena Talento - University of Bayreuth
Kole Odutola - University of Florida
Osedebamen Oamen - Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
Manta G. Yadok - Federal University of Wukari
Roberto Gaudioso - Independent Researcher

EPISODE 13 ADDITIONAL SUPPORT:

Production & Editing: Brady Blackburn & Berenike Eichhorn
Design: Kaitlyn Blackburn
Intro Animation: Folarin Pearse, Nigeria
Sound Effects: ZapSplat.com
Music: “Rindan”; Written and performed by V Man D Viper; Courtesy of V Man D Viper

BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR:
Want to share your thoughts on the podcast as well? Contact us at afrikanists.assemble@gmail.com and tell us why you want to become a contributor!

BECOME A FEATURED ARTIST:
We feature a song from a different independent African artist every episode. If you’d like your song to be featured, email us at afrikanists.assemble@gmail.com. Note that you must own the rights to your song and be able to license it to us for use in an episode.

ABOUT AFRIKANISTS ASSEMBLE:
Afrikanists Assemble is produced by Recalibrating Afrikanistik, a collaborative research project of six partnering universities in Europe and Africa funded by the VW Foundation. Afrikanistik as the study of African languages, literatures, and texts is in a privileged position to mediate heterotopic and heterogeneous knowledge practices. Through joint forums, summer schools, workshops, a fellowship program, and more, we invite young scholars to recalibrate Afrikanistik with their innovative ideas in dialogue with African Studies. Visit our website at https://www.recaf.de/