Multilingualism and multiculturalism: why Africa is different

Pinxteren, L.M.C. van; Charamba, E.

This chapter examines specifics of African contexts relevant for teaching in multilingual and multicultural
environments. It starts with basics, pointing to a toxic cocktail of ideas that may have value in the North,
but is counterproductive in Africa. Thus, it examines ideas of ‘language’ as applied to Africa proposing
to distinguish between discerned and designed languages. If participation in education increases a tran-
sition to using a limited number of designed languages as medium of instruction will become necessary
and possible. This will overcome the current diglossic situation dominated by former colonial languages.
On culture, the chapter proposes a non-essentialist definition. Recent research shows that the old ‘tribal’
categories have lost their meaning in many (though not all) parts of Africa. An appreciation is needed
of the new cultural traditions that are emerging on the continent. Understanding Africa’s specificity will
lead to...Show moreThis chapter examines specifics of African contexts relevant for teaching in multilingual and multicultural
environments. It starts with basics, pointing to a toxic cocktail of ideas that may have value in the North,
but is counterproductive in Africa. Thus, it examines ideas of ‘language’ as applied to Africa proposing
to distinguish between discerned and designed languages. If participation in education increases a tran-
sition to using a limited number of designed languages as medium of instruction will become necessary
and possible. This will overcome the current diglossic situation dominated by former colonial languages.
On culture, the chapter proposes a non-essentialist definition. Recent research shows that the old ‘tribal’
categories have lost their meaning in many (though not all) parts of Africa. An appreciation is needed
of the new cultural traditions that are emerging on the continent. Understanding Africa’s specificity will
lead to a new research agenda and to new ideas on what teaching and learning in Africa’s multilingual
and multicultural environments mean.
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Multilingualism and multiculturalism: why Africa is different