Beyond Words: Languages and Culture, and their Preservation in Africa
Africa is the most linguistically diverse continent on Earth. With over 2,000 languages and dialects, the continent is home to a significant portion of the world’s linguistic and cultural heritage. Unfortunately, the survival of this collection of linguistic and cultural wealth, is threatened by globalisation, the marginalisation of minority communities, and regional assimilation efforts. An alarming 10% of African languages, particularly those spoken by small communities, are at risk of disappearing within the next century. This would be a loss of centuries of vital knowledge and identity.
This article explores the importance of preserving African languages and cultures, demonstrating how such preservation is crucial for sustainable development. In examining the factors contributing to the erosion of indigenous languages and cultures, it will demonstrate the importance of indigenous languages, and the preservation of cultures in uplifting African knowledge, empowering creative industries and improving educational outcomes.
Landscape Overview: Linguistic & Cultural Diversity in Africa
Africa is characterised by immense linguistic diversity. In East Africa alone, there are an estimated 443 living languages. These languages belong to multiple linguistic families – Bantu, Cushtic, Nilotic and Afroasiatic – reflecting historic patterns of migration, trade and cultural exchange. Widespread regional diversity means multilingualism is common, with many Africans being able to speak dominant business languages, such as English, French and Kiswahili, as well as a local mother tongue. This linguistic diversity is seen most profoundly in urban centres, where trade and economic opportunity attract people from all over the region. For example, Tanzania, in addition to its unique Swahili dialect, influenced by centuries of migration, trade and interaction with Arab, European and Asian traders, is home to 119 distinct local languages.
Widespread multilingualism provides a powerful opportunity for greater community engagement and regional cooperation. While common languages help to bridge diverse groups and are thought to promote social cohesion, nurturing marginalised indigenous languages which capture the ‘collective knowledge, morals and wisdom of African civilisations’ is equally important in preserving identities and empowering marginalised communities. Hence, policy makers should balance desires for greater national integration against the inadvertent marginalisation of diverse cultures and languages and cultures.
The Economic Promise of Language and Culture
Culture and language provide centuries of accumulated knowledge on environments, traditional medicinal practices, sustainable agricultural techniques, and effective resource management. For example, in Kenya the Nandi community’s traditional farming methods have complemented soil and water conservation efforts, making agricultural policies more locally relevant. In spite of this, African knowledge systems remain significantly under-represented in the global research community. Africa contributes only 0.4% to global research and development (R&D) expenditure, with South Africa alone accounting for 90% of that figure. This represents a significant underinvestment in documenting and developing African knowledge and prevents the discovery of valuable insights into pressing community challenges.
Language preservation could also play a key role in the development of creative industries. Nigeria’s growing film industry, Nollywood, highlights the growing market for media that reflects African lived experience. Amazingly, an estimated 56% of Nollywood films are produced in African languages, making these films an important source of language preservation through storytelling. As demand for diverse, original content grows on international streaming platforms, African stories told through local voices stands to attract audiences worldwide. However, limited language infrastructure remains a barrier to accessibility and wider audience engagement. Many young viewers, even in Nigeria, prefer English-language films due to limited exposure to or literacy in local languages.
Global and Regional Pressures on Indigenous Languages
Today, 428 African languages are classed as ‘critically endangered’ many of which are concentrated in peripheral regions. Globalisation, while creating the conditions for unprecedented growth, trade, and development in Africa, has unfortunately also accelerated the decline of Indigenous languages. Western languages clearly dominate business and industry, making learning in these languages a priority for families seeking to improve their access to economic and education opportunities
Local languages also face threats from other more dominant local languages. In addition to western languages, nationally instituted lingua francas – common languages used to standardise intergroup communication– have also worked to displace local languages. For example, in East Africa, Kiswahili has been adopted as a national language and played a pivotal role in creating a shared post-colonial identity and facilitating regional communication. While its promotion has advanced social cohesion and national unity, it can be at the cost of other local languages spoken across the region. Similar to western languages, lingua francas can contribute to language shifts as speakers gradually abandon their native tongue in favour of more socially and economically advantageous languages.
Bridging Divides: Current Initiatives and Considerations
Considering the many benefits to be gained from preserving indigenous cultures and languages, significant efforts are being made to prevent their decline. Thirty-one African countries have adopted multilingual education policies, a crucial advance that is already yielding positive results. For example, Mozambique has seen its school success rates rise by 15% as a result of teaching in the local language in just 25% of its schools. Despite advancements, there are still gaps in current policies. Out of the more than 2,000 languages spoken across Africa, only 176 are integrated into national education systems – usually at the primary school level. Even more limited is the presence of local or smaller indigenous languages: just 25% of those used in education appear at the secondary level, and a mere 5% are used in higher education.
Technology has also been a useful tool in preserving and promoting African languages. Already, transnational companies, such as Microsoft, have recognised the market potential of African linguistic diversity, and invested in Language Interface Packs (LIPs) for languages including Kiswahili, Afrikaans, Zulu, Sesotho, Setswana, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Wolof, Malagasy, isiXhosa, and Sepedi (Leboa). LIPs are software add-ons that provide a partial translation of user interfaces into specific languages, thereby making the software more accessible to native speakers. These projects are have the potential to reach and estimated 335 million people – demonstrating not only a cultural commitment but also a clear business case for local language engagement and market expansion.
However, while these efforts have strong potential, there are also concerns around the exclusion of local communities in their design. Despite the growing use of African languages in digital applications, less than 5% of AI training data involving African languages is sourced or governed by African institutions or communities. This lack of local ownership can lead to misrepresentations and risks excluding the very communities these tools aim to serve. For technology-driven preservation to be authentic and effective, it is crucial that local stakeholders are deeply involved in the development, governance, and ethical use of language data. Meaningful inclusion ensures that digital tools not only preserve but also respect and strengthen African linguistic and cultural heritage.
Conclusion
African languages and knowledge systems are powerful sources of wisdom which can contribute greatly to industry development and community governance. As Africa continues to modernise, staying true to our unique heritage and identities is a crucial step in inclusive and sustainable growth. Partnership, empowerment of local communities, and considerate policies remain crucial for protecting Africa’s unique cultural heritage and driving creativity, resilience and equitable development.
