Nigerian musician and cultural advocate Charles Onyeabor has stirred a discussion on the importance of indigenous languages in Africa, challenging the widespread belief that fluency in English equates to intelligence.
In a statement, Onyeabor criticized societal biases that place English above African languages, urging Africans to embrace their linguistic heritage with pride.
“Perfect English is not a mark of intelligence; it’s a mark of linguistic ability. We Africans were programmed to believe that speaking better English makes one intelligent,” he stated.
Onyeabor further expressed concern over how many Africans neglect their native tongues in favor of a colonial language, emphasizing that language is a key part of cultural identity.
“You should be ashamed of yourself if you are Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, or from any other tribe and cannot speak your native language fluently but prefer another country’s language,” he added.
He compared Africa’s language attitudes with Europe, pointing out that countries like France and Italy prioritize their native languages over foreign ones. He also highlighted the irony of how Africans often ridicule those who struggle with English, while foreigners are praised for making efforts to learn African languages.
“In Nigeria, people say, ‘He/she can’t even speak good English’ as an insult. Instead, it should be, ‘You can’t even speak your own language.’”
