Engaging Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s decolonising the mind

Kambarure Kaputu‘The phrase “African solutions to African problems” is often invoked in discourses in Africa needing its own intervention towards both its internal and external problems. There are several questions needing answers; how can Africa solve its problems, some which are colonial in nature? What about decolonising? What is to be considered African? How is globalisation to be handled in this discourse? And more importantly, what about African culture, language and identity? This question, on language, is important. The importance of language cannot be underestimated. A language reflects the image of its origin as far as culture is concerned. As much as Africans are entitled to the use of English in everyday life, it ultimately reflects the realities of those who produce the content. For instance in many cases books written in English mostly have certain western realities leaving out the African reality and that in itself is pure neo-colonialism. Africans often complain and condemn imperialism while at the same time contributing to its spread through “expansion and dependence on the English language.” Furthermore, language is “both a means of communication and a carrier of culture.” It is a people’s reality, their worth, and true identity. The foundational tool of colonialisation on the continent was mental control, the spread of their languages, culture and identity. In his book decolonising the mind: the politics of language in African literature, Ngugi wa Thiong’o writes that “the choice of language and the use to which language is put is central to a people’s definition of themselves in relation to their natural and social environment, indeed in relation to the entire universe.” The politics of language in African literature has undermined the core value of the indigenous African languages and how Africans perceive themselves in relations to the outside world. As a consequence, in Namibia for instance, there are many young people who are trapped in the ‘metaphysical empire’. They have adopted and owned the English language as it has been imposed on them by imperialism (colonial alienation). They feel worthless and perhaps useless when they happen to wrongfully speak English as opposed to when they do the same to their mother tongue; here is a classical display of a ‘cultural bomb’, the ‘annihilation of a people’s belief in their names, in their unity, in their capacities and ultimately in themselves’. It happens even in Namibia, a person legally changing his/her name from an African origin to a western one, the feeling that living in the west is far better than in Africa, the feeling of inferiority around westerners and the idea that they are more intelligent than Africans. Such ideas from those who I say are trapped in the ‘metaphysical empire’ develops lower self-esteem in one’s self and holds back African growth and development as Africans do not seem to do much with positivity. Africans are independent and for that they ought to have shown the world that the freedom they wanted was not for anything but, for them (Africans). Chinua Achebe once asked, “Is it right that a man should abandon his mother tongue for someone else’s?” It is what he termed ‘fatalistic’ logic; considered to be a dreadful betrayal and produces a guilty feeling by those trapped in the “metaphysical empire.” It has become a critical social norm to the extent that one turns to believe that neocolonialism is purely at work. Hence, it is with no doubt that imperialism continues to influence the true essence of the African culture. Africa’s beautiful and valuable languages are taken for granted, its wisdom has become worthless, its identity lost and the spirit of Ubuntu has diminished in thin air. Africans no longer value each other, neither do they respect nor care for others. The influence of the west since colonialism lives on and this has hampered the true nature of Africa; the use of the language of the coloniser proves ones more the strength of imperialism. The use of the media and their interference in African affairs and yet the way they built the perception that Africa is not ready to govern itself, is a clear indication of the existence of colonialism. Africa can indeed blame its leaders where they have failed, but looking at the bigger picture, imperialism is one of the crucial root causes to African problems. No doubt that Africans have at least written African stories from an African perspective even though they are not written in African languages. In addition, few schools for instance in Namibia, have adopted the study of mother tongues and some parents push for the preservation of the African language by naming children indigenous names and speaking their mother tongue at home as a carrier of culture. Nonetheless, a lot is yet to be done. African people need to change the way they think, a free Africa, free from mental slavery and western interference. Africa needs proud Africans, who take Africa with wherever they go around the world so as to instill a culture of love, pride, protection and expansion of the African culture. Africa need to bring back the stories of bravery and hard work shared around the fire, the folklore told in mother tongues at night by grandparents before children went to sleep, the sharing of food amongst homesteads, kids eating in one plate so as a lesson of sharing, and the believe in the idea of wisdom that says “It takes a village to raise a child” which means every parent in your community is your parent. This does not mean abolishing the use of English; it means that African mother tongues ought to come first as far as communication is concerned. What are Africans ashamed of? Themselves? Because language is you and me, it is who we are and running away from it is doing injustice to you. Translation plays an important role in allowing cultures to communicate, therefore Africans ought to write and speak in their mother tongues and translate in English for the sake of those who do not understand, as one will not find a western writer writing in an African language. Ultimately it will bring a sense of African realities, of belonging, worth and the belief in them as African people. It is high time now that Africa begins the “quest for relevance” to realise that the issues Africa consider small such as language are the reflection of the big issues on the continent. Africans have to stand up and fix the little issues on the continent which will ultimately erase the bigger issues. The fight against imperialism is essential to winning the battle and it all starts with teaching the little ones their mother tongues in schools and building pride in them. By naming children indigenous names, producing and buying African made products that reflects African identity, as well as supporting African football and being able to dress in traditional attires with pride, not only during cultural events but on some normal days as well, slowly but surely, the rest will follow suit and Africa shall regain its culture and dignity. Nationally, the first start is the introduction of every Namibian language in schools and universities as it open doors of choice and the opportunity for the expansion of mother tongues. China has started with international scholarships that teach Chinese languages to even African people. That is the sign of imperialism and Africans need to condemn it by also taking such initiatives for its own languages.A prominent former Jamaican political leader and one of the fathers of Pan-Africanism, Marcus Mosiah Garvey ones said, “Africa for the Africans…at home and abroad.” This quote holds power, motivation and intends to build the will in the African people to stand up and rebuild the continent ones more. Enough is enough! As much as Africans shout that Africa is theirs, they then ought to show all the characters of ownership. Africa needs African solutions to African problems. Africa can do it, yes it can and Africa will. To those who doubt, “sugarcane is sweetest at its joints.” Kambarure Kaputu is a third year student studying towards a Bachelor of Public Management (Honours) at the University of Namibia *Risto Tangeni Nakanyala is studying towards a Masters of Arts in Political Science at the University of Namibia.

Engaging Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s decolonising the mind

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-13

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Engaging Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s decolonising the mind

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-13

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