Volume: 1  Number: 1  Page: 86–95

Indigenous Language Media: A Veritable Tool for African Language Learning

Abiodun Salawu Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

This paper takes the position that African language pedagogy should go beyond classroom activity and the space should be enlarged to include the media of mass communication. The paper reiterates the fact that communication is a vehicle for education. The mass media, because of their general accessibility, are said to be veritable tools in popularising the use and learning of African languages that are, presently, being threatened out of existence by the European languages foisted on the African peoples through the advent of colonialism. For the mass media to achieve this task, the media using African languages must be encouraged and sustained. The paper raises this point with the observation that most African languages, at present, are not in use, especially in the print media, while the existing (African) indigenous language newspapers are not enjoying favourable disposition from the people. To make the African indigenous language mass media serve as effective tools for teaching and learning African languages, governments in Africa and nongovern-mental organisations must pay adequate attention to these media while also encouraging their acceptance by the public.

Keywords: indigenous language, language media, mass communication, African indigenous language

© 2006 A. Salawu

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