This article from the Tanzanian Standard Newspapers (online) was seen via a Google alert last June. The subject is similar to an article posted on this list as message #625 (July). DZO
Make Kiswahili Africa's lingua franca, says Namibian President Pohamba http://www.dailynews-tsn.com/news.php?id=1808 [Photo inset: President Pohamba Source: Daily News Saturday] Story by: Correspondent JOHN NYOKA in Windhoek Date: 24.06.2006 NAMIBIA'S President Hifikepunye Pohamba said here on Tuesday that Kiswahili should be adopted as Africa's continental language arguing that the sooner Africa took that bold step the better for its future. As a matter of strategy, the president suggested, the language should be taught in African countries where it is best suited as a language of communication. He said teaching Kiswahili in many African countries would break the present language barrier and contribute positively to Africa's economic liberation phase. "Teaching Kiswahili in those countries would cut across the inherent tribal language barrier in Africa," the president said in a special interview he personally arranged with the 'Daily News' at the State House here. President Pohamba said Kiswahili was, by merit, an African language that belonged to no tribe, no country, or region --- but to Africa and all Africans. He called for speedy adoption of the language as a continental language. "Unlike other languages, Kiswahili is not a tribal language; nobody can claim to own it. Who owns Kiswahili? Not Tanzanians, not Kenyans, nor is it owned by Arabs. It is a question of who speaks good KIswahili but not who owns Kiswahili," the president said, adding: "If you adopt Zulu as the African language, you are in trouble. If you adopt Hausa you are in serious problems. Those languages have their owners in South Africa and West Africa. "But Kiswahili is spoken in Tanzania, Kenya, parts of Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, DR Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia and even here. Now, who owns it?" President Pohamba said African countries should learn from French in this regard. "In many countries they have centres for promoting their language. Why can't we do the same?" He said he expects the African Union to promote Kiswahili as a continental language, since it has already adopted it as one of its working languages. Namibia, he said, was ready to play its part. Namibians rejected Afrikaans that was being promoted by apartheid South Africa when it occupied Namibia. But Namibia does not have a single unifying African language. Namibia's official language is English. **************************** Disclaimer ****************************** Copyright: In accordance with Title 17, United States Code Section 107, this material is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material posted to this list for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Content: The sender does not vouch for the veracity nor the accuracy of the contents of this message, which are the sole responsibility of the copyright owner. Also, the sender does not necessarily agree or disagree with any opinions that are expressed in this message. *********************************************************************** Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
