The biggest problem with today’s democratic rhetoric is its tendency to frame international relations in moral terms, dividing the world into “good” and “bad” countries COMMENT | ROBERT SKIDELSKY | Language shapes our thinking and perception of the world and, consequently, what happens in it. That is why I worry less …
Read More »Kiswahili, Luganda and the debate around Uganda’s national language
SPECIAL FEATURE | THE INDEPENDENT | For years, there have been ongoing efforts to promote the Kiswahili language in Uganda, including its incorporation into school curricula as a means of encouraging its usage. However, resistance to this initiative has been encountered, particularly among certain tribes and regions of the country. …
Read More »UPDF starts Arabic, Chinese language courses
Nakasongola, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has started Arabic and Chinese courses to enable soldiers to effectively communicate with their counterparts from countries speaking the two dialects. The new courses have been launched at the Military Intelligence School in Nakasongola district. Maj Gen …
Read More »New African language tech app
It enables users to seamlessly switch between Afrikaans, Amharic, ChiShona, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Kinyarwanda, kiSwahili, Portuguese, French, English FEATURE | PHENDU KUTA | Vambo AI, a multilingual generative AI developed by South African tech startup Vambo Technologies, is a pioneering language accessibility platform. It aims to empower users to seamlessly communicate, learn, …
Read More »Debate rages on Lower Primary language of instruction policy
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The language of instruction in lower primary is emerging as a contentious subject before the Education Policy Review Commission-EPRC. In one of the last public hearings of the commission, the Acholi parliamentary group joined the dissent against the current policy of using local language …
Read More »NRM Secretariat Launches Kiswahili Language lessons to aid East African Integration
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party unveiled an ambitious initiative to impart Kiswahili language skills to its members nationwide, in a bid to align with the broader East African integration agenda where Kiswahili has gained prominence as a regional common language. Honourable James Magode Ikuya, …
Read More »Uganda adopts Kiswahili
Kampala, Uganda | Xinhua | Uganda has adopted Kiswahili as an official language, a top government official said here on Tuesday. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of Information Communication Technology and National Guidance told reporters that the Cabinet on Monday approved the implementation of a directive by the 21st East African Community …
Read More »Mind your language, speaker Oulanyah urges MPs
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah has asked Members of Parliament to refrain from using unparliamentary language while debating, saying the debates are broadcasted live to all Ugandans. This was after Manjia County MP and Opposition Whip John Baptist Nambeshe, talked about sex during the …
Read More »Chinese language craze in Ghana
Accra, Ghana | XINHUA | Despite multiple challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghanaians’ craze for the Chinese language continues, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana Chu Beijuan told Xinhua Saturday. Speaking to Xinhua in an interview during a Chinese proficiency competition named “Chinese Bridge”, …
Read More »Dreaming of returning home, Egypt’s Nubians revive language
Aswan, Egypt | AFP | Fatma Addar grew up in a Nubian family, connected to her ethnic minority’s rich history through its tales of a bygone life on the Nile, though regaled less and less in their original language. She lives in the southern Egyptian city of Aswan and was schooled …
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