What binds and separates us :The role of language in a multilingue country  

by Keren Mukuna  updated on February 15, 2024       

 

René Descartes, the 17th-century French philosopher, once said, “I think, therefore I am”, implying that thought was the confirmation of existence.  But couldn’t he have just said “I communicate therefore I am”, since language precedes thought?    

Language is the structured system of oral, corporeal or written signs that plays a predominant role in the construction and, above all, maintenance of human existence. We appropriate a language to build our identity and human existence, since reality necessarily involves the representation we make of it, and this representation is inseparable from the symbols that designate it. Language is what enables us to be in the world.  

According to 2024 study the 6 most spoken languages in the World are English, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, Arabic and French. Admittedly English, Spanish, and French are widely spoken because of their colonial past, where the ruler’s language was imposed on the native population. Having said that, with the World growing smaller due to travel and migration, there is definitely a need for a commonly spoken language for communication amongst the various communities, but it should not be at the cost of the disappearance of native languages. Culture and traditions are preserved by the native language spoken in an area. Therefore, there is no denying that it is important to be multilingual.  

Mother Tongue, also known as native language or first language, is used to designate the first language learned during a child’s first four years, even before learning to speak or going to school. In the firm belief that cultural and linguistic diversity are the key to sustainable societies, February 21 has been designated International Mother Language Day by UNESCO since 2000. This year, the focus is on promoting and encouraging mother-tongue-based multilingual education, in which learning begins in the language best mastered by the child, gradually introducing other languages.  

UNESCO estimates that 40% of the world’s population has no access to education without a language barrier, while the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) claims that at least 85% of African children start their school life obliged to learn in a language they have never spoken or heard. With nearly 250 Mother Tongues in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and an illiteracy rate of 29% by 2020 according to the United Nations (UN), it’s important to understand the impact of the abrupt transition from mother tongue to language of instruction on the quality of education in one of Africa’s most multilingual and multicultural countries.   

Language, a Fundamental aspect of Human identity  

Language is much more than a simple communication tool. It is a tool for identifying oneself and others. As the French linguist Émile Benveniste once said, it is in and through language that man constitutes himself as a subject. “I’m French”, “I’m Italian”, “I’m English” or “I’m Japanese” – so many forms that demonstrate the strong link between language and identity and culture. Language alone is the foundation of personality and the reality in which an individual evolves and is the basis of intellectual capacity. It is through language that culture is created and knowledge is shared and acquired. Man translates what is dear to him through language, and language evolves with him, continually reflecting the society and world around him through the prism of its speaker. When a language dies, it takes with it the culture and identity of an entire people. Language, identity and development are thus intrinsically linked, hence the importance of placing language at the heart of learning.  

 

 

Despite this close relationship between language, identity and development, Africa is the only continent not to have integrated the mother tongues spoken in everyday life into school education. With a broad linguistic heritage, the DRC has four national languages: Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo, and Tshiluba. These divide the country into four main linguistic zones and, in principle, should be used in education, the press and the courts, as they are best understood by the population. Unfortunately, in DRC, these national languages are neglected in favor of the colonial language, French.  

The impact of languages on the dissemination of knowledge  

DRC is a vibrant tapestry of linguistic diversity. This multilingual landscape is not only a testament to the country’s rich cultural heritage, but also plays an essential role in shaping its social, political, and economic dynamics.  

Languages are more than just tools for communication. They are deeply linked to identity, history and belonging, acting as threads that bind individuals to their communities and heritage. In a country as vast and culturally diverse as the DRC, languages should play a crucial role in preserving and passing on traditions, histories, and values from one generation to the next.  

But unfortunately, none of the languages that make the Congo such a multicultural country are exploited throughout the country. Swahili is used in the eastern zones, Lingala in the western zones, Tshiluba in the central zones and Kikongo in the Bandundu and Bas-Congo provinces. Nevertheless, to communicate with each other, the Congolese of these different linguistic zones resort to French, a foreign language, a cultural consequence of colonization, which serves as a linguistic link between all the peoples of the DRC, maintaining national unity.  

By relegating national languages to the background in favor of French, Congo not only complicates the dissemination of knowledge in the country, but also the incorporation of its intelligentsia – a social class engaged in the work of creating and disseminating culture – into the global academic community. This reflection is confirmed by figures from the Unesco report on science, which states that of the twenty countries with the most academic publications in the world, a majority (twelve) have an official language exclusive to the country and its border areas.   

Mireille Kasongo, promoter of “Yes! AfriCan”, declared that this was “self-evident in every country outside Africa. In France, they teach in French, they don’t even ask the question. It’s the same in Italy and elsewhere. Here in the Congo, and in many African countries, we teach in the language of the colonists. Teaching in French is not a problem for children whose mother tongue is French. I’m thinking of all the Congolese children who don’t have the right to access quality education in their own language, even though they live on their own land. […] Insofar as these children are learning new things in a language they don’t know, it puts them in difficulty and it also creates a lack of self-esteem, because they consider that “if I don’t understand, I’m stupid”.  

 To claim that thought and language are dissociable would be erroneous in the context of child education. According to the hypothesis of Benjamin Lee Whorf, an American linguist and anthropologist, it is from language that experience takes shape. Words are indispensable to the conception of reality, just as a child would question the name of an object in order to give it meaning. A meaning that is independent of the designated object, and that focuses instead on the identity of the self, others and the relationships that bind the self to others. In other words, words are not simply labels for things, but are also how we construct our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. They play a crucial role in the construction of our identity and in the way we interact with our social and cultural environment.  

Imposing instruction in another language on a child would be tantamount to demystifying a reality built up since childhood, and opposing it with another. The multilingual education program proposed by Unesco would be built on a system that runs counter to the triptych of nations promoting “one territory, one official language, one nation”. With the multilingual education program, a mother tongue of regional scope would be used for the foundations of literacy, rapidly complemented by the teaching of a mother tongue of national scope, and ending with the teaching of an international language. The current system is not a practical solution in such a linguistically rich country, as international languages are often only mastered by a minority. Applying this system not only ensures that the transition from mother tongue to international language is gradual, but also broadens and diversifies the number of participants in democratic debates and access to information. In addition, it has been recognized that preserving mother tongues in children’s education reduces the stress of adapting to a new program and facilitates the learning of secondary languages, thanks to the mental processes acquired when learning the mother tongue.  

The education system in the DRC still faces many challenges, impacting on the availability and effectiveness of teaching. We lack teachers, favorable learning environments and equity of access to education, to name but a few. Nevertheless, an education system that considers the country’s multilingualism would be a further step towards quality education accessible to all. What’s more, multilingual education would help maintain the cultures that populate the DRC and make it such a beautiful country. Identity, language and development are the same, and the DRC’s development lies behind its education.   

  

In a country as linguistically diverse as the DRC, the importance of embracing and celebrating this diversity cannot be overstated. Multilingualism offers a multitude of benefits, from promoting intercultural understanding and tolerance to enriching educational opportunities and enhancing economic prospects. By valuing and promoting linguistic diversity, the DRC can harness the full potential of its diverse population and pave the way for a more inclusive and prosperous society.  

  

Efforts to promote multilingualism in the DRC must go hand in hand with initiatives to bridge linguistic divides and promote unity. Investing in language education, promoting bilingualism and multilingualism, and fostering a culture of respect for all languages are crucial steps towards building a more cohesive and inclusive society.  

Africa, the cradle of humanity, a land that stirs the soul with its mystic allure. My soul chose to be born in a land where golden savannahs stretch far and wide. A land where one can witness the plains come alive with the rhythmic footsteps of herds embarking on their breath-taking migration in a timeless display of resilience and unity. A country that holds beauty, that enchants the senses and ignites wonder.

My land, my motherland Kenya. Born into a Kenyan family of Asian descent, a family that has lived and breathed Kenya and Africa for previous 5 generations, I can only identify as a Kenyan, a proud 6th generation African. Brought up in a family where ‘Being Human’ was the main principal belief. We have been raised with values that don’t differ greatly from those of the thousands of tribes that make up Africa – roots, heritage, family, faith, morals, principles and more.

Many years ago, I stood on stage at a speech writing contest in High School, where I described the strategy behind Muhamad Ali’s glorious win where he “floated like a butterfly, and stung like a bee” against George Foreman, in the fight forever known as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’ Years later, never even in my wildest imagination, did I imagine I would be living in the very ‘jungle’ itself, and working in the world of strategic storytelling and encouraging the amplification of Congolese voices and narratives far and wide across the globe from the heart of Africa.

Congo or as it was then called Zaire, a land that was stamped in the memory of the World as the place where Ali fought Foreman and caused a mighty Rumble in the boxing world. A battle that was immortalised in the song ‘In Zaire’ sung by Johnny Wakelin. Congo was a land everyone wanted to know about.

A land that is endowed with all the riches known to mankind. A blessed land, with a rich cultural heritage and a teeming, deserving population. A land sadly destroyed by its colonial past. Which, since its independence, is slowly trying to attain its rightful place in the World. It is here that I arrived five years back.

As I look back on my first five years of living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been moments of floating and very often, little stings. I moved to Kinshasa for love. In the beginning, I can honestly admit, it was not love for the city or the country or the people – I didn’t know enough about this 

ginormous country and the 100+ million people that fill its borders – it was personal love. But five years later, I never thought I could love a country and its people as though they were mine. That love comes from the heart that feels the mystic rhythm of the African land, and I couldn’t be prouder to call it home.

You can never shake the ancient dust of Africa off your boots – no matter how far and wide you travel.

Having lived in London for thirteen years followed by a few years in the Middle East, returning to Africa was natural. 

The love for Africa always remains in the soul. Living in the heart and soul of Central Africa, has been an adventure.

The narratives that have filled Western Media have sung a different song for many years, call it geo-politics, strategic positioning, economic control, all things aside, the story of the Congo has never really been told loudly by the Congolese themselves. From the outside looking in, the perceptions are dotted and plagued with negativity, but on the ground, the beating hearts of the Congolese are rumbling a little louder day by day towards progress, and it’s in these slivers of hope, that the true stories are revealed.

The stories that spotlight the young entrepreneur battling to build a viable business, young students carving out their careers currently into untapped and underdeveloped industries, the non-existent middle class that should build the private sector and contribute to its growth and the country’s economy, international investors building projects that create jobs and wealth for the locals as much as it does for the financial interest in the Congo. We can’t talk about changing the narrative of a country when we don’t discuss the positive changes that education, infrastructure developments, economic policies, universal health care, food self sufficiency etc can contribute towards developing Congo.

In Africa, a transformative era is on the horizon as the continent sets its sights on change and development like never before, and country examples like Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya are a testament to these positive changes. A combined drive by the Africans to build an Africa by Africans for a future developed Africa. A daunting task as a fellow African who first arrived in Kinshasa for a two-week trip which quickly extended from month to month and snowballed into creating a business in the field of strategic advisory and communications. It was created around the simple premise – the African narrative needs to be written by the Africans, and the Congolese needed a platform for their voices to be heard as far and wide across the globe.

At the heart of Africa, the center of its soul, the Congolese beats are picking up. Business is quietly picking up, post the first peaceful democratic elections. As the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi embarks on his second mandate, the world waits with bated breath for the promised change and greater development, the impact of which can be felt across the entire population. Whether its infrastructure, governance reform, education, better health, access to basic needs – there are plenty of conversations to be had. Storytelling, an essential part of Congolese culture, an oral tradition that is filled with narratives, stories, and songs, need to be told from the perceptions and opinions of the Congolese.

In the past, and especially in 2023 the power and bias of the international media came to the forefront.

Geopolitics and powerful Media Houses controlled and amplified the narrative that in their perception was important. It’s only natural to question the visibility of certain global issues over another. This raises the question about the impact of our voices when catastrophes and issues affecting an African country are narrated differently. Whether it’s election, unrest or other catastrophes affecting an African country, sometimes the western media does not consider it newsworthy because they do not have an in-depth understanding and information of the issues and disasters that affects this Continent.

There are a lot of positive changes happening as well, and these news worthy developments need to be made a part of the Global narrative. Positive or negative these conversations need to be had openly and who better than the Africans to be at the forefront of this narrative. The true voices of the Congolese need to be heard from their heart and soul and from their perspective. That’s when the true picture of the reality of their lives, struggles and aspirations emerges.

There is a need for a platform where the Congolese voices and the African voices can be heard, where views can be freely given not as a negative but as a positive approach to help bring the DRC to take its rightful place, not just in Africa but also in the World. Is it not our experiences from around the world when put together with like minded individuals – where greatness begins? Where stories and narratives become the basis for legacies.

DRConversations is the platform created as a gift for all the voices that need to be heard, for all the emotions that need to be expressed and to bring forth the dreams and aspirations of a nation on the cusp of development. Join this journey by sharing openly your knowledge and experience to make DRC a happy, positive and progressive Nation.

It’s time for another rumble in the jungle – Welcome to the conversations from the Congo.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             KS