Reconstructing culture and building societal values in the global era: The imperative of mother-tongue in elementary schools curriculum in Africa

Abstract

Every tribe has a unique culture of which language is a distinctive feature. The relationship between language and culture is fundamental, as a native language provides access to understanding a community’s way of life. Language is a key connector for people, regardless of status or background, and an essential part of cultural identity. In Africa, indigenous languages, or mother tongues, play a crucial role in preserving culture, fostering social engagement, upholding societal values, and promoting national unity. However, colonial influence has led to the adoption of foreign languages like English and French as official languages in many African countries, overshadowing native languages. This shift has caused African youths, particularly in Anglophone and Francophone countries, to lose interest in their native languages, preferring foreign languages and Western lifestyles instead. This trend is exacerbated in schools, where English or French is the primary mode of communication. Adopting a critical analysis, the paper laid much emphasis on reconstructing culture and building societal values in the global era. Findings reveal that language and culture are correlated, and the African continent is faced with the problem of code-switching or mixing of languages. The paper, therefore, advocates for the inclusion of mother tongues in elementary school curricula to address the decline in interest in native languages and the rising issue of code-switching or mixing of languages.