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.
The language question in African literature is indeed a controversial subject. But it is important for writers, especially new writers to incorporate our unique linguistic, cultural and societal realities into the production of literary work, rather than trying to imitate or please the western critics and readers. Our literature should be defined by our unique cultural, linguistic and societal realities which is expressed through the use of African proverbs, idioms, images, characters, unique ways we express items in western languages and settings to a large extent. These are just a few ways in which Africa can identify with her literature and distinguish itself from other literatures of the world. writing in any African language will not necessary cut across to the totality of the African audience it will only reduce the popularity of her literatures, within the continent and beyond.
ReplyDeleteObono Samuel Jr.
The problem of language in African literature will not be easily solved since there are still mentalities thinking about what African language will be the dominant
ReplyDeleteThe issue of language for African literature has simply been overflogged..Writers should be made to write in the language they find easy so long as the setting and characters carry African traits ..The languages in Africa are numerous and unending as new languages are still formed.Let's say Nigeria precisely,we have more than 500 languages.So which of these languages will be the best for expression? We'll even begin to hear things like ethnicity while we're trying to have a unique language for our expression.
ReplyDeleteWe still have good texts written in the English language with bits of indigenous language and this is when we begin to speak of code switching and code mixing like the works of Chimamanda and Adichie.These works still carry African nature and have their full aesthetics and appreciation .It even makes their works open to a wider audience .
ReplyDeleteI believe what sets African writings apart and unique from other writings across the world is our setting, character names and their traits, the employment of oral forms like proverbs and folktales to mention but a few. The debate of African African literature and language question should be according to Chinua Achebe's advise,"..... 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." This way we shall be selling our Africanness in a way that won't also disconnect us as Africans from the works of our very own brothers and sisters since Africa is blessed and rich in Language and without adding even other parts, in Uganda we have over 100 languages but English is the official language however writers like Okot P Bitek have penetrated with their works like "song of lawino" without leaving any barrier due to language and I believe his works can speak that he hails from the great lands of Acholi, another writer is Mary Karoro Okulut a writer of " Sacred cow " her play also can tell she is from Ankole because of the setting and the folktales in the book.
ReplyDeleteSo without bias and African disorganization I believe we should maintain the African literature in the "Africananised" English, this way we shall be assured of our works and cultures to be understood even in far lands where an interpreter maybe in vain, I however credit Ngugi was Thiongo for a step to write in his indigenous language, it's nationalism and it's so beautiful.