The Dilemma of the African Language Vis-À-Vis the African Philosophical Project

Abstract

African philosophers of diverse academic backgrounds have argued that the African language is fundamental for the doing of African philosophy. However, in spite of the importance of African language in the African philosophical enterprise, African scholars are agreed that the African language is limited on various fronts, which makes it difficult for it to play its specific roles in the doing of African philosophy. These challenges that affect the quality of African languages in relation to African philosophy include: globalization, which is gradually turning the world into a global village; there is the problem of multilingualism or the diversity of African languages; the lack of appreciation of African languages by Africans, especially in institutions of learning; the undeveloped nature of the African language, as it is not able to conceptually encompass certain realities which Western languages are able to. There is the challenge of the educational system run in Africa that is still deeply colonial or Western in character. Thus, it still runs on the educational structures set by the colonial masters. There is the problem of documentation, national integration and poor language policies and implementation. This research submits that for the African language to be employed meaningfully for the African philosophical enterprise, there is need to face these challenges and develop the African language further than it is. For the purpose of this research, the thematic and critical methods of investigation were employed