Edinburgh Circle on the Promotion of African Languages
What is the Circle about?
Check out our Journal: Language Policy in Africa.
Go straight to the Membership Application form.
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The circle is primarily open to scientists who share an interest in the related areas of African languages, language policy, sociolinguistics, education and language economy. Members of the circle follow the ideas of Prah (1998), and others, who argued that African languages are key to Africa's development. The formation of the circle comes at a time (2019) when the majority of African languages are not used in formal settings but widely employed in informal interactions. Circle members believe that more use of African languages is unavoidable, but that it depends on a certain measure of harmonization and standardization. Linguists and other social scientists have an important role to play in helping to shape practical, efficient, rational, inclusive and African language-based policies on the continent.
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The circle is interested in open exchanges of ideas, in foregrounding, stimulating and undertaking scientific work in this area and in active dialogue with policy makers at the national and international level. It takes pride in being inspired and led mainly by African social scientists. It is interdisciplinary in nature and aims to produce material that is accessible to policy makers and the interested lay person. In 2025, the Circle will sponsor a panel at the ECAS Conference in Prague in June.
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Earlier activities include a workshop at the 10th World Congress of African Linguistics in 2021 as well as at the Bantu9 Conference in June 2022. The Circle has held a monthly webinar series in the better part of 2023. It was present at the ECAS Conference and the Lagos Studies Association Conference, both in June 2023. In 2024, the Circle was present among others at the VAD Conference and the Swiss Africa Research days.
Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju, Bert van Pinxteren and Josef Schmied have edited the volume 'Language of Education and Development in Africa: Prospects for Decolonisation and Empowerment'. It contains papers from a number of Circle members. The volume is available for free download from the publisher's website.​
Informal Steering Committee:
Dr Sarita Monjane Henriksen, Universidade Pedagógica de Maputo, Mozambique
Dr Comfort Ojongnkpot, University of Buea, Cameroon
Prof Dr Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Secretary: Dr Bert van Pinxteren, Leiden University, Netherlands (afrilang at outlook.com)
Other Circle members:
Abdulkadir Abdulrahim (Arjali) (Nigeria), PhD student, Çukurova University, Turkey
Prof Dr Enoch Aboh, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Narmeen Abu Dib (Libya), PhD student, University of Aberdeen, UK
Dr Feyisayo Ademola-Adeoye, University of Lagos, Nigeria
Dr Kehinde Adeosun, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
Prof Dr Akinbiyi Akinlabi, Rutgers University, USA
Prof Dr Pius Akumbu, CNRS/LLACAN, France
Abius Akwaake (Namibia), University of Turku, Finland
Dr Cosmas Rai Amenorvi, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana
Dr Azeb Amha, Leiden University, Netherlands
Dr Lilian Tem Atanga, University of Bamenda, Cameroon
Dr Elise Bagamboula, INALCO/PLIDAM, France
Dr Mimboabe Bakpa, Université de Kara, Togo
Dr David Barasa, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya
* Mbache Bernard, Cameroon
Tsabedze Bhekumusa, William Pitcher College, eSwatini
Dr Yassine Boussagui, Mohammed V University, Morocco
Chukwuemeke Buzome, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
Dr Mulumba Mathias Bwanika, Makerere University, Uganda
Prof Dr Andy Chebanne, University of Botswana
Dr Emmanuel Chinaguh, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
Dr Joanne Davis, SOAS, University of London, UK
Dr Gabriel Delmon Djomeni, University of Dschang, Cameroon
Mbali Dhlamini, University of Western Cape, South Africa
Dr Djouroukoro Diallo, University of Bern, Switzerland
Dr Francesca Dell'Oro, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Dr Mary Edward, McMaster University, Canada
* Dr Philip Oghenesuowho Ekiugbo, National Institute for Nigerian Languages
Ekiyokere Ekiye (Nigeria), PhD student, University of Aberdeen, UK
Dr Abisoye Eleshin, University of Lagos, Nigeria
Dr Ruth Emsley, University of Limpopo, South Africa
Dr Kanana Fridah Erastus, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr Ann Hildah Gatakaa Kinyua, Chuka University, Kenya
Dr Maik Gibson, SIL, UK
Kiki Giles, College of Wooster, USA
Gertrude Yidanpoa Grumah, PhD student (Essex)/University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana
Abayneh Haile, English Language Professionals Association, Ethiopia
Dr Matthew Harley, Theological College of Northern Nigeria, Nigeria
Prof Dr Immaculée Harushimana, City University of New York, USA
Dr Mohomodou Houssouba, Centre for African Studies, University of Basel, Switzerland
Dr Enoachuo Emilisco Jones, University of Buea, Cameroon
Dr Eliane Sonkoue Kamdem, Schwerin College of Education, Germany
Dr Seraphin Kamdem, SOAS, University of London, UK
Prof Dr Russell Kaschula, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Em Prof Dr Paul Kerswill, University of York, UK
Dr Palesa Khotso, University of the Free State, South Africa
Dr Claudius Kihara, Chuka University, Kenya
Prof Dr Yamina El Kirat El Allame, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
Dr Lynn Kisembe, Moi University, Kenya
Bolatito Kolawole, PhD student, University of Lagos, Nigeria
Dr Constantine Kouankem, University of Bertoua, Cameroon
Dr Promise Dodzi Kpoglu, LLACAN, France
Dr Michael Kretzer, University of Western Cape, South Africa
Dr Doris Löhr, University of Bayreuth, Germany
Mamonare Maake, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Dr Aloysia Makoae, Lesotho College of Education
Dr Busani Maseko, Lupane State University, Zimbabwe
Prof Dr Mogomme Masoga, University of the Free State, South Africa
Dr Olesegun Morakinyo, UNISA, South Africa
Prof Dr Carolyn McKinney, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Prof Dr Fiona McLaughlin, University of Florida, USA
Mokgadi Modiba, University of Limpopo, South Africa
Mathai Monyakane, NWU, South Africa
Pogisho Motlhabane, University of the Free State, South Africa
Em Prof Dr Maarten Mous, Leiden University, Netherlands
Dr Peter Mose, Kisii University, Kenya
Letsela Motaung, University of the Free State, South Africa
* Dr Zama Mthombeni, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Dr Benard Mudogo, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya
Prof Dr Salikoko Mufwene, University of Chicago, USA
Dr Levis Mugumya, Makerere University, Uganda
Ghazali Mutiullah Kehinde, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Dr Christfried Naumann, Humboldt Universität, Berlin, Germany
Dr Saudah Namyalo, Makerere University, Uganda
Dr Sandiso Ngcomo, Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa
Dr Nomalungelo Ngubane, University of the Free State, South Africa
Prof Dr Martha Njui Mbu, University of Maroua, Cameroon
Tomoe Noguchi, PhD student, Kyoto University, Japan
Dr Berrington Ntombela, University of Limpopo, South Africa
Dr Thenjiswa Ntwana, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Dr Ebitare Obikudo​, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Laura Obubo (Nigeria), PhD student, University of Missouri, USA
Dr Timothy Olaosebikan, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Nigeria
Prof Dr Fúnmi Olúbòde-Sàwè, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria
Omusula Omuholo (Kenya), PhD Student, University of Oregon, USA
Raphaël Otho (Congo Republic), PhD student, INALCO, France
Dr Samson Olusola Olatunji, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Dr Billian Khalayi Otundo, University of Bayreuth, Germany
Dr Walter Ochieng Sande, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya
Dr Rethabile Possa-Mogoera, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Dr Elvis ResCue, University of Essex, UK
Dr Émilie Sanon-Ouattara, Ki-Zerbo University, Burkina Faso
Scott Smith, DEA, SIL Equatorial Guinea / University of Léon, Spain
Ahmed Sosal (Sudan), PhD student, Leiden University, Netherlands
Dr Troy Spier, Florida A&M University, USA
Caroline Story, PhD student, Texas State University, USA
Dr Berka Tah Delphine, University of Buea, Cameroon
Dr Kgomotso Theledi, Wits University, South Africa
Dr Nkechi Ukaegbu, University of Nsukka, Nigeria
Ignatius Usar, Federal University Gashua, Nigeria
Em Prof Dr Ekkehard Wolff, Leipzig University, Germany
Dr Addisalem Yallew (Ethiopia), University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Simphiwe Yende, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
Dr Stella Afi Makafui Yegblemenawo, KNUST, Ghana
(*: recent additions to the member list are marked with an asterisk)
