The inconvenient truth about language, unity, and the politics of identity

By Professor Douglas Boateng, Social Entrepreneur, Governance and Industrialisation Strategist

1. THE MOTHER TONGUE IS A NATION’S FIRST UNIVERSITY
   A child taught in an unfamiliar language learns to memorise rather than to think. Too often, we graduate parrots instead of thinkers. More than 70 percent of African children struggle to understand classroom lessons because instruction begins in a foreign language. That is not education; it is memorised confusion. When the tongue forgets its roots, the mind forgets its strength. A nation that borrows its voice will forever whisper its potential. When the drum of identity loses its rhythm, even the best dancers stumble.
2. THE SWAHILI EXAMPLE: ONE LANGUAGE, MANY POSSIBILITIES
   Tanzania’s quiet revolution began with Swahili. It united more than 120 tribes, strengthened national identity, and raised literacy above 80 percent. It was not a short term campaign but a multi decade national vision built on patience, consistency and collective will. Like China with Mandarin and France with French, Tanzania proved that linguistic unity can nurture social cohesion and national development. The key is to select one local language as the national foundation, simple, inclusive and teachable, while preserving others as priceless cultural jewels. A tree with many roots stands firm; a tree with scattered branches bears little fruit. A nation that sings in one tongue will march to one destiny.
3. THE PRICE OF UNITY AND THE COST OF CONFUSION
   Adopting a common national language must not be a project driven by election cycles. It demands careful planning, sustained funding, teacher retraining, curriculum reform and bipartisan continuity. If done in haste or without vision, it may cause more harm than good. He who rushes to plant without tilling the land harvests weeds, not wisdom. A plan built on politics will collapse under its own applause. The cost of confusion; social fragmentation, poor integration and lost productivity, is far greater than the cost of foresight.
4. THE CALL OF WISDOM
   Teach through one local language and learn English and French as bridges to the wider world. A nation that cannot understand itself cannot unite itself. When the mouth and the mind speak the same language, destiny becomes clearer. Linguistic unity is not a short term project. It is a generational mission that demands courage, collaboration and continuity beyond political seasons. The time has come for Africa to reflect deeply, think differently and redesign what no longer works. If we dare to plan beyond elections, we will build nations that not only speak but finally understand themselves. When the seed of wisdom is planted with patience, even time bows to the harvest.