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We took a close look at the picture in Senegal, a former French colony considered the cultural capital of West Africa. At the time, George W. Bush was sort of courting Senegalese president Wade to try to boost US influence in a part of the world where it doesn’t have much clout. The obvious way to do that is to push English. But most people we talked to thought the plan was pretty futile. As one university professor explained, since French is the language of Senegal’s education system, SENEGALESE CAN ONLY LEARN ENGLISH IF THEY ALREADY SPEAK FRENCH.
http://www.nadeaubarlow.com/otherwritings/view/7
WRITING FRENCH IN AFRICA
Veronique Tadjo: COMMENT
03 April 2007 11:59
Senegalese writer Aminata Sow Fall
Recently, French studies at Wits University invited Aminata Sow Fall, a leading woman writer from Senegal, to talk about African literature, the issue of language and the state of French-speaking Africa.
When asked why she wrote in French rather than in Wolof, her mother tongue, she replied that when she began her literary career back in 1963, Wolof, the most widely spoken language in Senegal, had not yet been properly codified in the Roman alphabet. So she had no choice, she said. But she was quick to add that if she had not felt at ease in French, she would not have written a book.
Sow Fall’s response prompted me to revisit this burning issue as it is my belief that, to some extent, this debate also applies to English in Africa.
When most of the former French colonies became independent in the 1960s, it was a time of euphoria and great hope for the future of Africa. Less than a decade later, things were not going that well in francophone Africa. Neo-colonialism took hold of the economy and the political elites proved too greedy to honour the promises they had made at independence. A period of disillusionment followed.
The saga of Les soleils des indépendances (The Suns of Independence), a novel by Ahmadou Kourouma from Côte d’Ivoire, best illustrates this post-independence disenchantment. When Kourouma submitted his manuscript, it was refused by publishers in France and in Africa on the grounds that it was written in “incorrect” French. The manuscript was passed around until it was finally published in Canada in 1968. It became an instant bestseller and was subsequently bought by a prestigious French publisher in 1970.
Cheaper editions were produced for the African market and the book was read by millions of school children and is still being taught today.
What was revolutionary in Kourouma’s novel was the fact that for the first time a writer attempted to recreate the way common people in Africa really speak. Kourouma fused French with his Malinke mother tongue -- French syntax and grammar were twisted and some words took on a whole new meaning. His language ignored basic rules. The style was exuberant and full of a raw sensuality.
KOUROUMA’S BOOK SHOWED THAT FRENCH WASN’T JUST THE LANGUAGE OF THE FORMER OPPRESSORS, THAT IT WAS ALSO POSSIBLE TO USE IT TO SERVE OUR PURPOSE AND RENDER OUR AFRICAN EXPERIENCE. HE DEMONSTRATED THAT THE LANGUAGE BELONGED TO US, TOO, AND THAT WE WERE FREE TO USE IT HOW WE WANTED IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE OUR REALITY.
Roughly 10 years later, Sony Labou Tansi, a Congolese novelist, poet and dramatist, came onto the literary scene to continue this linguistic revolution. His writing dealt with the rampant corruption and entrenchment of a decadent leadership. His weapon was political satire and his irreverence was also directed at the French language, whose conventions he deliberately broke, inventing his own literary aesthetics.
Labou Tansi had learnt French in a Congolese school where using his mother tongue was forbidden. He used to say that French was the language in which he was “raped”.
IF IT IS TRUE THAT THE COLONISERS WANTED TO USE FRENCH IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY COULD IMPOSE A FRENCH LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL MODEL THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY LEAD TO ASSIMILATION, THINGS DID NOT GO QUITE AS PLANNED. THE FRENCH LANGUAGE HAS BECOME A LANGUAGE IN WHICH AFRICANS CAN EXPRESS THEIR OWN ASPIRATIONS AND FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. A LANGUAGE IS AT THE SERVICE OF WHOEVER WANTS TO USE IT, AS LONG AS IT IS SEEN NOT AS AN IMPOSITION BUT AS SOMETHING TO BE CONQUERED.
DANIEL MAXIMIN, A WRITER AND POET FROM GUADELOUPE, SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO CONFUSE LANGUAGE AND CITIZENSHIP, TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FRENCH LANGUAGE IS NOT CONFINED WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHICAL BORDERS OF FRANCE. THE FRENCH LANGUAGE IS USED TO EXPRESS MANY IDENTITIES, FROM THE CONGOLESE TO THE VIETNAMESE, TO THE CANADIAN. THERE ARE MORE THAN 20 AFRICAN COUNTRIES IN WHICH FRENCH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE. THEREFORE, THE QUESTION THAT REMAINS IS NOT WHY WE WRITE IN FRENCH, BUT HOW WE WRITE IN FRENCH.
Véronique Tadjo is a writer from Côte d’Ivoire and Head of French Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand.
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2007-04-03-writing-africa-in-french
The English-language press and the "Anglophone problem" in Cameroon: Group identity, culture, and the politics of Nostalgia
This paper traces the role of the Cameroonian English-language press in creating awareness of the "Anglophone problem," and putting it on the Cameroonian and international political agenda. The analysis is carried out within the framework of the problematic situations perspective which holds that when newspapers report events, they always present the issues in terms of problems that need to be solved in order to maintain individual, political and social equilibrium and harmony. English language newspapers and radio programs made use of identity and nostalgia to present an unenviable picture of the Anglophone minority in Cameroon. The newspapers concluded that Anglo-phones were a marginalized minority whose problems could only be solved by political autonomy and less control from the French-style over-centralized bureaucracy in Yaounde.
INTRODUCTION
One of the greatest challenges of modern nation states is protection of the political rights, cultures and economic interests of minority groups within their borders. The problems of minority groups are usually aggravated in uncertain or fluid political and cultural situations in which these groups consider themselves the victims of the majority. In order to cope with their perceived unfavorable predicament, minority groups develop coping mechanisms. The first is to nurture a high sense of group identity. The next stage is to feed, as it were, this identity through the use of nostalgia; a wistful longing for lost opportunities or a desire to return to a specific political circumstance, a junction in the road where the wrong turn that led to the present untenable situation was taken by the group or others. Sometimes, this desire to reset the political clock as it were, becomes the overwhelming objective of the elite and opinion leaders of these minority groups.
The above scenario describes the situation of the English-speaking or Anglophone minority in Cameroon. The community has, through its representatives, elites and newspapers, given an indication that it considers itself a marginalized minority of second-class citizens in the country of Cameroon. Indeed, some of the more radical Anglophone political activists consider Southern Cameroons, the English-speaking region of Cameroon, to have been recolonized by the French-speaking Republique du Cameroun (Republic of Cameroon). The newspapers controlled by, or available to the minority Anglo-phone community, tend to be advocates of the interests of that community, and serve as platforms on which the political frustrations, grievances, aspirations and demands of the group are expressed. As advocates, these newspapers practically set the political agenda for their community.
The Cameroon government has always sought to control or silence these political protests, which it has viewed as voices of discontent and disgruntlement, through heavy-handed censorship and tight control of information flow and exchange. Whenever this was done, journalists from the English-language press resorted to the use of code words, double entendre and even rumor to communicate the political sentiments of the aggrieved Anglophones. As these newspapers feature the Anglophone problem prominently, members of the community and the rest of the country have come to see the problem as an important issue that must be dealt with.
The aim of this paper is to trace the role of the Cameroonian English language press in creating awareness of the "Anglophone problem," -an assemblage of issues that have political, economic, cultural and social aspectsand putting it on the Cameroonian and international political agenda during the reign of current Cameroon president, Paul Biya. The Anglophone problem will be analyzed within the framework of the problematic situations perspective. The research was guided by the following question: How has the English-language (Anglophone) press framed or presented the Anglophone problem in Cameroon during the Biya era?
THE ANGLOPHONE PROBLEM IN CAMEROON
What has come to be known as the "Anglophone" problem is an assemblage of political, cultural, economic and social grievances expressed by the English-speaking minority in the predominantly French-speaking Republic of Cameroon (formerly called the United Republic of Cameroon). The question touches on the distribution of political and economic power, the institutional structures of the society, the educational system, and the relationship between the government and the governed. These grievances are expressed in terms of discrimination, second-class citizenship and "marginalization." In the 40 years since the reunification of English-speaking Southern Cameroons and French-speaking Republique du Cameroun, the resulting over-centralized government, run mostly by the French-speaking majority, and operating under what is essentially an Africanized version of the Napoleonic code, has attempted to eliminate the British-inspired educational, legal, agricultural, and administrative institutions which the Anglophones brought to the union. This has been accompanied by a concerted attempt to assimilate the English-speakers into the French-dominated system. Indeed, just months after the reunification of the English and French-speaking parts of Cameroon, the French government sponsored a massive "French by Radio" program in the English-speaking region of Cameroon. Using prepackaged interactive French lessons broadcast from a newly equipped AM and Shortwave broadcast station, Radio Buea, a large number of French and Francophone educators and language teachers were deployed to teach spoken and written French (in that order) in the major primary schools of the English-speaking region. At the same time, three Bilingual Grammar Schools, whose officials and teachers were mostly French-speaking Cameroonians or French citizens, were created in Buea, Mamfe and Yaounde to train young people to function in the over-centralized bureaucracy in Yaounde. To this day, when speaking of English-speaking Cameroonians, many French-speaking Cameroonians use the word "Anglo" as an epithet to mean "uncouth," "backward," "uncivilized," "inconsequential," and so on.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3821/is_200304/ai_n9173452/
Vanguard (Lagos)
Nigeria:Rivers Govt Initiates Programmes for French, Arts Education
Olubusuyi Adenipekun
16 April 2009
The Rivers State government has put in place programmes that will promote the study of French Language and Creative Arts in its primary and secondary schools.
While students of two secondary schools in the state are undergoing a two-week holiday training programme on French, Arts works of primary school pupils were recently exhibited in Port Harcourt as a way of encouraging them to fully develop their creative talents.
Prior to the French training programme, which is organised by the state Ministry of Education in partnership with Alliance Franciase under the Public Private arrangement, the state government had earlier donated a piece of land for the development of French Language Resource Centre.
The state Commissioner of Education, Mrs Dame Alice Nemi explained that the French training programme is intended to expose them to the study of French for the purpose of inculcating in them the rudiments of French Language in a conducive environment, equipped with adequate facilities.
Nemi disclosed that the best student in the training programme would be given an award, counselling the students to take advantage of the training to improve their knowledge of French Language.
The need for the students to take the full advantage of the programme was reiterated by the President of Alliance Franciase, Chief O.J. Akiri, stressing that since Nigeria is surrounded by French speaking, its citizens should be able to communicate in French to enable them interact with their Franchophone neighbours.
Chief Akiri, who was represented by Prof. Folorunso Ogunleke, explained that while English is classified as the language of science, French is known as the language of diplomacy, adding that Nigerians need to understand French as the world has become a global village.
He expressed satisfaction that Rivers State has more French companies than any other state in Nigeria, arguing that Rivers people must understand French language before they can property fit into any of these French companies.
On his part, the Deputy Managing Director of Total Explorations and Production Nigeria Ltd; Mr Rager Poirrier described the two-week training programme as a unique opportunity to study another language for effective communication in a fast changing world, advising the students to take the programme serious to enable them become fluent in it, given the fact that FRENCH LANGUAGE IS NOW NIGERIA'S SECOND NATIONAL LANGUAGE.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200904160039.html
In section 1 sub-section 10 the policy talks about the importance of language. It says "government appreciates the importance of language as a means of promoting social interaction and national cohesion and preserving cultures. Thus every child shall learn the language of the immediate environment.
Furthermore, in the interest of national unity it is expedient that every child shall be required to learn one of the three Nigerian languages, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. FOR SMOOTH INTERACTION WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS IT IS DESIRABLE FOR EVERY NIGERIAN TO SPEAK FRENCH. ACCORDINGLY, FRENCH SHALL BE THE SECOND OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN NIGERIA AND IT SHALL BE COMPULSORY IN SCHOOLS."
http://allafrica.com/stories/200801030568.html
SOLDIERS ORDERED TO SPEAK FRENCH
The GAF is considering setting aside the first Friday of every month as a 'French Day', on which all military personnel would speak French.
THE GHANA ARMED FORCES (GAF) IS CONSIDERING SETTING ASIDE THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH AS A 'FRENCH DAY', ON WHICH ALL MILITARY PERSONNEL WOULD SPEAK FRENCH, INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL ENGLISH.
Major General Peter Augustine Blay, Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), disclosed this during the closing ceremony of the Ghana Armed Forces Annual Inter-Service Shooting competition held at Yawhima in Sunyani.
He noted that as Ghana was surrounded by French-speaking countries, it would be prudent for personnel of the GAF to take the learning and speaking of French serious.
Maj. General Blay urged personnel of the GAF to take up the challenge to learn and speak French, adding "it makes a lot of sense to be able to speak the French language for our own interest, and for an enhanced international cooperation.”
According to him, the GAF fortunately, has fully-functioning French language centres in the 2 and 5 Garrisons, which all efforts would be exerted to replicate them in the remaining garrisons, to afford facilities for the learning of the French language.
http://www.modernghana.com/print/250554/1/soldiers-ordered-to-speak-french.html
GOV'T DIRECTS OFFICIALS TO LEARN FRENCH
Last Updated: Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 8:38 GMT Previous Page
Vice president Aliu Mahama
The government has directed all government officials to compulsorily take French lessons.
Vice-President Aliu Mahama said the directive was part of the government's plans to make French a common language for as many Ghanaians as possible to enhance economic, commercial and social activities between Ghana and its neighbours.
Consequently, he asked those who were privileged to be studying the French language in schools to take the subject seriously because of the numerous advantages associated with knowing, understanding and speaking it.
Alhaji Mahama said this when the French Minister for Overseas Development and Francophone Affairs, Madam Geraldine Brigitte, paid a courtesy call on him at his office at the Castle on Monday.
The French minister was in the country to extend an invitation to the Presidency to attend the 12th summit of the International Organisation of the Francophone in Quebec, Canada, later in the year.
He recounted a number of experiences with many government officials who attend high-level meetings in Francophone countries and were unable to communicate because of their inability to speak French.
"Our French counterparts even do well to speak the English with us but those of us from the English speaking countries seldom speak any French at all and that is not the best," Alhaji Mahama said.
The Vice-President had early on exchanged some greetings in French with his guest but was unable to continue when the conversations went deep.
According to him, the President had directed all government officials to take compulsory French lessons, adding that "this is what has helped me and we are trying to ensure that the teaching of the French language becomes a major subject at all levels of the academic calendar".
He encouraged business people who traded with their counterparts in the neighbouring countries to endeavour to learn the language to enable them to transact business without stress.
Alhaji Mahama said there was a lot to benefit should Ghanaians begin to engage their neighbours in serious trading and economic activities.
He assured the French minister of the government's commitment to make the teaching and learning of French much more widespread for many more people to benefit.
Madam Brigitte for her part commended Ghana for the efforts she was putting in place to get more people to learn the French language.
In spite of this, she said, Ghana needed to attach greater interest to making the teaching and learning of French more widespread for many more people to benefit.
Madam Brigitte said France was committed to making more resources available to Ghana to enable it to create the necessary environment for people to learn the Language.
She expressed the hope that the government would be able to attend the summit to further strengthen the relationship between Ghana and the Francophone countries.
Source: Daily Graphic
http://news.myjoyonline.com/education/200809/20389.asp
New efforts to woo French interest in Liberia
The Liberian leader Charles Taylor has said the French language will be treated as an equal with English in future, following his visit to France to strengthen ties with Liberia.
Mr Taylor told reporters in Paris it was inevitable that French would be spoken in Liberia with the establishment of new cultural and trade links, and he confirmed he would be attending the Francophone African summit in November.
Mr Taylor met French business leaders yesterday to discuss possible joint ventures to reconstruct Liberia after its seven-year civil war.
He said he wanted to sell off state-owned companies, but needed help to restore water and power supplies, and repair roads, hospitals and the telephone system.
No definite trade agreements have been announced so far.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/183138.stm
Equally eating into the fabric of the linguistic spectrum in Sierra Leone is French. Unlike English, French is not an official language, though it is a prestigious language taught in schools and colleges as a second language. Owing to the relatively low number of French instructors in the country, incentives such as higher salaries and better learning opportunities are offered to people in French pedagogy. Such facilities are not open to students studying indigenous languages. This situation puts indigenous languages at a disadvantage. One should not be surprised at the mass enrolment of students in French classes such as those organized by Alliance Française in Freetown.
To sum up, French and English have overwhelming advantages over indigenous languages in Sierra Leone. The two languages are more prestigious than indigenous languages. In addition, they have snatched an enviable socio-economic position from indigenous languages. In his assessment of the socio-economic impact of ex-colonial languages on indigenous languages, Adegbija (2001:285)
states:
http://www.umes.edu/cms300uploadedFiles/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20Languages%20at%20risk%20-%20A%20case%20study%20from%20Sierr%281%29.pdf