Should Africans in the Dispora learn Swahili as a second language? - Page 6

Black-pride · (#126 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Chi and BlackPride
Whats that all about not liking the sound of Yoruba..is it because you don't understand the language??..or you have too many Yorubas around for your own comfort...its always the case everyone takes a shot at the most populous group
I'm just being honest here...funny though you'll like the sound of Hausa nothing bad there apart from the fact that it is the Hausas that have oppressed both the Yorubas and Igbos....Guess its like loving the sound of French and Spanish(another bunch of oppressors) to Swahili...I know for a fact that Igbos still feel salty over the Yorubas betrayal and fear of the Igbos taking over everything during and after the civil war to be honest I would be salty too if I were Igbo but as you well know Yorubas are paying dearly for that betrayal...East and West would have been great countries but ay!! one can only dream

I just don't like the sound too much,.....thats all...but it's no biggie, cos i have gotten used to it..
it's not a matter of taking a shot at the yorubas.
co i know they are cool people...and as chi said, when it's sung, it's a different story.

and me having a small likening for the hausa language has nothing 2 do with the opression they put on Igbos.(i dont wanna make this a competetion, but yorubas have not suffered in the hands of hausas as much as Igbos have.)

the issue of the civil war being brought up, why????......
Oya..lets not digress!...back2 the topic.

Black-pride · (#127 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shemsi en Tehuti

What I meant by that is I know of very good language sources, dictionaries, and so forth for Swahili, Wolof, Central and South African languages, and Amharic written by African linguists and like scholars ourselves. My reservation about Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa was if it was translated by the Microsoft Corporation, or any other non-African entity, and then inaccurate or outright mistranslations become "the standard" of those respective languages.

I am not saying good references don't exist for those languages already, but I have yet to find them. I am still looking for a good reference (written by a native African) into the languages spoken in Nigeria, Benin, and other closely associated tribes. If you have any references, I would love to see them so I can get it for my own library.

I feel u.

I cannot really speak for Yoruba,Hausa..ect.

but in Igbo- yes there are some phrases,terms , words..ect that may have different outcomes if translated.
Igbo language- can be complex sometimes, and some words can be quite general. we don't have a literal translation for every word.

DSP · (#128 (**permalink**))

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Originally Posted by Vubundada_Kandaba

Not to generalize again, but I find it confusing that French Speaking West African Nations like Togo, Gabon, Benin and some others seem to be weary of the English Speaking Nations in West Africa. I think the French have too much influence in this region including in Central Africa and are doing everything to keep the French language at the forefront. Just look at how the French reacted when Africans chosed South African President "Thabo Mbeki" to mediate in the crisis in Ivory Coast four (4) years ago. French President Jack Chirac was so offended calling South Africa unsuitable and South Africans as ignorant of French Speaking West African culture and Political Affairs.

Same thing happened when the President of Gabon Omar Bongo threw a tantrum and in the words of yours truely, I present to you President of Gabon, Omar Bongo chagrin at the invitation of Nigeria, Ghana and other Countries to attend the French Speaking Conference in Paris.

Omar Bongo: "those Countries who do not speak French as the official language are Eating Out of Two Troughs. I am sick and tired of having to read documents in English at International Conferences and Venues".

There's only 4 english speaking countries in West Africa. Don't know what he would get upset about.

MwemaJ · (#129 (**permalink**))

Interesting conversation.

VK said:
"Currently no one African tribe or group of people can claim ownership to Swahili."

I agree with that. I thought that was one of the primary reasons why Swahili was proposed as *the* language to unify. Not as a way to not consider any other, but sort of the same way Nyerere imposed it as a national language in Tanzania, a language that didn't belong to one particular ethnic group, one that transcends (if you will) ethnic divisions.

Aryek said:
"...who don't even have Swahili speaking neighbours... Most Africans usually only come into contact with other African cultures when they move out of Africa. And without direct contact between West Africans and other Africans while they are on the continent, you can't really establish Swahili as the lingua franca (which think should be what the AU should be aiming for) of Africa."

I agree w/that too. And when I think about the proposal of Swahili for African diasporans those logistical questions are the ones that come up for me--are we talking private instruction, are we talking about the revampment of the public school system to include, etc... I've heard of this proposal for some time. Curious to hear more about the implementation plans, which I have not heard a whole lot about.

edited to include 'one of the primary reasons' instead of the 'the point of including' or whatever it was I typo'd the first time. Gotta run...

Vubundada_Kandaba · (#130 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by MwemaJ

Interesting conversation.
I agree with that. I thought that was one of the primary reasons why Swahili was proposed as *the* language to unify. Not as a way to not consider any other, but sort of the same way Nyerere imposed it as a national language in Tanzania, a language that didn't belong to one particular ethnic group, one that transcends (if you will) ethnic divisions.

True dat. That is why Swahili is appealing to alot of people and it is currently the only language in Africa that is widely spoken and Internationally Recognized. Imagine a Country with 20 different Tribes/Ethnic with some tribes being large and others small. In many instances, there will be outright opposition if one language is chosen because some will complain of outright domination. Hence people agree on Swahili in this case becaue out of this 20 groups, no one is going to complain of marginalization because Swahili will be just like English or French. Here no one can claim ownership because this language came about as a result of the fusion of many languages hence making its roots almost difficult to trace where it came from. "This is something for us and by us".

astmartins · (#131 (**permalink**))

Now that Hindu..Gujirat and others are in the school curriculum here in some parts of the UK...about time we give a thumbs up to our own lets start with Swahili..one voice one love

@chi
okay i hear you miss....even my people say i don't speak the proper Yoruba that my tonation is not that strong well as far as I can speak and understand thats good enough for me so there you go...Yoruba can be nice when spoken in certain accents
Yoruba and to some extent Igbo Gha(Ghanian) are some of those Languages that can come off like you having a fight and not a conversation...lol

amononi · (#132 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by rachie

amononi so you have not heard of the disporian black people who have gone to live in Ghana? They have been made to feel very welcome in this country. Where did you hear that Black AA were not made to feel welcome in West Africa?

The majority of Africans in the UK do come from West Africa and that is a fact. I think that the US is also similar.

Like i said i do think that widening the syllabus is probably a good idea.

I agree with you concerning Ghana. Majority of all AA prefer to visit, live, and invest in Ghana. That is only because Ghana has warm, hospitable people. Apart from that, most AA visit East and Southern Africa than they do West Africa. I have friends, family members, and church members who have visited countries in West Africa and they keep saying the same thing. They are not welcoming people and they don't like black Americans. I didn't say anything about UK blacks. I am speaking of African-Americans. It is faulty to say that the majority of African-Americans are from West Africa because it is not true. There is a good portion of blacks from Central and Southern Africa. I think those two regions is greater than West Africa. There is also a good porportion of African-Americans who have East African ancestry. Trust me, it is not all about West Africa.

amononi · (#133 (**permalink**))

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Originally Posted by astmartins

@amononi
West Africans are not nice people.People are geared toward humble, meek people.

And AAs are?? pleeze lets not go there been there done that...don't drag this into the gutter know very well where you were going with that statement

Is that a hint that you agree.

DSP · (#134 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by amononi

I agree with you concerning Ghana. Majority of all AA prefer to visit, live, and invest in Ghana. That is only because Ghana has warm, hospitable people. Apart from that, most AA visit East and Southern Africa than they do West Africa. I have friends, family members, and church members who have visited countries in West Africa and they keep saying the same thing. They are not welcoming people and they don't like black Americans. I didn't say anything about UK blacks. I am speaking of African-Americans. It is faulty to say that the majority of African-Americans are from West Africa because it is not true. There is a good portion of blacks from Central and Southern Africa. I think those two regions is greater than West Africa. There is also a good porportion of African-Americans who have East African ancestry. Trust me, it is not all about West Africa.

LOL you are dilusional

Do you even know what countries comprise of West Africa? LOL

What countries did you get the rejected from?

Most DNA tests prove otherwise even with all the admixture of whites.

This anti West Africa propaganda on your part is pretty clear now. It's kinda shameful for you.

Basically you're saying..

"I don't like those people so I'll speak for everyone and by sheer will change my and others ancestry to match my dilusional preferences".

I kinda feel sorry for you. I apologize for being harsh earlier. You have enough issues to deal with.

astmartins · (#135 (**permalink**))

@amononi
Agree on what exactly??? just threw it back at you and here you are trying to be cute...
Oh! thats a shame you and your lot didn't get to enjoy W.Africaa place where you find the most hospitable and fun people in the world..yes Nigeria can be harsh in terms of people trying to be smart and exploit you but Nigerians get the same treatment including Nigerian Diasporans so whats new?? once you adjust and have your wits about you its a piece of cake...other West Africans are a different bunch i find them very humble without a doubt you telling me people from Niger-Senegal-Sierra Leone or Liberia are hostile you talking crap...as @DSP mentioned how many West African countries do you really know??
You really think West Africans would be here in the West (apart from say Education)if their Govts were well run??
People keep banging on about Central and East Africa can you please be specific...getting a bit tiresome

DSP · (#136 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by astmartins

@amononi
Agree on what exactly??? just threw it back at you and here you are trying to be cute...
Oh! thats a shame you and your lot didn't get to enjoy W.Africaa place where you find the most hospitable and fun people in the world..yes Nigeria can be harsh in terms of people trying to be smart and exploit you but Nigerians get the same treatment including Nigerian Diasporans so whats new?? once you adjust and have your wits about you its a piece of cake...other West Africans are a different bunch i find them very humble without a doubt you telling me people from Niger-Senegal-Sierra Leone or Liberia are hostile you talking crap...as @DSP mentioned how many West African countries do you really know??
You really think West Africans would be here in the West (apart from say Education)if their Govts were well run??
People keep banging on about Central and East Africa can you please be specific...getting a bit tiresome

I'm glad you said that. People mention a region and there is no common understanding of what countries belong in that region. Too many people talk as if everyone has their exact same frame of reference

I had an Ethiopian coworker who said East Africa comprised of Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritirea, Kenya, and Somalia, and Djibouti. She said Uganda was central Africa an d Tanzania was southern Africa

A Ugandan and Kenyan said they only consider Kenya Uganda and Tanzaniea East African and Ethiopia, Eritriea, Djibouti, and Somalia are cosidered the horn.

I know people from Burundi and Rwanda who'll say theyr' East AFrican, but people from Kenya and Uganda will say they're central African.

I met Tutsis that say they have an affinity or relation to Senegalese and Somalis.. go figure.

If I get into geography and affiliation of diasporans my post will continue into essay proportions

What I've gathered over the years from all these perspectives is that black people are confused like hell.