Whose tongue speaks for the people? Africa\'s language dilemma
Contrasting experiments across the region
The late Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o argued in \'Decolonising the Mind\' that language carries culture, and culture carries, particularly through orature and literature, the entire body of values by which we perceive ourselves and our place in the world.
Yet in many African parliaments, it is the colonial languages – English, French, Portuguese – that dominate, while the tongues of the people are sidelined, treated as if unfit for the highest chambers of lawmaking.
The majority of Africans speak, think, and dream in vernacular languages, but when their representatives stand to debate the laws that govern them, they must switch tongues, often straining to translate lived realities into foreign syntax.
Africa faces a unique language dilemma – the gap between the languages spoken in the home and those used in the halls of power.
With more than 2 000 indigenous languages, the African continent is the most linguistically diverse in the world; yet, many states continue to function officially in English, French or Portuguese.
This leaves ordinary citizens alienated from parliamentary debates, court rulings and education systems that operate in foreign tongues.
Choosing one or two indigenous languages as national mediums, meanwhile, risks stirring ethnic divisions and political imbalances.
Namibia’s experiment
In Namibia, the issue of language in parliament recently came to the fore through Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader, Job Amupanda.
He argued that if parliament is to truly reflect the people, then Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, Nama-Damara and other indigenous languages should be given a place on the floor.
Former Swanu leader and parliamentarian Dr Tangeni Iijambo said he agrees it is high time local languages were used in parliament, noting that Namibians have been unfortunate to be moved from German to Afrikaans and now to English.
“Language is culture, and our cultures have been dominated for so long,” he told Namibian Sun this week.
Iijambo, however, conceded the challenges of translation, pointing out that Otjiherero alone has more than nine dialects, while Oshiwambo has more than seven.
"The translations may make it difficult for others, even from the same umbrella tribe, to understand everything. Time is everything,” he said.
A modern Babel
In South Africa, MPs are free to speak in any of the 11 official languages, but interpretation systems often falter, which has led to walkouts and frustration.
In Tanzania, Swahili dominates parliament, making it a rare success story of an African language displacing colonial tongues and taking centre stage in political life – though smaller languages remain marginalised.
In Zimbabwe, MPs occasionally speak Shona or Ndebele, reflecting their status as national languages, but in practice English remains the dominant medium.
Ethiopia’s Amharic dominates parliament, but that language itself carries with it a history of exclusion.
Paradox
Former Prime Minister Nahas Angula has long acknowledged this paradox, saying if the country can afford to have interpreters in all 11 or so languages, parliamentarians can express themselves in their mother languages.
Angula pointed out that if it is left to those parties which can afford interpreters, the idea shall be discriminatory.
“Home Language as the medium of instruction from Grade 1 to 3, Home Language as a subject from Grade 4 to 12. This works in rural areas but is a challenge in urban schools,” Angula said.
Former Speaker Prof. Peter Katjavivi said a member can address the National Assembly in any of the country\'s national languages if the member cannot address the Chamber in English, which is the official language or cannot express particular phrases in English for purposes of succinctness and can only properly express them in his or her mother tongue.
However, Katjavivi said, such a member is required to notify the Speaker in advance to arrange for an interpreter.
According to Katjavivi, Chapter XII on General Provisions, Section 120 on languages stipulates that the Presiding Officer must first authorise the request.
"I don’t think it would be ethical and tenable for any member to decide to use any other language besides the official language in the Assembly if not permitted by the Presiding Officer to do so," Katjavivi said.
He also said that there should be a provision for translation into English and that one could argue that this provision could be one of the reasons for the Speaker to permit the use of another language.
Katjavivi also said the Speaker might have another reason to deny such a request under the Assembly rules.
"For instance, for a member who is well-versed in speaking English, why would they prefer to talk in their mother tongue? It might create a problem of time constraints for the Assembly\'s translations. Debates in the National Assembly are time-bound and open-ended discussions that encroach upon time meant for other business of the House," Katjavivi explained.
Yet in many African parliaments, it is the colonial languages – English, French, Portuguese – that dominate, while the tongues of the people are sidelined, treated as if unfit for the highest chambers of lawmaking.
The majority of Africans speak, think, and dream in vernacular languages, but when their representatives stand to debate the laws that govern them, they must switch tongues, often straining to translate lived realities into foreign syntax.
Africa faces a unique language dilemma – the gap between the languages spoken in the home and those used in the halls of power.
With more than 2 000 indigenous languages, the African continent is the most linguistically diverse in the world; yet, many states continue to function officially in English, French or Portuguese.
This leaves ordinary citizens alienated from parliamentary debates, court rulings and education systems that operate in foreign tongues.
Choosing one or two indigenous languages as national mediums, meanwhile, risks stirring ethnic divisions and political imbalances.
Namibia’s experiment
In Namibia, the issue of language in parliament recently came to the fore through Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader, Job Amupanda.
He argued that if parliament is to truly reflect the people, then Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, Nama-Damara and other indigenous languages should be given a place on the floor.
Former Swanu leader and parliamentarian Dr Tangeni Iijambo said he agrees it is high time local languages were used in parliament, noting that Namibians have been unfortunate to be moved from German to Afrikaans and now to English.
“Language is culture, and our cultures have been dominated for so long,” he told Namibian Sun this week.
Iijambo, however, conceded the challenges of translation, pointing out that Otjiherero alone has more than nine dialects, while Oshiwambo has more than seven.
"The translations may make it difficult for others, even from the same umbrella tribe, to understand everything. Time is everything,” he said.
A modern Babel
In South Africa, MPs are free to speak in any of the 11 official languages, but interpretation systems often falter, which has led to walkouts and frustration.
In Tanzania, Swahili dominates parliament, making it a rare success story of an African language displacing colonial tongues and taking centre stage in political life – though smaller languages remain marginalised.
In Zimbabwe, MPs occasionally speak Shona or Ndebele, reflecting their status as national languages, but in practice English remains the dominant medium.
Ethiopia’s Amharic dominates parliament, but that language itself carries with it a history of exclusion.
Paradox
Former Prime Minister Nahas Angula has long acknowledged this paradox, saying if the country can afford to have interpreters in all 11 or so languages, parliamentarians can express themselves in their mother languages.
Angula pointed out that if it is left to those parties which can afford interpreters, the idea shall be discriminatory.
“Home Language as the medium of instruction from Grade 1 to 3, Home Language as a subject from Grade 4 to 12. This works in rural areas but is a challenge in urban schools,” Angula said.
Former Speaker Prof. Peter Katjavivi said a member can address the National Assembly in any of the country\'s national languages if the member cannot address the Chamber in English, which is the official language or cannot express particular phrases in English for purposes of succinctness and can only properly express them in his or her mother tongue.
However, Katjavivi said, such a member is required to notify the Speaker in advance to arrange for an interpreter.
According to Katjavivi, Chapter XII on General Provisions, Section 120 on languages stipulates that the Presiding Officer must first authorise the request.
"I don’t think it would be ethical and tenable for any member to decide to use any other language besides the official language in the Assembly if not permitted by the Presiding Officer to do so," Katjavivi said.
He also said that there should be a provision for translation into English and that one could argue that this provision could be one of the reasons for the Speaker to permit the use of another language.
Katjavivi also said the Speaker might have another reason to deny such a request under the Assembly rules.
"For instance, for a member who is well-versed in speaking English, why would they prefer to talk in their mother tongue? It might create a problem of time constraints for the Assembly\'s translations. Debates in the National Assembly are time-bound and open-ended discussions that encroach upon time meant for other business of the House," Katjavivi explained.
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