Let’s be honest.
Some African parents will proudly say, “My child speaks English very well,” but the same child cannot hold a basic conversation in the language of their own grandparents.
Why?
Because at home, the colonial language has gradually replaced the mother tongue.
English. French. Portuguese.
There is nothing wrong with learning these languages. They are important for education, business and global communication.
But the question is:
Why should speaking our own African language become something to be ashamed of?
A child should be able to say:
🗣️ “This is my language. This is my culture. This is where my family comes from.”
Our indigenous languages carry our proverbs, history, humour, traditional knowledge, names, stories and identity.
If parents stop speaking these languages to their children, who will teach the next generation?
And this is not only about Nigeria. Across Africa, many indigenous languages are under pressure as foreign languages dominate schools, workplaces, government and sometimes even our homes.
So let’s debate this honestly:
👉🏾 Should African parents deliberately speak their indigenous language with their children at home?
👉🏾 Or is it more important for children to become fluent in English, French or another international language?
👉🏾 Can we successfully teach children BOTH?
WHAT LANGUAGE DO YOU SPEAK WITH YOUR CHILDREN AT HOME — YOUR OWN LANGUAGE OR YOUR COLONIAL LANGUAGE?
👇🏾 Be honest. Tell us your language and your country in the comments.
#AfricanLanguages #AfricanCulture #MotherTongue #AfricanIdentity #Nigeria #Yoruba #Igbo #Hausa #Africa #Culture #Language
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