If you grew up in an urban area in Kenya, chances are you are one of those Kenyans who understand their mother tongue but cannot speak it.
This is the consequence of rural-urban migration, urbanization, intermarriage and the notion that proficiency in English is a sign of progress.
In 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) approved the establishment of International Mother Language Day. This was based on the belief in the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity. UNESCO states that working to preserve languages and cultures helps foster tolerance and respect for others within society.
“Multilingual and multicultural societies exist through their languages which transmit and preserve traditional knowledge and cultures in a sustainable way,” UNESCO states.
Languages such as Yaakunte, Waata and Burji are already facing extinction, with Kore language having already disappeared into oblivion, following Somali assimilation of the Kore people. That is why it is important for young people to learn their local mother tongue, not only to preserve the languages, but to be aware of their parental cultures. It also does not hurt to know one’s mother tongue just for fun.
With technology, it is possible to learn a language online and the Safaricom Newsroom has curated a list of resources one can use to learn local Kenyan languages.
ACK Language School
ACK Language and Orientation school is Kenya’s oldest and most authentic language school. Established in 1965 by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) of England, the institution was started for the benefit of churches, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals who seek to use its resources for orientation, cross-cultural training, and language study. Apart from local languages, the school teaches foreign languages such as Spanish and sign language. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the school has transitioned to online classes. One can sign up for such classes on the school’s platform: http://acklanguageschool.org/
M-Lugha
M-lugha is a multilingual, interactive, offline/online mother tongue-based app that supports learners of all ages in rural Kenya and Africa to master fundamental reading and numeracy skills using their unique indigenous languages. The official language of instruction in Kenya is English/Swahili, but because most rural and pastoral communities only speak their native languages, it can be difficult for children to keep up with the curriculum. The app currently supports 19 major communities and is approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).
Good old YouTube
Despite having been around for nearly two decades, YouTube is still a go-to for many content creators, language teachers included. Some notable channels include Let’s Learn Kikuyu by Mwari wa Mangi, Kemo Tube (Oromo language) and Luhya Language and Culture, which teach Kenyans indigenous languages. The videos are generally short and teach the viewer simple language phrases and pronunciations of words. The beauty of YouTube is the videos are always up for watching, whenever, wherever. The download feature can come in handy to learn your mother tongue on the move.
Translate Kenya
Nobody ever said learning must be conventional. With that in mind, the Translate Kenya app does exactly as the name implies, translating English to Luo, Luhya, Kikuyu, Kamba, Kisii, Meru, Maasai, Arabic and Mijikenda. You can also translate a word from one local language to another. A list of commonly used day-to-day phrases, such as greetings, is also available. This is an effective way of learning a language on the go, especially if stranded in an area where the locals only speak the native language.
DuoLingo
Swahili is the national language in Kenya and Tanzania. Other East African countries like DRC, Burundi and Uganda speak the language. However, not everyone can speak Swahili, especially children learning different curriculums such as the British or American curriculum. Swahili is the local language most Kenyans speak, which is why one needs to learn the language and be fluent for ease of communication. Duolingo teaches Swahili through activities and tests at the end of each lesson.
