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Why Colonialists Shamed Kenyans For Speaking Native Languages @AirlearnLanguageShow describes one person who stood up against British colonial shaming of Kenyans speaking their native languages: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (1938-2025). T he Kenyan novelist wrote many books in English until he penned “Devil on the Cross” (1980) on toilet paper... show more

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WHY WERE AFRICAN LANGUAGES MADE TO BE CONSIDERED INFERIOR? Why were Africans made to feel ashamed of their own languages? Kenyan literary giant Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o traces that question back to colonialism and to an experience that changed his own life. In 1977, Ngũgĩ was imprisoned by the Kenyan government for helping create the play “Ngaahika Ndeenda”– translated in English as "I Will Marry When I Want" – performed in Kikuyu, a local indigenous language. He had previously written plays in English critical of the post-colonial condition of his country, yet had never ended up in a maximum security prison. Ngũgĩ recounts how baffling it was for a post-colonial African government to imprison an African writer for helping produce a play in an African language. While in prison, he examined language as a tool of colonial power and concluded, “The colonizer always, in all situations, suppresses the language or the languages of the colonized and elevates their own language." Decades later, we can still see that colonial hierarchy in everyday life. If a parent wants to send a child to a “good school", that often means an English or French-speaking school. Speaking a Western language is often treated as a marker of education, class or sophistication, while our own languages and accents are too often dismissed as “local” or “backward”. Thus it’s important to remember that decolonization is not only about land, borders or political power, it’s also about whose language and whose knowledge we are taught to value.

WHY WERE AFRICAN LANGUAGES MADE TO BE CONSIDERED INFERIOR? Why were Africans made to feel ashamed of their own languages? Kenyan literary giant Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o traces that question back to colonialism and to an experience that changed his own life. In 1977, Ngũgĩ was imprisoned by the Kenyan government for helping create the play “Ngaahika Ndeenda”– translated in English as "I Will Marry When I Want" – performed in Kikuyu, a local indigenous language. He had previously written plays in English critical of the post-colonial condition of his country, yet had never ended up in a maximum security prison. Ngũgĩ recounts how baffling it was for a post-colonial African government to imprison an African writer for helping produce a play in an African language. While in prison, he examined language as a tool of colonial power and concluded, “The colonizer always, in all situations, suppresses the language or the languages of the colonized and elevates their own language." Decades later, we can still see that colonial hierarchy in everyday life. If a parent wants to send a child to a “good school", that often means an English or French-speaking school. Speaking a Western language is often treated as a marker of education, class or sophistication, while our own languages and accents are too often dismissed as “local” or “backward”. Thus it’s important to remember that decolonization is not only about land, borders or political power, it’s also about whose language and whose knowledge we are taught to value.

Sovereign Media

13,843 Aufrufe • vor 10 Tagen

HAVFY: RAPPING ON NON-NATIVE ENGLISH MOCKERY Have you ever heard native English speakers mocking someone for speaking English in a 'African accent'? While mastering the language can be important for some, Nigerian award-winning spoken-word artist Havfy (@havfy) argues it's no reason to belittle anyone. She captures this sentiment in her powerful piece, 'To the Girl in English Class,' urging us to take pride in our African identity, regardless of language fluency. Havfy reminds us that our intelligence and values are not tied to English fluency, and that an 'accent' only indicates survival. Plus, the artist relays that she is engaged in a decolonial process, where those who mock her should learn her language. We think the African accent is powerful and is an act of resistance. What's your thoughts? Video credit: @havfy Mixed and mastered: @makesenseproducer Videography: SpectrumNewMedia

HAVFY: RAPPING ON NON-NATIVE ENGLISH MOCKERY Have you ever heard native English speakers mocking someone for speaking English in a 'African accent'? While mastering the language can be important for some, Nigerian award-winning spoken-word artist Havfy (@havfy) argues it's no reason to belittle anyone. She captures this sentiment in her powerful piece, 'To the Girl in English Class,' urging us to take pride in our African identity, regardless of language fluency. Havfy reminds us that our intelligence and values are not tied to English fluency, and that an 'accent' only indicates survival. Plus, the artist relays that she is engaged in a decolonial process, where those who mock her should learn her language. We think the African accent is powerful and is an act of resistance. What's your thoughts? Video credit: @havfy Mixed and mastered: @makesenseproducer Videography: SpectrumNewMedia

African Stream

59,452 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

My (classic) interview with John McWhorter on 'Why the Ideal Number of Languages Might Be One'. He and I also discuss: • Can you communicate faster in some languages than others? (30:59) • Does learning a 2nd or 3rd language make you smarter? (01:49) • Did Shakespeare write in a foreign language, and if so, should we translate his plays? (03:47) • Do we reason in language or using pre-verbal concepts? (27:17) • Are creoles the best languages in the world — languages that ideally we would all speak? (34:44) • Should we bother to teach foreign languages in UK and US schools? (08:03) • If children aren't taught a language, how many generations does it take them to invent a fully-fledged one of their own? • Can a language ever decay and get worse at communicating what people want to say? • Does trying to save dying languages do their speakers a favour, or is it more of an imposition? (12:03) • Will AI models speak a language of their own in the future, one that humans can't understand but which better serves the tradeoffs AI models need to make? (46:40) In the full version on the podcast feed we have a bonus lecture "Why The World Looks The Same In Any Language" about why the Saphir-Whorf hypothesis is mostly baloney. Re-released on the 80,000 Hours Podcast. Links below - enjoy!

My (classic) interview with John McWhorter on 'Why the Ideal Number of Languages Might Be One'. He and I also discuss: • Can you communicate faster in some languages than others? (30:59) • Does learning a 2nd or 3rd language make you smarter? (01:49) • Did Shakespeare write in a foreign language, and if so, should we translate his plays? (03:47) • Do we reason in language or using pre-verbal concepts? (27:17) • Are creoles the best languages in the world — languages that ideally we would all speak? (34:44) • Should we bother to teach foreign languages in UK and US schools? (08:03) • If children aren't taught a language, how many generations does it take them to invent a fully-fledged one of their own? • Can a language ever decay and get worse at communicating what people want to say? • Does trying to save dying languages do their speakers a favour, or is it more of an imposition? (12:03) • Will AI models speak a language of their own in the future, one that humans can't understand but which better serves the tradeoffs AI models need to make? (46:40) In the full version on the podcast feed we have a bonus lecture "Why The World Looks The Same In Any Language" about why the Saphir-Whorf hypothesis is mostly baloney. Re-released on the 80,000 Hours Podcast. Links below - enjoy!

Rob Wiblin

25,990 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

So a video of Lynn Boylan appeared on my timeline. Out of curiosity I looked up her account, only to find she'd already blocked me despite us never having interacted. The video itself is extraordinary. Lynn Boylan argues passionately for the right to use her native language in the European Parliament. When informed she is free to speak Irish, she replies that she hadn't prepared her speech in Irish. If you're going to make linguistic rights the centrepiece of your argument, surely you'd arrive prepared to use the language you're insisting on speaking. The irony speaks for itself.

So a video of Lynn Boylan appeared on my timeline. Out of curiosity I looked up her account, only to find she'd already blocked me despite us never having interacted. The video itself is extraordinary. Lynn Boylan argues passionately for the right to use her native language in the European Parliament. When informed she is free to speak Irish, she replies that she hadn't prepared her speech in Irish. If you're going to make linguistic rights the centrepiece of your argument, surely you'd arrive prepared to use the language you're insisting on speaking. The irony speaks for itself.

Keira Connolly

22,200 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat

As a scientist and educator, I've always believed that the best scientific and health information should be accessible to everyone—not just English speakers. That's why I'm excited to share that we're working with to begin exploring dubbing of Huberman Lab content, starting with Hindi and Spanish. While I only speak English (and very questionable Spanish), these localized versions will maintain my natural speaking style and voice characteristics, making the content feel authentic and personal. While we're in the very early stages, this is an important first step toward our goal of reaching people in their native languages. You can explore some of our initial localized content here: We're committed to expanding to more languages over time, and I'd love to hear your feedback as we work to make science more accessible to all. If you speak Hindi or Spanish, I'd especially appreciate your thoughts. Does it maintain the clarity of the scientific concepts? Your insights will be invaluable as we refine this technology and consider expanding to other languages. Even if you don't speak these languages, I welcome your thoughts on how we can make this initiative even more impactful.

As a scientist and educator, I've always believed that the best scientific and health information should be accessible to everyone—not just English speakers. That's why I'm excited to share that we're working with to begin exploring dubbing of Huberman Lab content, starting with Hindi and Spanish. While I only speak English (and very questionable Spanish), these localized versions will maintain my natural speaking style and voice characteristics, making the content feel authentic and personal. While we're in the very early stages, this is an important first step toward our goal of reaching people in their native languages. You can explore some of our initial localized content here: We're committed to expanding to more languages over time, and I'd love to hear your feedback as we work to make science more accessible to all. If you speak Hindi or Spanish, I'd especially appreciate your thoughts. Does it maintain the clarity of the scientific concepts? Your insights will be invaluable as we refine this technology and consider expanding to other languages. Even if you don't speak these languages, I welcome your thoughts on how we can make this initiative even more impactful.

Andrew D. Huberman, Ph.D.

92,755 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

These are two students from my school in Senegal. One is doing math in French (she is 6 years old). The other one is explaining what he saw in a video of a Cuban man walking into Costco for the first time — in English (he is 15). Neither language is native to them. So what? They are learning them because that's how you access the world. This whole thing about “the colonizers rigged it so we’d fail by making us learn their languages” is bs. The world runs on English, and Francophone Africa's professional world runs on French. That’s it. I learned German as a kid when my family moved to Germany. Then French when we moved to France. Then English when I came to the U.S. Every single language opened doors for me. Not one of them made me less Senegalese. If 18 million Senegalese expect everything to be in Wolof, good luck. Misguided pride is stupid and keeps us behind. Let’s be pragmatic and level up with the world.

These are two students from my school in Senegal. One is doing math in French (she is 6 years old). The other one is explaining what he saw in a video of a Cuban man walking into Costco for the first time — in English (he is 15). Neither language is native to them. So what? They are learning them because that's how you access the world. This whole thing about “the colonizers rigged it so we’d fail by making us learn their languages” is bs. The world runs on English, and Francophone Africa's professional world runs on French. That’s it. I learned German as a kid when my family moved to Germany. Then French when we moved to France. Then English when I came to the U.S. Every single language opened doors for me. Not one of them made me less Senegalese. If 18 million Senegalese expect everything to be in Wolof, good luck. Misguided pride is stupid and keeps us behind. Let’s be pragmatic and level up with the world.

Magatte Wade

77,750 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten

DON’T TELL US HOW TO SPEAK! Just as any two living creatures have a common ancestor in the tree of life, so any two languages have a common tongue from which they ultimately derived. Scientists currently believe that the world’s 6,000 modern languages, from English to Mandarin, can all be traced back to a ‘mother tongue’ - an ancestral language spoken in Africa 50,000 to 70,000 years ago. Differently put: all languages are descended from primordial African! This makes it all the more galling that Africans who visit, work or live outside of the continent are often taunted and laughed at because sometimes they don’t pronounce English words ‘properly’ - even though these words are ‘deviations’ (however far removed) from African-language words. The continent’s turbulent history of colonisation is the reason for the use of European languages in African schools, commerce and governments today. However, something that is overlooked is that most Africans are accustomed to speaking multiple languages, perhaps three or more, throughout the course of a single day. That’s one reason Africans pronounce certain words with an accent - they can speak other languages fluently enough for those languages to interfere with their English. In this clip, Anna Mwalagho (@mamaafricaanna) - an African storyteller living in the United States - gives a passionate defence of the uniqueness of African accents, arguing that this diversity is something to celebrate and be proud of. Hit like if you agree. Video Credit: @mamaafricaanna (IG)

DON’T TELL US HOW TO SPEAK! Just as any two living creatures have a common ancestor in the tree of life, so any two languages have a common tongue from which they ultimately derived. Scientists currently believe that the world’s 6,000 modern languages, from English to Mandarin, can all be traced back to a ‘mother tongue’ - an ancestral language spoken in Africa 50,000 to 70,000 years ago. Differently put: all languages are descended from primordial African! This makes it all the more galling that Africans who visit, work or live outside of the continent are often taunted and laughed at because sometimes they don’t pronounce English words ‘properly’ - even though these words are ‘deviations’ (however far removed) from African-language words. The continent’s turbulent history of colonisation is the reason for the use of European languages in African schools, commerce and governments today. However, something that is overlooked is that most Africans are accustomed to speaking multiple languages, perhaps three or more, throughout the course of a single day. That’s one reason Africans pronounce certain words with an accent - they can speak other languages fluently enough for those languages to interfere with their English. In this clip, Anna Mwalagho (@mamaafricaanna) - an African storyteller living in the United States - gives a passionate defence of the uniqueness of African accents, arguing that this diversity is something to celebrate and be proud of. Hit like if you agree. Video Credit: @mamaafricaanna (IG)

African Stream

64,148 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

India is a land of many languages — but true unity stems from mutual respect, not forced conformity. Tejasvi Surya (तेजस्वी सूर्या) is a native Kannada speaker from Karnataka, just as Marathi is widely spoken across Maharashtra. While regional languages are an essential part of India's cultural identity, the employees of the Government of India primarily communicate in Hindi and English — the two official languages recognized and used across all central institutions. Expecting every central government or bank employee to fluently speak the regional language of the state they’re posted in is not just unrealistic, but also unfair. Take banking, for instance — it’s a centrally administered service. Bank employees may be posted anywhere in the country, often in states where their native language is not spoken. India’s linguistic landscape is incredibly rich — dialects and accents change every few kilometers. In such a diverse setting, Hindi, understood by a majority, and English, used officially, act as common communication bridges. These employees are here to serve and assist. If there's a problem with their service, it should be addressed constructively. But criticizing or harassing them for not speaking a local language is unjust. Should a Kannada speaker be expected to speak Punjabi in Punjab, Pahari in Himachal, or Haryanvi in Haryana? Certainly not. The recent incident involving a bank employee being targeted over a language issue is deeply unfortunate. It reflects a disturbing trend — one that threatens to sow division in the name of identity. Language is a means to connect, not to divide or degrade. India’s strength lies in its diversity. And that strength is preserved not by making everyone the same, but by recognizing, accepting, and respecting our differences. Let us not forget — dignity, respect, and service must rise above language barriers. That's the essence of a united and inclusive India.

India is a land of many languages — but true unity stems from mutual respect, not forced conformity. Tejasvi Surya (तेजस्वी सूर्या) is a native Kannada speaker from Karnataka, just as Marathi is widely spoken across Maharashtra. While regional languages are an essential part of India's cultural identity, the employees of the Government of India primarily communicate in Hindi and English — the two official languages recognized and used across all central institutions. Expecting every central government or bank employee to fluently speak the regional language of the state they’re posted in is not just unrealistic, but also unfair. Take banking, for instance — it’s a centrally administered service. Bank employees may be posted anywhere in the country, often in states where their native language is not spoken. India’s linguistic landscape is incredibly rich — dialects and accents change every few kilometers. In such a diverse setting, Hindi, understood by a majority, and English, used officially, act as common communication bridges. These employees are here to serve and assist. If there's a problem with their service, it should be addressed constructively. But criticizing or harassing them for not speaking a local language is unjust. Should a Kannada speaker be expected to speak Punjabi in Punjab, Pahari in Himachal, or Haryanvi in Haryana? Certainly not. The recent incident involving a bank employee being targeted over a language issue is deeply unfortunate. It reflects a disturbing trend — one that threatens to sow division in the name of identity. Language is a means to connect, not to divide or degrade. India’s strength lies in its diversity. And that strength is preserved not by making everyone the same, but by recognizing, accepting, and respecting our differences. Let us not forget — dignity, respect, and service must rise above language barriers. That's the essence of a united and inclusive India.

𝐌𝐫.𝐑𝐚𝐣 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭

64,028 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

👽 In 1969, one of Britain’s best-known astronomers, Patrick Moore, interviewed a man who claimed he could speak and write languages from other planets. Venusian. Plutonian. Krügerian — from Krüger-60b. His name was Bernard Byron, and he claimed to know 17 extraterrestrial languages. He said they had been transmitted to him by “rays” from extraterrestrials. Moore asked him to demonstrate. Byron spoke them. He wrote them down. Then he translated the writing. One message supposedly said they were here for a purpose involving Earth and would reveal it later. Then Byron made a prediction: “Before long in 1969, we are going to show you proof.” What's fascinating isn't whether Byron was actually speaking alien languages. It's that Patrick Moore was documenting claims like this on British television during the height of the UFO era. And Byron wasn't entirely unique. Other alleged contactees reported receiving extraterrestrial languages through telepathy, while UFO researchers later collected and compared samples of supposed “alien writing.” A strange snapshot of UFO history that has largely been forgotten.

👽 In 1969, one of Britain’s best-known astronomers, Patrick Moore, interviewed a man who claimed he could speak and write languages from other planets. Venusian. Plutonian. Krügerian — from Krüger-60b. His name was Bernard Byron, and he claimed to know 17 extraterrestrial languages. He said they had been transmitted to him by “rays” from extraterrestrials. Moore asked him to demonstrate. Byron spoke them. He wrote them down. Then he translated the writing. One message supposedly said they were here for a purpose involving Earth and would reveal it later. Then Byron made a prediction: “Before long in 1969, we are going to show you proof.” What's fascinating isn't whether Byron was actually speaking alien languages. It's that Patrick Moore was documenting claims like this on British television during the height of the UFO era. And Byron wasn't entirely unique. Other alleged contactees reported receiving extraterrestrial languages through telepathy, while UFO researchers later collected and compared samples of supposed “alien writing.” A strange snapshot of UFO history that has largely been forgotten.

High Strangeness

106,294 Aufrufe • vor 12 Tagen

Do babies develop accents even before they can speak conventionally? The short answer is yes… and these linguistic markers begin even sooner than you might think. So many of you tagged me in this video yesterday featuring an infant that babbles with the same Scouse accent as his mother. Other than “no” he doesn’t speak a single conventional word, but listen to how the rhythm and intonation of his vocalizations mirror those to which he is exposed daily. As hearing becomes functional during the third trimester, infants are exposed to the distinct patterns of their mothers’ native language - with studies suggesting newborns can already distinguish (and prefer) what will become their native tongue only hours after birth. Incredibly this learning doesn’t wait until the babbling stage to evidence itself. Research suggests that even the cries of newborns reflect this preference. That’s right: babies cry with an accent. One major study on the topic showed that French babies cry with a rising intonation, while German infants favor a falling melody - both reflecting the patterns of their native languages. We’re only just beginning to understand the deep learning that begins in utero. It’s just more evidence that the period from prenatal to three is the most critical window in all of human development. This little Liverpudlian was shared to TT by iamcustardpot.

Do babies develop accents even before they can speak conventionally? The short answer is yes… and these linguistic markers begin even sooner than you might think. So many of you tagged me in this video yesterday featuring an infant that babbles with the same Scouse accent as his mother. Other than “no” he doesn’t speak a single conventional word, but listen to how the rhythm and intonation of his vocalizations mirror those to which he is exposed daily. As hearing becomes functional during the third trimester, infants are exposed to the distinct patterns of their mothers’ native language - with studies suggesting newborns can already distinguish (and prefer) what will become their native tongue only hours after birth. Incredibly this learning doesn’t wait until the babbling stage to evidence itself. Research suggests that even the cries of newborns reflect this preference. That’s right: babies cry with an accent. One major study on the topic showed that French babies cry with a rising intonation, while German infants favor a falling melody - both reflecting the patterns of their native languages. We’re only just beginning to understand the deep learning that begins in utero. It’s just more evidence that the period from prenatal to three is the most critical window in all of human development. This little Liverpudlian was shared to TT by iamcustardpot.

Dan Wuori

2,987,162 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

COLDEST BRITISH CONFESSION YET Mere years after presiding over the Nuremberg trials, Britain was unleashing the same horror on their colonies in Africa. During the struggle for independence in Kenya, unspeakable abuse was meted out to the displaced native population, whose only crime was wanting their land back. In this clip, the callousness of Britain is on full display in the form of a colonial-era British officer, Terence Gavanagh, responsible for torturing thousands of Kenyans on suspicion of their involvement with the Mau Mau freedom fighters. For his services, the Queen awarded this dishonourable man with one of the British Crown's most esteemed accolades, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). While some call for letting all that be water under the bridge, others are raising questions about the incumbent head of state, King Charles III, who has refused to apologise. He instead expressed 'regret' for these and other crimes. Plus, the British project remains intact. British conservancies control nearly 8 per cent of Kenya, uprooting local communities. Major tea-producing companies, such as Finlay and Unilever, continue occupying land more than six decades after supposed independence. This clip is from a 2002 BBC documentary, 'Kenya: White Terror,' which caught heat from the UK's Office of Communications (OFCOM) for 'mishandling' the interview with Gavanagh. The British regulatory service should have appreciated the honest line of questioning toward a decorated former colonial British officer. We certainly did. Let us know what you think in the comments.

COLDEST BRITISH CONFESSION YET Mere years after presiding over the Nuremberg trials, Britain was unleashing the same horror on their colonies in Africa. During the struggle for independence in Kenya, unspeakable abuse was meted out to the displaced native population, whose only crime was wanting their land back. In this clip, the callousness of Britain is on full display in the form of a colonial-era British officer, Terence Gavanagh, responsible for torturing thousands of Kenyans on suspicion of their involvement with the Mau Mau freedom fighters. For his services, the Queen awarded this dishonourable man with one of the British Crown's most esteemed accolades, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). While some call for letting all that be water under the bridge, others are raising questions about the incumbent head of state, King Charles III, who has refused to apologise. He instead expressed 'regret' for these and other crimes. Plus, the British project remains intact. British conservancies control nearly 8 per cent of Kenya, uprooting local communities. Major tea-producing companies, such as Finlay and Unilever, continue occupying land more than six decades after supposed independence. This clip is from a 2002 BBC documentary, 'Kenya: White Terror,' which caught heat from the UK's Office of Communications (OFCOM) for 'mishandling' the interview with Gavanagh. The British regulatory service should have appreciated the honest line of questioning toward a decorated former colonial British officer. We certainly did. Let us know what you think in the comments.

African Stream

44,911 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

This video posted by Gayton McKenzie, the Sports Minister of South Africa, is important for us as Africans, although the lesson I take from it is different from the one he intended. But thanks to him for sharing it, because it touches on something fundamental that many of our leaders still do not understand. I have said for decades in Zimbabwe that it was political foolishness not to make Ndebele and Shona compulsory in all schools. Not because one group must be elevated over another, but because language expands the mind. My mother taught me two things about language when I was growing up; the more languages you speak, the more your mind opens, and language is business. This is why the Chinese learn Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, and other African languages. They do not feel “undermined” by it. They know exactly what they are doing. They are opening markets and embedding themselves where opportunities lie. It is called strategic intelligence. It is unbelievable that for 45 years Zimbabwean political leaders have refused to make Ndebele compulsory. I have always argued that Ndebele is not just a cultural language, it is a business language. Our biggest trading partner is South Africa. They speak Zulu, which is closely related to Ndebele. If you speak Ndebele and you arrive in Johannesburg, Durban or Cape Town, you are immediately at home. You understand them, they understand you. Business becomes easier. When you speak a person’s language, you speak to their heart. That is what Nelson Mandela meant. And if you look at everyday life, Shona-speaking traders travel to South Africa more than they travel anywhere else. Yet they cannot speak the language that dominates that market but is spoken in their country. That is an economic loss created by political short-sightedness. The Chinese are not learning African languages for fun. They learn them to do business and, yes, even for espionage. Meanwhile, some Zimbabwean politicians discourage their own people from learning languages that would empower them, while their own children are fluent in French, English, Portuguese, and Mandarin. Across Africa, the most widely used languages outside vernacular ones are English, French, and Portuguese, with Spanish in Equatorial Guinea. Yet you still hear politicians calling French “neocolonial” if ordinary children are taught it, while their own children attend French schools, hold foreign passports, and work in international institutions. Look at Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government. Several senior officials hold American, British, Australian, or European passports. Nick Mangwana is a British citizen, yet he insults Zimbabweans who take up British citizenship. That level of hypocrisy tells you everything. Serious countries invest in language. Britain and America have entire divisions staffed by people who specialise in Mandarin and Arabic. These are the most sought-after languages in global intelligence and diplomacy. They do this for national self-interest. We should do the same. When I was studying Film at Brunel University in England, I tried to enrol in a Mandarin course. I could not get in. The moment the registration link went live, every place was taken. The British understand the value of language. That is why if you visit China today, you will find Chinese people who speak Shona. They study us more seriously than we study ourselves. It breaks my heart that 45 years after independence, Zimbabwean leaders still do not understand the importance of teaching Ndebele compulsorily. Someone will ask, what about Shangani? But the point I am making is simple, Ndebele is economically strategic for Zimbabwe. It is the bridge language to our biggest market. When you speak Zulu in South Africa, even Xhosa speakers will understand you. It is a regional business language, and every Zimbabwean should know it. I am 54 years old. It is too late for me. But young Zimbabweans must be given this advantage. Languages also reduce political toxicity. I speak Zezuru, chiManyika, and Karanga because I went to school in the Midlands and I am Barwe. I can switch between them easily. It dismantles ethnic suspicion. If I had learned Ndebele, it would have enriched my life even more, especially now that I partly live in South Africa. Now coming to international languages. If French were made compulsory in Zimbabwean schools, job and business opportunities for our children would double instantly. Half of Africa speaks French. We speak English, but we do not speak French. That puts us at a disadvantage. If you go to the DRC or Congo-Brazzaville or Côte d’Ivoire or Senegal, French opens doors. With French, you do business without interpreters. Countries with intelligent leadership understand this. Look at Rwanda. Today they are bilingual in international languages. If you speak English, they respond in English. If you speak French, they respond in French. That is leadership. Not this village thinking that learning another language “undermines culture”. If we were serious about Pan-Africanism, I should be able to go to Algeria and work there because I speak French. An Algerian should be able to work in Zimbabwe because they speak English. That is how continental integration works. If we had serious thinkers at the African Union instead of political actors, Africa would be far ahead. Africa is the richest continent in the world in minerals, yet we remain poor because of leaders who cannot grasp basic developmental logic. It breaks my heart to see Zimbabweans miss opportunities simply because they do not speak French or Ndebele. They lose jobs, lose contracts, lose global relevance. Meanwhile, the elites’ children speak these languages fluently and work at the United Nations. When you apply for a UN job, the first question from Zimbabwe is often, “Do you speak French?” It immediately puts you ahead of others if the answer is yes. I pray that one day Zimbabwe will have leadership that understands these simple, basic, yet transformative principles. Because language is not politics. Language is power. Language is economics. Language is opportunity. Language is the future. Now, some will argue that those who want to speak Ndebele should simply learn it on their own. But that is not how any serious society operates if it wants genuine transformation. Languages are taught institutionally, through schools, not left to chance or to individual families. Before children learn about Picasso or the Renaissance, they should be grounded in languages that will shape their economic, social, and intellectual futures. If you leave it to parents, you immediately create inequality. What happens to a child whose parents are poor, who cannot afford private lessons, or who do not understand the long-term economic value of languages? That child is left behind through no fault of their own. This is exactly why government exists, to intervene where inequality would otherwise reproduce itself, and to make sure that opportunities are structured, not accidental. When languages are taught at school, they become institutional, accessible, and universal. They stop being optional and become part of a national developmental strategy. That is how you build a society that transforms itself economically, intellectually, and socially. That is how you open the minds of citizens and give every child, rich or poor, a genuine chance to compete in the region, on the continent, and in the world.

This video posted by Gayton McKenzie, the Sports Minister of South Africa, is important for us as Africans, although the lesson I take from it is different from the one he intended. But thanks to him for sharing it, because it touches on something fundamental that many of our leaders still do not understand. I have said for decades in Zimbabwe that it was political foolishness not to make Ndebele and Shona compulsory in all schools. Not because one group must be elevated over another, but because language expands the mind. My mother taught me two things about language when I was growing up; the more languages you speak, the more your mind opens, and language is business. This is why the Chinese learn Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, and other African languages. They do not feel “undermined” by it. They know exactly what they are doing. They are opening markets and embedding themselves where opportunities lie. It is called strategic intelligence. It is unbelievable that for 45 years Zimbabwean political leaders have refused to make Ndebele compulsory. I have always argued that Ndebele is not just a cultural language, it is a business language. Our biggest trading partner is South Africa. They speak Zulu, which is closely related to Ndebele. If you speak Ndebele and you arrive in Johannesburg, Durban or Cape Town, you are immediately at home. You understand them, they understand you. Business becomes easier. When you speak a person’s language, you speak to their heart. That is what Nelson Mandela meant. And if you look at everyday life, Shona-speaking traders travel to South Africa more than they travel anywhere else. Yet they cannot speak the language that dominates that market but is spoken in their country. That is an economic loss created by political short-sightedness. The Chinese are not learning African languages for fun. They learn them to do business and, yes, even for espionage. Meanwhile, some Zimbabwean politicians discourage their own people from learning languages that would empower them, while their own children are fluent in French, English, Portuguese, and Mandarin. Across Africa, the most widely used languages outside vernacular ones are English, French, and Portuguese, with Spanish in Equatorial Guinea. Yet you still hear politicians calling French “neocolonial” if ordinary children are taught it, while their own children attend French schools, hold foreign passports, and work in international institutions. Look at Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government. Several senior officials hold American, British, Australian, or European passports. Nick Mangwana is a British citizen, yet he insults Zimbabweans who take up British citizenship. That level of hypocrisy tells you everything. Serious countries invest in language. Britain and America have entire divisions staffed by people who specialise in Mandarin and Arabic. These are the most sought-after languages in global intelligence and diplomacy. They do this for national self-interest. We should do the same. When I was studying Film at Brunel University in England, I tried to enrol in a Mandarin course. I could not get in. The moment the registration link went live, every place was taken. The British understand the value of language. That is why if you visit China today, you will find Chinese people who speak Shona. They study us more seriously than we study ourselves. It breaks my heart that 45 years after independence, Zimbabwean leaders still do not understand the importance of teaching Ndebele compulsorily. Someone will ask, what about Shangani? But the point I am making is simple, Ndebele is economically strategic for Zimbabwe. It is the bridge language to our biggest market. When you speak Zulu in South Africa, even Xhosa speakers will understand you. It is a regional business language, and every Zimbabwean should know it. I am 54 years old. It is too late for me. But young Zimbabweans must be given this advantage. Languages also reduce political toxicity. I speak Zezuru, chiManyika, and Karanga because I went to school in the Midlands and I am Barwe. I can switch between them easily. It dismantles ethnic suspicion. If I had learned Ndebele, it would have enriched my life even more, especially now that I partly live in South Africa. Now coming to international languages. If French were made compulsory in Zimbabwean schools, job and business opportunities for our children would double instantly. Half of Africa speaks French. We speak English, but we do not speak French. That puts us at a disadvantage. If you go to the DRC or Congo-Brazzaville or Côte d’Ivoire or Senegal, French opens doors. With French, you do business without interpreters. Countries with intelligent leadership understand this. Look at Rwanda. Today they are bilingual in international languages. If you speak English, they respond in English. If you speak French, they respond in French. That is leadership. Not this village thinking that learning another language “undermines culture”. If we were serious about Pan-Africanism, I should be able to go to Algeria and work there because I speak French. An Algerian should be able to work in Zimbabwe because they speak English. That is how continental integration works. If we had serious thinkers at the African Union instead of political actors, Africa would be far ahead. Africa is the richest continent in the world in minerals, yet we remain poor because of leaders who cannot grasp basic developmental logic. It breaks my heart to see Zimbabweans miss opportunities simply because they do not speak French or Ndebele. They lose jobs, lose contracts, lose global relevance. Meanwhile, the elites’ children speak these languages fluently and work at the United Nations. When you apply for a UN job, the first question from Zimbabwe is often, “Do you speak French?” It immediately puts you ahead of others if the answer is yes. I pray that one day Zimbabwe will have leadership that understands these simple, basic, yet transformative principles. Because language is not politics. Language is power. Language is economics. Language is opportunity. Language is the future. Now, some will argue that those who want to speak Ndebele should simply learn it on their own. But that is not how any serious society operates if it wants genuine transformation. Languages are taught institutionally, through schools, not left to chance or to individual families. Before children learn about Picasso or the Renaissance, they should be grounded in languages that will shape their economic, social, and intellectual futures. If you leave it to parents, you immediately create inequality. What happens to a child whose parents are poor, who cannot afford private lessons, or who do not understand the long-term economic value of languages? That child is left behind through no fault of their own. This is exactly why government exists, to intervene where inequality would otherwise reproduce itself, and to make sure that opportunities are structured, not accidental. When languages are taught at school, they become institutional, accessible, and universal. They stop being optional and become part of a national developmental strategy. That is how you build a society that transforms itself economically, intellectually, and socially. That is how you open the minds of citizens and give every child, rich or poor, a genuine chance to compete in the region, on the continent, and in the world.

Hopewell Chin’ono

133,497 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten

Few people grasp the true significance of an English-speaking Pope As someone who’s lived abroad for several years, I can tell you this — no matter how well you learn a language, it’s always foreign The simple fact that Pope Leo himself — not to mention all Americans — can now express himself perfectly, deftly, and eloquently in his native tongue (which is also the world’s lingua franca) is revolutionary First, it flips the tables on the games reporters played in the past by purposefully mistranslating or spinning the words of pontiffs (you still don’t know just how bad this was) Second, it opens up missions opportunities the world over. Yes, previous popes have spoken foreign languages. But their use of those languages is typically limited to use during specific events/visits After their own native language, people are typically most comfortable with English. They will now be able to understand Pope Leo when he speaks his native tongue — and, consequently, when he is most himself. (More on this in the next point. But the fact that English is best known amongst younger generations should not be lost on you here either) Third, the fact that Pope Leo XIV is from the United States will open up lines of dialogue we’ve never seen before. This is not only because of language, but because of CULTURE For ex, the first place I ever lived abroad was Buenos Aires, and it was while Pope Francis was still archbishop there. Because I was younger, I soaked up much more of the language and culture than I have in experiences since I mention this simply to say that every time Pope Francis spoke his native castellano (Spanish), I felt like he was a different man to the one I knew when he spokeEnglish or Italian. He was simply more himself. And even though Spanish was a foreign language for ME, I still felt like I knew him better when he spoke it But even more powerful here is culture. Most Americans like to think we’re quite similar to the Europeans, but it’s simply not true. In fact, the veneer of similarity often leads to even more deep-level misunderstandings The fact Americans and the Pope now have direct lines of communication to one another — not just linguistically, but culturally — is a watershed moment. I expect LOTS of misunderstandings between American Catholics and the global Church to be cleared up during this pontificate. More inroads to goodwill, more inroads to unity. Many good things to come Lastly, think briefly about how this spills into the world of politics. Last time JD Vance (Vice President of the US) met the pope, it was an American meeting and Argentinian in an Italian cultural context. Next time JD Vance meets the pope, it will be two Americans meeting. They will speak the same language. They will share the same culture. The barriers to arriving at a sympathetic and potentially even friendly mutual understanding — while not non-existent — are lower than they’ve ever been I could write more, but I’ll stop before this becomes a novel Suffice it to say, there is much to be hopeful for There is much to look forward to

Few people grasp the true significance of an English-speaking Pope As someone who’s lived abroad for several years, I can tell you this — no matter how well you learn a language, it’s always foreign The simple fact that Pope Leo himself — not to mention all Americans — can now express himself perfectly, deftly, and eloquently in his native tongue (which is also the world’s lingua franca) is revolutionary First, it flips the tables on the games reporters played in the past by purposefully mistranslating or spinning the words of pontiffs (you still don’t know just how bad this was) Second, it opens up missions opportunities the world over. Yes, previous popes have spoken foreign languages. But their use of those languages is typically limited to use during specific events/visits After their own native language, people are typically most comfortable with English. They will now be able to understand Pope Leo when he speaks his native tongue — and, consequently, when he is most himself. (More on this in the next point. But the fact that English is best known amongst younger generations should not be lost on you here either) Third, the fact that Pope Leo XIV is from the United States will open up lines of dialogue we’ve never seen before. This is not only because of language, but because of CULTURE For ex, the first place I ever lived abroad was Buenos Aires, and it was while Pope Francis was still archbishop there. Because I was younger, I soaked up much more of the language and culture than I have in experiences since I mention this simply to say that every time Pope Francis spoke his native castellano (Spanish), I felt like he was a different man to the one I knew when he spokeEnglish or Italian. He was simply more himself. And even though Spanish was a foreign language for ME, I still felt like I knew him better when he spoke it But even more powerful here is culture. Most Americans like to think we’re quite similar to the Europeans, but it’s simply not true. In fact, the veneer of similarity often leads to even more deep-level misunderstandings The fact Americans and the Pope now have direct lines of communication to one another — not just linguistically, but culturally — is a watershed moment. I expect LOTS of misunderstandings between American Catholics and the global Church to be cleared up during this pontificate. More inroads to goodwill, more inroads to unity. Many good things to come Lastly, think briefly about how this spills into the world of politics. Last time JD Vance (Vice President of the US) met the pope, it was an American meeting and Argentinian in an Italian cultural context. Next time JD Vance meets the pope, it will be two Americans meeting. They will speak the same language. They will share the same culture. The barriers to arriving at a sympathetic and potentially even friendly mutual understanding — while not non-existent — are lower than they’ve ever been I could write more, but I’ll stop before this becomes a novel Suffice it to say, there is much to be hopeful for There is much to look forward to

Evan Amato

419,390 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

One man gave you more words than anyone in history. He was nobody. His father made gloves. Grammar school. No university. The university playwrights called him an "upstart crow." He sat down and wrote. Bedroom. Lonely. Generous. Assassination. Eyeball. Dawn. Swagger. Gossip. Vulnerable. Words that didn't exist until he wrote them. Break the ice. Wild goose chase. Heart of gold. In a pickle. Good riddance. Brave new world. 135 phrases. Still in your mouth today. He didn't write for aristocrats. He built a theatre. The Globe. Three thousand people. One penny to get in. Porters. Servants. Apprentices. They called them the penny-stinkers. This wasn't the opera. This was the cinema. 4 billion copies sold. 1,000 films. The Lion King is Hamlet. 33,000 citations in the Oxford English Dictionary. The most quoted person in the entire dictionary. Second only to the Bible. He was one man. A glove-maker's son from a market town in the Midlands. Who wrote for penny-paying groundlings. And gave the world a language. You're still speaking it now. You are the reason we can tell these stories. Not sponsors. Not advertisers. You. Be Proud Of Us. 🇬🇧

One man gave you more words than anyone in history. He was nobody. His father made gloves. Grammar school. No university. The university playwrights called him an "upstart crow." He sat down and wrote. Bedroom. Lonely. Generous. Assassination. Eyeball. Dawn. Swagger. Gossip. Vulnerable. Words that didn't exist until he wrote them. Break the ice. Wild goose chase. Heart of gold. In a pickle. Good riddance. Brave new world. 135 phrases. Still in your mouth today. He didn't write for aristocrats. He built a theatre. The Globe. Three thousand people. One penny to get in. Porters. Servants. Apprentices. They called them the penny-stinkers. This wasn't the opera. This was the cinema. 4 billion copies sold. 1,000 films. The Lion King is Hamlet. 33,000 citations in the Oxford English Dictionary. The most quoted person in the entire dictionary. Second only to the Bible. He was one man. A glove-maker's son from a market town in the Midlands. Who wrote for penny-paying groundlings. And gave the world a language. You're still speaking it now. You are the reason we can tell these stories. Not sponsors. Not advertisers. You. Be Proud Of Us. 🇬🇧

Proudofus.uk

70,861 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten

Watch a Mau Mau revolutionary explain how he resisted British colonialism, and why the fight isn't over. Maina wa Murigu took up arms against British colonial rule and is still waiting for his land back, more than six decades after independence. Speaking from Nairobi on Kenya's 63rd Madaraka Day, he described fighting British soldiers with machetes, seizing their weapons and retreating into the forests. Madaraka Day, marked every June 1, commemorates the day Kenya achieved self-rule from Britain in 1963. "Our parents died without ever getting justice," he said. "We are soon following them." Britain's response to the uprising was a state of emergency lasting from 1952 to 1959. The Kenya Human Rights Commission estimates 90,000 Kenyans were executed, tortured or maimed. 160,000 were detained. Nazi-style concentration camps held over 1.5 million more. Documents recording the atrocities were later destroyed or hidden by British authorities.

Watch a Mau Mau revolutionary explain how he resisted British colonialism, and why the fight isn't over. Maina wa Murigu took up arms against British colonial rule and is still waiting for his land back, more than six decades after independence. Speaking from Nairobi on Kenya's 63rd Madaraka Day, he described fighting British soldiers with machetes, seizing their weapons and retreating into the forests. Madaraka Day, marked every June 1, commemorates the day Kenya achieved self-rule from Britain in 1963. "Our parents died without ever getting justice," he said. "We are soon following them." Britain's response to the uprising was a state of emergency lasting from 1952 to 1959. The Kenya Human Rights Commission estimates 90,000 Kenyans were executed, tortured or maimed. 160,000 were detained. Nazi-style concentration camps held over 1.5 million more. Documents recording the atrocities were later destroyed or hidden by British authorities.

comra

77,581 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

Dear Andrew Bolt of Sky News, Dear Patrick Christys of GB News, On behalf of Africa, I thank your white British colonial slave trader ancestors for gifting Africa the English language. Before their arrival in Africa, our ancestors including our own slave traders had no languages. They sat under trees sadly eating amarula, guava, plantain and mango fruits, saying nothing to each other the whole day while occassionally slaughtering each other, an activity that your very peaceful cute British ancestors never engaged in. Sometimes our African ancestors fished, hunted wild meat and watched lions walk by as they quietly made vuvuzelas hoping to blow them one day, while silently chewing on sumptous 'mutura' African sausage made from succulent fresh human meat. Africa was as quiet as the graves of your British colonial slave trader ancestors. Africans could not speak. They could not sing. They could not pray. They had no god. They sat all day waiting for a white saviour of their dark continent. Meanwhile, and luckily, your white British colonial slave trader ancestors were touched by the holy spirit to bring English to Africa halleluhya amen, oh praise the Lord! And suddenly, across all the territories that your British colonial slave trader ancestors traversed in Africa, for the first time ever, people started speaking to each other, suddenly there was song, dance and happiness. Formerly severely depressed Africans suddenly became very happy. As African societies had zero rules, they were overjoyed to adapt the rules and democracy of your British colonial slave trader ancestors. As they knew nothing about how rules govern a society, they democratically bowed at your British colonial slave trader ancestors daily, in immense gratitude. After your British colonial slave trader ancestors democratically departed from Africa, after spending several very peaceful democratically institutionalised decades, Africans just decided to imitate your colonial British slave trader ancestors. Suddenly, Africans started inventing new languages in the 1950s and 1960s. See, we had zero before. Today, thanks to your slave trader British colonial ancestors, over 2500 languages are spoken across Africa's 55 countries. I mean, wow! what an achievement by your British slave trader colonial ancestors in less than a century! Africans only started making music using these African languages after they heard your British slave trader colonial ancestors singing in English. Surely, what an achievement by your British slave trader colonial ancestors! Because of the democratic love some Africans such as my Kenyan grandfathers felt for your democratic British colonial slave trader ancestors, my grandfather and his friends built democratic concentration camps and democratically imprisoned themselves. They democratically castrated their own testicles and chopped off their pennises to give fine fresh blood offerings to your god, yes the great one your British colonial slave trader ancestors brought with them. Yes, that god of "slaves obey your masters." Obey even inside Mau Mau Concentration Camps. I mean, poor Africans had no god, no worship and no deity. My ancestors even freely democratically moved from their lands so that your democratic ancestors could democtratically occupy, grow coffee and tea. Oh, as wise as my ancestors were, they knew if the British did not take and occupy the land, the French or Portuguese would take it as genius Sir Patrick Christys very intelligently argues in the attached video. Where else have we recently seen a house being democratically taken because "if I don't steal it someone else will?" Pure genius. Ah democracy. So, my ancestors freely democratically moved from fertile forest land so that your British slave trader colonial ancestors could enjoy long loud merry democratic sex orgies in a place my own ancestors democratically named 'Aberdare Ranges' so as to The Bolt Report Patrick Christys Akeem Sky News Department of African and African American Studies GB News

Dear Andrew Bolt of Sky News, Dear Patrick Christys of GB News, On behalf of Africa, I thank your white British colonial slave trader ancestors for gifting Africa the English language. Before their arrival in Africa, our ancestors including our own slave traders had no languages. They sat under trees sadly eating amarula, guava, plantain and mango fruits, saying nothing to each other the whole day while occassionally slaughtering each other, an activity that your very peaceful cute British ancestors never engaged in. Sometimes our African ancestors fished, hunted wild meat and watched lions walk by as they quietly made vuvuzelas hoping to blow them one day, while silently chewing on sumptous 'mutura' African sausage made from succulent fresh human meat. Africa was as quiet as the graves of your British colonial slave trader ancestors. Africans could not speak. They could not sing. They could not pray. They had no god. They sat all day waiting for a white saviour of their dark continent. Meanwhile, and luckily, your white British colonial slave trader ancestors were touched by the holy spirit to bring English to Africa halleluhya amen, oh praise the Lord! And suddenly, across all the territories that your British colonial slave trader ancestors traversed in Africa, for the first time ever, people started speaking to each other, suddenly there was song, dance and happiness. Formerly severely depressed Africans suddenly became very happy. As African societies had zero rules, they were overjoyed to adapt the rules and democracy of your British colonial slave trader ancestors. As they knew nothing about how rules govern a society, they democratically bowed at your British colonial slave trader ancestors daily, in immense gratitude. After your British colonial slave trader ancestors democratically departed from Africa, after spending several very peaceful democratically institutionalised decades, Africans just decided to imitate your colonial British slave trader ancestors. Suddenly, Africans started inventing new languages in the 1950s and 1960s. See, we had zero before. Today, thanks to your slave trader British colonial ancestors, over 2500 languages are spoken across Africa's 55 countries. I mean, wow! what an achievement by your British slave trader colonial ancestors in less than a century! Africans only started making music using these African languages after they heard your British slave trader colonial ancestors singing in English. Surely, what an achievement by your British slave trader colonial ancestors! Because of the democratic love some Africans such as my Kenyan grandfathers felt for your democratic British colonial slave trader ancestors, my grandfather and his friends built democratic concentration camps and democratically imprisoned themselves. They democratically castrated their own testicles and chopped off their pennises to give fine fresh blood offerings to your god, yes the great one your British colonial slave trader ancestors brought with them. Yes, that god of "slaves obey your masters." Obey even inside Mau Mau Concentration Camps. I mean, poor Africans had no god, no worship and no deity. My ancestors even freely democratically moved from their lands so that your democratic ancestors could democtratically occupy, grow coffee and tea. Oh, as wise as my ancestors were, they knew if the British did not take and occupy the land, the French or Portuguese would take it as genius Sir Patrick Christys very intelligently argues in the attached video. Where else have we recently seen a house being democratically taken because "if I don't steal it someone else will?" Pure genius. Ah democracy. So, my ancestors freely democratically moved from fertile forest land so that your British slave trader colonial ancestors could enjoy long loud merry democratic sex orgies in a place my own ancestors democratically named 'Aberdare Ranges' so as to The Bolt Report Patrick Christys Akeem Sky News Department of African and African American Studies GB News

Dr. John Njenga Karugia PhD.

155,127 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

This is Kenyan President William Ruto boasting that Kenyans speak better English than Nigerians 🤣🤣🤣 He is confusing accent with diction. When African presidents boast that their citizens speak “better English” than others, they are not demonstrating a strong education system, as Ruto claims, they are showcasing a deep inferiority complex rooted in colonial conditioning. English is a colonial language, not a measure of intelligence, capability, or national progress. You can be fully fluent in a language and still have an accent that is difficult for some listeners to understand, as Nigerians do. Fluency means you have a strong command of vocabulary, grammar, and the ability to express ideas. Accent, on the other hand, relates to pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation, which are shaped by your first language and speech environment, which is what Ruto is confusing with good English. Has he ever had someone from Scotland, Liverpool, or Birmingham speak? Accents are a natural linguistic outcome, not a measure of education. They emerge from the influence of a person’s first language, the sounds and speech patterns they grow up with, and the environment in which they learn and use another language. Every language has its own phonetic structure, and when people speak a second language like English, those underlying patterns shape pronunciation, rhythm, and tone. That is why accents vary across regions and countries. They reflect history, identity, and exposure, not intellectual or educational superiority. I know that there is some kind of tension between Nigeria and Kenya, but such misleading statements undermine the confidence of young people. When they hear a president speak like that about how they speak, it erodes their self-belief, and that is not a good thing to come from a president.

This is Kenyan President William Ruto boasting that Kenyans speak better English than Nigerians 🤣🤣🤣 He is confusing accent with diction. When African presidents boast that their citizens speak “better English” than others, they are not demonstrating a strong education system, as Ruto claims, they are showcasing a deep inferiority complex rooted in colonial conditioning. English is a colonial language, not a measure of intelligence, capability, or national progress. You can be fully fluent in a language and still have an accent that is difficult for some listeners to understand, as Nigerians do. Fluency means you have a strong command of vocabulary, grammar, and the ability to express ideas. Accent, on the other hand, relates to pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation, which are shaped by your first language and speech environment, which is what Ruto is confusing with good English. Has he ever had someone from Scotland, Liverpool, or Birmingham speak? Accents are a natural linguistic outcome, not a measure of education. They emerge from the influence of a person’s first language, the sounds and speech patterns they grow up with, and the environment in which they learn and use another language. Every language has its own phonetic structure, and when people speak a second language like English, those underlying patterns shape pronunciation, rhythm, and tone. That is why accents vary across regions and countries. They reflect history, identity, and exposure, not intellectual or educational superiority. I know that there is some kind of tension between Nigeria and Kenya, but such misleading statements undermine the confidence of young people. When they hear a president speak like that about how they speak, it erodes their self-belief, and that is not a good thing to come from a president.

Hopewell Chin’ono

141,599 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

“How different would our world be if every single person played football and grew up in a damn locker room...” Rex Ryan We got a treat for you today or as he would say, “A Goddamn Snack”. 😭 We have seen many sides of Rex Ryan, but we have never seen him like this…He takes us on a journey through 3 generations of Coaching Ryans with the utmost humor & humility. As usual Rex stood on business. He shared his passion for football and his desire to get back into coaching to win the big one with Ryan Clark and He goes toe to toe with Channing Crowder as he shares the “why” which pushed him to be his greatest self. Filming in for Fred Taylor while Freddy T was in London, Rex delivers us a a conversation that was more than we could have imagined…Tap into a brand new episode of The Pivot Podcast in partnership with Fanatics streaming on YouTube and all audio platforms now. #nfl #ny #coach #podcast

Pivot Podcast

570,847 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr