The Renaissance of African Languages: An Inevitable Enterprise?

Abstract

After the demise of colonialism and apartheid which led to the emergence of a totally ‘liberated’ Africa and the birth of The African Union, one hoped for a radical shift in African Consciousness giving impetus to a resurgence of African languages so that they may carry philosophical and scientific discourse to unprecedented heights. Maintaining the primordial language policies that are dominated by European languages in sub-Saharan Africa is like putting new wine into old skins. In this regard, the question is ‘Can African languages take their rightful place?’ The aim of this article is to highlight some of the strategies that could be implemented to ensure the revitalisation and rejuvenation of African languages in sub-Saharan Africa.