Good governance begins with citizens who understand, participate, and have a voice. For Africa, that means making sure the continent’s many languages are part of the conversation.
Africa is home to thousands of languages. They carry our histories, traditions, knowledge and identity. They are also the languages through which millions of Africans understand their communities and everyday lives.
Yet much of Africa’s official communication, public information and political debate still happens in a small number of inherited colonial languages.
This creates a gap.
A government policy may be important, but if citizens cannot easily understand it, their ability to participate is limited.
This is why African languages matter to Agenda 2063 Moonshot 3: Good Governance.
Governance must speak to the people
Good governance is not only about elections, laws and institutions.
It is also about communication.
Citizens need to understand their rights, government policies, public services and the decisions being made on their behalf.
When important information is available in languages people understand best, participation becomes more meaningful.
A farmer should be able to understand agricultural policies. A young person should be able to access information about education and employment. Communities should be able to understand public health messages and know how government resources are being used.
Language can turn information into participation.
African languages build trust
Using local languages also shows citizens that their voices and identities matter.
It can make public communication more accessible and help reduce the distance between institutions and the communities they serve.
This is particularly important for young Africans, who are increasingly using digital platforms to discuss public issues and hold institutions accountable.
If Agenda 2063 is about a people-driven Africa, then the people must be able to engage in the languages they understand.
The role of ACALAN
This is where the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN) has an important role to play.
Promoting and developing African languages is not only about preserving culture.
It is also about making African knowledge, information and public communication more accessible to African citizens.
The Africa We Want must be an Africa where people can understand the messages shaping their future.
Good governance cannot be truly people-centred if large parts of the population are left behind by language.
African languages can help close that gap.
They can carry information from institutions to communities, from governments to citizens and from one generation to the next.
Because building strong institutions is important.
But making those institutions understood, accessible, and accountable to the people is just as important.
And that is why African languages must have a place in the governance of the Africa We Want.