The Role of Language in Africa Social integration
Language is a medium of instruction and a channel for conveying information and enables individuals to interact and share their minds ideas, creativity and emotions. These emotions when expressed come in the form of shared love and hatred. Hatred in Africa which has bred conflicts and untold misery will be discussed using a common language. The African countries use different languages, including the foreign ones which, were left by the colonialists and has remained as a legacy for colonization. The different language that is spoken now in the African has made the Africans speak and think differently from each other, leading to different geographic dichotomies. The African people have always spoken of the African Continent as one and often refer to themselves and each other as African. The Africans are known for unity, friendliness and warmth. However there has been regional blocks in languages spoken by different regions, for instance East Africa are known for speaking English and Kiswahili as a major dialect, the West Africa ,French and local languages, while the Southern Africa for English, Afrikaans and other Bantu dialects. These languages have brought different mindsets and therefore lack of social integration in Africa. The differences in culture have been brought about by language which has translated to different academic exposure, political ideologies and religious differences. The regional integration can be achieved if the Africans embrace a common language so that the people can be exposed to similar if not the same curriculum. Common languages in the region can be identified and slowly worked on until all Africans are able to speak a similar language. There are many initiatives which were long advanced even before and others after independence of many countries, including the OAU, AU, NEPAD, and regional trade blocs like the COMESA, ECOWAS, SADC among others.These initiatives have faced many challenges in the integration of Africa. Several initiatives are still ongoing in search for integration in Africa. This means that Education systems in African schools are to be modified to be in line with the people’s culture. The system of education right from primary schools, up to university will be African, so as to be proud as Africans. The language and the education system in the member states will lead to sharing of many bonding activities like sports being performed together, celebrations of important events, and the same certificates among the students. The identification of a common language in schools will make education similar and graduates will all possess similar grades, and jobs would also be similar. Education therefore is a force in social cohesion in Africa and hence a major contributing factor. African will truly share similar experiences and therefore brotherliness is enhanced. This will bring trust among the African people and travelling documents like visas will be thing of the past, because people will move freely from one country to the next. This article discusses the importance of language as a tool for regional integration.