DIDACTICS OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IN AFRICA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/eijhss.v4i1.72Abstract
The existing knowledge from the African tradition needs to be put together for the development of the continent. The over 2000 languages in the continent carry with them indigenous knowledge that has kept its speakers going over the centuries. The focus on the continent has been on the negative history, slave trade, colonisation, and neo-colonisation. It is time we lay emphasis on the vestiges of its glorious civilization. We need to salvage and revitalize it through mother tongue literacy.
As far as indigenous knowledge is concerned, each language community has useful indigenous knowledge that has been handed over the ages. This is embedded in the language and culture. We need to write it the way it was handed down to us before looking for the translations into other languages. A translation from English, French and other languages into our mother-tongues will as well bring in external knowledge for the development of our communities. We therefore need more linguistics and applied linguistics research to bring out the orthographies and grammars of our mother-tongues to facilitate this process.
An educational system built on its languages and cultures which exploits them to give confidence and hope to its students is what this book proposes. Its products will be proud to be Africans and hence think Africa first, Cameroon first. This system of education requires a bold volte-face; a return to our national languages as languages of instruction, especially in the rural areas. Provision should be given for African children especially at the basic level to learn how to read and write through their mother-tongues. They should be able to discover the sciences, technologies, cultures, histories, ethics, and norms of their communities through their mother tongues.
References
. Adama, Ouane, & Glanz, Christine, (2010), Why and How Africa Should Invest in African Languages and Multilingual Education, UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning.
. Adinamba, Cécile, (2010), Une Étude Évaluative ET Comparative du Programme, Unpublished Masters Dissertation, University of Yaoundé 1.
. Aggor, Reuben, A. & Siabi-Mensah, Kofi, (2003), Literacy: A key to Development: The GILLBT Literacy Programme in Ghana. Ghana University Press, Accra.
. Agha-ah, Chiatoh, B., (2013), ‘‘who Cares if African Languages Die? Reflections on an Encounter with Mr. Spannerʼʼ, in African Journal of Applied Linguistics (ALAL), (2013: 139ff), Centre ANACLAC de Linguistique Appliquée (CLA).
. Agha-ah, Chiatoh, B. (2011), ‘‘Sustaining Mother Tongue Medium Education: A Inter Community Self-help Framework in Cameroon’’, Springer Science+Business Media, B.V. (2011: 583ff.)
. Agha-ah, Chiatoh, B. (2004), Assessing Community Response to Literacy in a Multilingual Context: The Case of Cameroon, Unpublished Ph.D Thesis, University of Yaoundé 1.
. Agha-ah, Chiatoh, B. (2002), ‘‘The Career Supervisor and Mother Tongue Education’’, in African Journal of Applied Linguistics (ALAL), (2002:32ff) CLA.
. Alan Rogers and Horrocks, Naomi (2010), Teaching adults, Fourth Edition, Open University Press, England.
. Allision, Howell, (2002), A Daily Guide for Language and Culture Learning, Nigeria Evangelical Missionary Institute and Africa Christian Textbooks (ACTS).
. Assoumou, Jules, (2005), Modele dʼEnseignement des Langues Maternelles Orales dans lʼEducation de Base au Cameroun: Recherche ET Developpement en Zone Bulu, Unpublished Ph.D in Applied Linguistics, University of Yaoundé 1.
. Ayafor, Miriam, M., (2005), Teenage Literacy Problems in Northern Ireland: Causes and Possible Remedies, Unpublished Ph.D Thesis, University of Ulster.
. Bagele Chilisa, and Preece, Julia (2005), African Perspectives on Adult Learning-Research Methods for Adult Educators in Africa, UNESCO Institute for Education.
. Baker, C. (2001), Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, Third edition, Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
. Barton, David, (1994), Literacy: An Introduction to the Ecology of written Language, Blackwell publishers, Oxford OX4 IJF, UK, Basil Blackwell Ltd.
. Baynham, M. (1995), Literacy Practices: Investigating Literacy in Social Contexts, Longman.
. Bilan, ET Inventaire, (1986), Promotion ET Intégration des Langues Nationales dans les Systèmes éducatifs, Paris.
. Biya, Paul, (1987), Communal Liberalisme, London and Reading, the Eastern Press Ltd.
. Chastain, Kenneth, (1976:410ff) Developing Second Language Skills: Theory to Practice, Rand Mc.Nally College Publishing Company, Chicago, second edition.
. Cheffy, Ian, P. (2008), Conceptions of Literacy in context: Situated Understandings in a Rural Area of Northern Cameroon, Unpublished PHD Thesis, Lancaster University.
. Chia Emmanuel, (Ed.), (2006), African Linguistics and the Development of African Communities, Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa.
. Chia, Emmanuel, N. (Ed), (2006), ‘‘Introduction and Overview’’ in African Linguistics and Development of African Communities, Council for the Development of Social Sciences Research in Africa, Dakar.
. Chuo, Kain G. & Trammell, Kristine, R., (2010), Ǹwìʼnə Bɔɔ Bɨfɨɨ ̀̀ 1: Awakening Bafut Children, SIL, Yaoundé, and Cameroon.
. David, and Bendor-Samuel, Margaret, (1983), Community Literacy Programs in Northern Ghana, Summer Institute of Linguistics.
. Eddie, Williams, (2006), Bridges and Barriers: Language in African Education and Development, St. Jerome Publishing, Manchester, UK& Kinderhook, USA.
. Gebre, A. H., et al. (2009), (eds)., Everyday Literacies in Africa: Ethnographic Studies of Literacy and Numeracy Practices in Ethiopia, Kampala, Ethiopia: Fountains Press
. Glenys, Waters, (1998), Local Literacies: Theory and Practice, Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc.
. Heath, S. B. and Street B. (2008), On Ethnography: Approaches to language and Literacy Research, National Conference on Research in Language and Literacy, Teachers College, Columbia.
. Lenore, A. Grenoble, and Lindsay, J. Whaley, (2006), Saving Languages: An Introduction to Language Revitalization, Cambridge University Press.
. Malone, Susan, E. (2003), Planning Literacy- for- Development Programmes in the Minority Language Communities: Resource Manual for Mother Tongue Literacy Specialists, SIL International- Asia Area, and Pre- Publication Draft.
. Mba, Gabriel and Chiatoh Blaisus, (2000), ‘‘Current Trends and perspectives for Mother Tongue Education in Cameroon’’, in African Journal of Applied Linguistics 1, 2000:1ff.
. Nforbi, Emmanuel, (2012), African Languages Education in the Era of Globalisation, Harmattan, Paris.
. Nforbi, Emmanuel, and Akem, Shedmankah, (2009), Back to Mother Tongue Literacy, Dschang University Press.
. Nforbi, Emmanuel, and Ngum, Peter, (2009), Oku Grammar, Dschang University Press.
. Nforbi, Emmanuel, (2006), ‘‘Efforts and Challenges Involved in Establishing an Adult Literacy Model for Cameroon’’, in African Linguistics and Development of African Communities, Council for the Development of Social Sciences Research in Africa, Dakar.
. Nforbi, (2003:47ff), ‘‘Community Involvement in Mother Tongue Education through a Dynamic Functional Language Committee’’in AJAL, NACALCO Centre for Applied Linguistics, Yaoundé.
. Nforbi, Emmanuel, (2000), In Search of an Adult Literacy, Unpublished Doctorate Degree (Doctorat de 3ème Cycle) Thesis, University of Yaounde 1.
. Nforbi Emmanuel, Kouesso Jean Romain, and Moko Theodore N. (2014) Interjections in African languages: Issues in A wing and Yemba,International Journal of African Society, Cultures and TraditionsVol.4, No.3, pp.16-24, August 2016
. Nforbi Emmanuel, Kouesso Jean Romain, and Moko Theodore N. (2014) Teaching the English Interjections in Cameroon secondary schools ,International Journal of English Language and Linguistics ResearchVol.4, No.5, pp.1-14, August 2016.
. Preeya, Daby, (2015), Effectiveness of Mother Tongue Based Education to Improve Learning Outcomes and Second Language Acquisition in Public Primary Schools of Zone 3, Mauritius’, University of Leicester.
. R. H. Dave, A. O. And D. A. Perera(1988), Learning Strategies for Post-Literacy and Continuing Education: A Cross-National perspective, second Edition, UNESCO Institute for Education, Hamburg.
. Rapen, U. (2005), AdultLiteracy as Social Practice, London, UK: Routledge.
. Routledge, (1993), a Dictionary of Grammatical Terms in Linguistics. R.L. TRASK: London and New York.
. Routledge, (2005), Adult Literacy as Social Practice: More than Skills/ Uta Papen, Taylor & Francis Group, London and New York.
. Shell, Olive, & Wiesemann, Ursula, (2000), Guide pour l’Alphabétisation en Langues Africaines, Third Edition, Collection PROPELCA No 34, Yaoundé.
. Sivasailam, Thiagarajan, (1976), Programmed Instruction for Literacy Workers: a Guide for Developing Self-Instructional Materials and Strategies for Adult Learners, Literacy Teachers and Discussion Leaders, Hulton Educational Publications Ltd.
. Street, B. (1995), Social Literacies: Critical Approaches to Literacy in Development, Ethnography and Education.
. Street B. V. (2001) Context for Literacy Work: ‘‘The New Orders and Twhe New Literacy Studies’’ in Crother, J. H.
. Sunjoh, Christa, B. (2005), The Training of Mother Tongue Adult Literacy Instructors in Cameroon: The Case Studies of Bafut, Nso’ and Minja, Unpublished Maîtrise Dissertation, University of Dschang.
. Tadadjeu, M. et al. (2004), Pedagogie des Langues Maternelles Africaines, Les Editions du CLA, Collection PROPELCA No 144-01
. Tamanji Pius, N. (2009), A Descriptive Grammar of Bafut,Volume/Band 35, Editors/Herausgeber, Wilhelm J. G. Möhlig and Bernd Heine, Cologne Germany.
. Tasah, Ngoin, J., (2012), the Impact of Literacy in the Revitalisation of Less Endangered Languages: A Case Study of Bafut, Kom, Kako and Ngiemboon, Unpublished Ph.D Thesis in Applied Linguistics, University of Yaoundé 1.
. UNESCO, (2006), Guide De Formation des Facilitateurs en Alphabetization ET en Education Non Formelle en Afrique, UNESCO.
. Vella, Jane, (2001), Taking Learning to Task: Creative Strategies for Teaching Adults, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
. Anita, O.R.U. 2005. Akwa Ibom Cultural Heritage: It’s Incursion by Western Culture and it’s Renaissance. Uyo: Abbny Publishers.
. Aziza, R.C. 2001. "The Relationship between Language use and Survival of Culture: the case of Umobo youth". Nigerian Language Studies. No.4
. Ezedike, E.0. 2009. African Culture and the African Personality. From Footmarks to Landmarks on African Philosophy. Somolu: 0baroh and 0gbinaka Publishers.
. Idang, G.E. 2007. "Cultural Relativism and the Language of Morals" International Journal of African Culture and Development Vol.2 (1).
. Ogbum, W.F. 1922. Social Change with respect to Culture and Original Nature. New York: B.W. Huebsch.
. Udoh, E. 2007. "Mary Slessor in our time: HIV/AIDS." Sophia: An African Journal of Philosophy Vol.7 (2).___ (2015) ‘‘Why Languages Matters: Meeting Millennium Development Goals through Local Languages’’, SIL International.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2019 EPH - International Journal of Humanities and Social Science (ISSN: 2208-2174)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
