5 Strategies that African Publishers can use to promote African Languages more effectively
The role of a publisher in the dissemination of thought cannot be overemphasised, and the immortalization of one’s literary work is a dream of every writer. For a second, just imagine the inexistence of a publisher: knowledge would have been a scarce commodity. Publishers are not just business gurus, but important agents of change who advance society by sharing meaningful ideas. As cultural entrepreneurs, they contribute to the visibility of culture and the establishment of a language through the knowledge products and books they publish. Moreover, “the health and vitality of a language are not just influenced by the number of speakers, but also by the number of writers and publishers”. The spoken word can easily be forgotten and fade away, but the written word lasts longer. Writing is the most ancient method of preserving knowledge for contemporary and future generations. As such, publishers of books are contributing to the immortalization of not just the knowledge of which books are written, but also of the language and medium through which that knowledge is communicated. Thus, the preservation of a language largely hinges on the Trinity – Speakers, Writers and Publishers. Therefore, when it comes to the promotion of African languages, the number of people able to write and publish regularly in those languages is also key. But when one looks at the book industry in Africa, one can easily notice that the number of books published in foreign languages outshines those published in local languages. It’s easier to find a Shakespeare in Africa than a Ngugi Wa Thiongo. This is sad, yet true; the reality calls for a more strategic and holistic valorization of African languages through any possible medium, especially in education and publishing. In this write-up, i share key strategies that publishers can use to promote African languages and contribute to their visibility and use. 1. African publishers should bet more on writers who write in African languages During an interview with world-renowned Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong’o, Nanda Dyssou, a Congolese-Hungarian journalist, inquired why there are still not enough books in African languages. She indicated that it was one of the reasons why people are used to reading in English and other European languages, and blatantly recognized that African publishers are less likely to take a chance on writers who write in their native language. In his response, Ngũgĩ[1] said that “getting published is one of the most infuriating challenges of writing in African languages. There are hardly any publishing houses devoted to African languages”. So writers in African languages are writing against great odds: no publishing houses, no state support, and national and international forces aligned against them. Literary awards such as the Nobel, Commonwealth Literature, and even the Africa-centric Noma prizes rarely go to writers in African languages that are, after all, spoken by the majority of Africans. Prizes are often given to promote African literature, but on the condition that the writers don’t write in African languages. Many African writers can write in African languages, but are afraid of not getting published. This obstacle, if removed by publishers, will encourage writers to write more in African languages; which will contribute to an influx of literary works in African languages. Again Ngugi Wa Thiongo, remains a global African writer who has consistently challenged statu quo by continuing to use Gĩkũyũ as his written language of choice, and he even asks his publisher to wait for two years before releasing the English translations of his books to give Kenyan readers more time to discover the story in the original language. “The publishers are not always with me on this policy,” he said. At Kabod, we believe this will ultimately promote African languages and increase the lifespan of the languages used. And to make that possible, we have discounted prices and special offers for African publishers or writers who want to translate their books or writings from any European/Asian languages to an African language. 2. Creating more dedicated publishing houses focusing exclusively on writings in African languages. One radical [but costly] decision that can be made by publishers is to either institutionalize publishing houses that focus only on the publication of content in African languages, or at least have a unit in their publishing house that focuses on the publication of literary works in African languages. This is a sacrificial and financial risk. However, for the greater cause of promoting and preserving African languages, it is worth the price. In light of paying the price, there are some initiatives working tirelessly to support African language publishing. An example of an initiative that focuses on publishing in African languages is WritePublishRead, in collaboration with the African Languages Association of South Africa, which aims to give unpublished local writers of indigenous language fiction the chance to be published digitally in their home language by way of a self-publish starter kit, thus enabling anyone to read these texts if they have access to a mobile phone or any other digital device. Another is the Children’s Book Project in Tanzania, which seeks to improve literacy skills amongst school children and encourage a reading culture in the country. It also focuses on equipping libraries with quality reading and learning materials (including African language materials) and supports the Tanzanian publishing industry to produce quality books for children and young people. In South Africa, Nal’ibali is an initiative that promotes reading and writing in mother tongue languages, and champions the reading-for-enjoyment campaign to ignite children’s interest in storytelling and reading. Publishers’ collaboration with initiatives that promote African languages paves the way for the promotion of the languages while making money. We can’t expect African languages to grow in preeminence, status, and global influence without being willing to pay the price. If that would require publishing books in African languages with the risk that very few people[2] will purchase them, publishers and governments must be willing to take those risks and consistently promote the publishing in and use of African languages. Increasing the number
4 Critical Reasons Why Every African Must Know Their Native Language Now
Language is defined as a structured system of communication. In communicating, we have the opportunity to express our feelings, thoughts, ideas, etc. More than just communicating; language and culture have an almost unbreakable and intricate bond. As we know, language is always linked to a group of people. This explains the notion that to better understand one’s language, you must first understand one’s culture. This begs the question: How best can you know someone’s language and culture if you do not know yours first? Our individual culture and native language, which define us and influence our actions and inactions, beliefs, and worldview, build the rudiments of self-awareness and unique identity. Having an in-depth knowledge of one’s own native language is crucial for the following reasons; Prevents language extinction. Having an in-depth knowledge of one’s own native language prevents language extinction. Language extinction occurs when there is no speaker of that language. The longevity of a language largely depends on the number of its speakers. Intellectual development Studies have shown that cognitive development, as well as intellectual development, is comparatively faster in those who are fluent in their mother tongue. It has also been noted that if a student is educated in his/her mother tongue, the rate of his or her educational success is higher than someone who is taught in a different medium other than their mother tongue. Better connection with your culture Languages are the most important way of keeping our culture alive. Often, the direct translation of one language to another might not carry the same essence as it does in the source language. Thus, the best way to thoroughly learn about a culture is to know the language. Our mother tongue helps us stay connected to our culture and our roots – this is what defines us. The Pride Knowing your mother tongue well is a matter of pride. It boosts one’s confidence and creates awareness in the individual’s mind, while also helping them connect with their cultural identity in a better manner. How to contribute to the promotion of one’s native language The following are some ways Africans can promote indigenous languages: Increase indigenous initiatives and evidence-based research on African Languages Increase the development of quality content and teaching resources in African languages Contribute to the increased presence of indigenous languages online through NLP Develop language policies that prioritize the use of indigenous languages for official purposes and as a medium of learning and teaching. Intentionally teaching and speaking native languages at home, especially at home. In conclusion, it is incumbent on every native speaker to be the custodian of their native language. Contributing to the safeguarding of these languages ensures the longevity of our diverse history, culture, and unique identity. A few initiatives are contributing to the preservation of African languages using natural language processing (NLP): ● Masakhane is a grass root initiative that has the mission of conducting and encouraging NLP of African languages by Africans in Africa. ● Lanfrica Lanfrica aims to mitigate the difficulty encountered in the discovery of African language resources by creating a centralized, language-first catalogue. ● The African Language Teachers and Translators (ALATT) network is a major platform on LinkedIn that brings together language professionals of African languages to facilitate connection, learning, and opportunity sharing among the actors of the African language industry. ● The Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) has ingrained its presence on the African continent for decades by partnering with communities to develop language solutions. There is no legacy worth more than knowing one’s native language and culture and passing them on to the next generation. Should posterity look at the ancestral records, what will your contribution be towards the preservation and promotion of your culture and language? Would you be happy to see your native language go extinct? If not, then the time to act is NOW! Kindly share in a comment the actions or ways you are contributing to the preservation and promotion of your mother tongue/native language.
