English and the Distinctly African University: The Best of Both Worlds?

Abstract

This article develops the concept of a distinctly African university, which differs from other universities in actively promoting the preservation of African languages and cultures as part of its university mission. In pursuing this mission, a distinctly African university includes the study of African languages and cultures as part of its curriculum and research agenda, and may offer courses in which African languages are the medium of instruction. Research includes documentation, analysis and the production of African language texts, including texts in new genres. A distinctly African university which uses English as a medium of instruction and research may capitalize on the status of English as an international academic language in order to create bridging texts which link African languages and cultures to an international humanizing discourse rooted in the ideology of human equality and worth. In this way, the goal of preserving African languages and cultures may join forces with the need to use English as a link to the globalizing world, in contrast to the situation in which African languages and English are seen to be in competition.

Key words: English, African universities, African academia, African languages, African cultures