There is no doubt that the English Language is one of the most prestigious of all heritages left by the Europeans. The English language has always served as a means of inter-ethnic communication, after the imperialists made contact with the continent. It is pertinent to note that before the arrival of the colonial masters, Africans had their own indigenous languages. The coming of modernity has made alot of changes on the continent. The construction of roads, establishment of schools, and industrial revolution have not only elevated the European continent, but partly the African continent. Nigeria as a country has over 500 languages let alone Africa as a whole. It is however the case that inter-ethnic cooperation would seem difficult, due to the diverse ethnic groups. Nigeria has no national language because of the fear that giving one language dominance over the other may lead to inter-tribal war or ethnic rivalry. Writing in African languages should be the primary aim of African writers. However, this may seem difficult because a work is not written to be read by the author alone, but to reach a wider audience. Literature as a work of art, not only reflects life, but effect changes in a society. There's no way a work of literature would reach a wider audience when written in a particular language, such work would be limited or restricted. It is only the audience which share a common language with the author, can have easy access to it. In a attempt to define African literature, critics like Obiajunwa Wali and Ngugi Wa Thiong'o have called for the return of African writings in African languages. In a conference held in Makerere College, Kampala, in June 1962, Abiola Irele recognises African experiences, background and characters as some of the elements that determine the Africanness in African literature, while Ngugi states that Africans cannot be said to have been free from the shackles of colonialism, when they are still using the imperialist's languages. In contrary to the view of Wali and Ngugi is that of Achebe, who sees the English Language as a veritable means through which he expresses his experiences. He states:
I feel that the English language will be able to carry the weight of my experiences. But it will have to be a new English, still in full communion with its ancestral home but altered to suit its new African surroundings. ("African Writers" 62.)
According to Achebe, the kind of English used to write his works, for example, THINGS FALL APART, is that which has been tamed and tropicalised. Achebe discovers that this is still no less English. Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, after writing notable plays and novels in English, switches to writing in his Kenyan Gikuyu language.The language questions still a bone of contention, as it has generated alot of controversies. Though plans are being made to come up with an African language that will be taught in all African schools, and as a means of conveying that African experiences through literary works, there is no doubt that this will also generate controversies as to which language would be appropriate.
I feel that the English language will be able to carry the weight of my experiences. But it will have to be a new English, still in full communion with its ancestral home but altered to suit its new African surroundings. ("African Writers" 62.)
According to Achebe, the kind of English used to write his works, for example, THINGS FALL APART, is that which has been tamed and tropicalised. Achebe discovers that this is still no less English. Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, after writing notable plays and novels in English, switches to writing in his Kenyan Gikuyu language.The language questions still a bone of contention, as it has generated alot of controversies. Though plans are being made to come up with an African language that will be taught in all African schools, and as a means of conveying that African experiences through literary works, there is no doubt that this will also generate controversies as to which language would be appropriate.
