Local Languages, Global Futures - and other updates
Dear members of our informal Circle on the promotion of African Languages,
We hope this first message of 2026 finds you well! This time, we have a number of interesting updates for you.
Local Languages, Global Futures – new book will be available in open access!
This new volume will become available online soon. The introduction can be seen already. The volume explores the central role of African languages in shaping inclusive and sustainable futures across the continent. While Africa has long been viewed primarily as a source of extractable resources, its future strength lies in its people. With higher education access below 10% in Sub-Saharan Africa—compared to nearly 80% in the Global North—there is both an urgent need and a major opportunity to expand learning. Such expansion will only succeed if students can study in languages they know; using African languages as mediums of instruction is essential to unlocking the continent’s human potential. Drawing on perspectives from education, technology, public communication, and indigenous knowledge, the contributions show how local languages function as cultural anchors and as drivers of learning, innovation, and social transformation. They address issues such as scientific communication in African languages, terminology development, multilingual education policies, digitization and digital divides, language visibility in public life, education for hunter-gatherer communities, and media and the arts, illustrated through cases from across the continent. A concluding theoretical chapter examines broader challenges and opportunities for multilingual education in Africa. Together, the chapters demonstrate that strengthening African linguistic resources is vital for decolonizing knowledge production, empowering communities, and reimagining education systems that reflect Africa’s diverse realities and aspirations.With contributions from:Doris Löhr, Comfort Beyang Oben Ojongnkpot, Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju, Bert van Pinxteren, Ayodele Yusuff, Feyi Ademola-Adeoye, Adédoyinsolá Omowùnmí Eleshin, Emilisco Jones Enoachuo, Sarita Monjane Henriksen, Tomoe Noguchi, Omusula W. Omuholo.
Register for the upcoming webinar, 6 February 2026, 4 PM CET / 3 PM GMT: Enacting Translanguaging in a Ghanaian Multilingual Classroom: Code choices in minority language classrooms
Our next webinar in the ‘Conversations on Language Policy in Africa’ series. It is a follow-up to this article by David Dankwa-Apawu, Yvonne Agbetsoamedo and Elvis ResCue in Language Policy in Africa. The study they report on highlights some of the difficulties in implementing an inclusive translanguaging strategy in minority-language classrooms and recommends a policy shift to allow more space for mother-tongue based instruction. The webinar will take around one hour, including time for Q&A. Register here. Note that recordings of the past webinars in this series are available now.
African Languages Conference, Accra and online, 23-28 February
This Conference will have two parts, an on-site part in Accra on 23 and 24 February, and an online part from 26 to 28 February. Registration for the Conference is free, but voluntary contributions are welcomed. The full programme will become available from their website soon.
Our Circle will have a panel discussion on Thursday, 26 January, from 14:00 to 15:20 GMT, on the topic of Multilingual learning for All: challenges and limitations. Panellists will be Djouroukoro Diallo, Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju, Addisalem Yallew and undersigned.
CfP: Legal Terminology in African Languages. There is a special issue coming up of Comparative Law and Language, on the terminology of legal sciences in African languages and countries. Deadline for submissions: 31 March.
African script systems: Circle member prof. Philippa Steele has called our attention to the ‘World Endangered Writing Day’, which took place on 23 January. Africa has a number of lesser and better-known writing systems. If you are interested in this, follow the link…
New member: Dr Jite Eferakorho, University of Edinburgh, UK
Changes? Is the information we have about you on the Circle website still up-to-date? Do you have a new job, job title or any other change that is relevant? Do let us know if this is the case.
As always, if you have things or hear of things that you think might be of interest to Circle members, don’t hesitate to send a short message, either via the mail or via WhatsApp - we will be happy to share the information.
Looking forward to seeing or corresponding with some of you during our upcoming activities, best regards,
Bert (also on behalf of Comfort, Sarita and Taiwo).