The Power of Babel: Language and Governance in the African Experience
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Date
2002
Authors
King'ei, G. K.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The debate on the language question in Africa has been on for decades now. Normall y, this discussion
is characterised by concerns to do with such aspects as the ideal national, regional and continental
language policies, the rivalry between the national and official languages, the choice of the language
medium of the African creative writer and other similar issues. The need for the modernization of the
African lingua franca including Swahili, Hausa or Amharic has also featured prominently in recent
times. However, perhaps, the study under review by well-known African scholars is the first to establish
a direct link between the language question and the issue of governance in the African situation.
Issued simultaneously in five different countries in Africa, U.S.A and Britain and divided into
three major parts, the book, Power of Babel contains thirteen chapters. The chapters attempt to relate
language to such societal facets and contemporary concerns as history, race, nationalism, identity,
colonialism and liberation, religion, cultural pluralism and individualism, democracy, gender and law.
The concluding chapter looks at the role of language in a post-modern world order. In the African
context, this perspective dissects the realities, opportunities and challenges of the post-cold war, postapartheid
and post-structural adjustment programmes.
Description
Book review
Keywords
Citation
Chemchemi Vol.2. No.1 2002