The languages of colonial rulers remain dominant in public life even after a colony achieves independence. English, French and Portuguese have been retained as the official languages in most of the Sub-Saharan African countries. The former colonial European language is proclaimed to be the only official language in 28 African countries. Even if African languages do become official languages, they remain the languages of the primary schools and local government offices. In contrast, English, French or Portuguese are languages of the courts, central government offices and institutions of higher education.
Colonial governments did not make any real attempt to develop African languages into official written languages with the exception of Kiswahili in Tanzania. People in colonies were linguistically divided. After independence, the language situation did not change very much. Individuals are still not able to communicate with one another. The language question lies behind various difficulties that Africa faces today.
In Zambia, the only official language is English. Seven African languages are used for instruction in elementary schools and for radio broadcasts. The number of people who speak two of these language, Bemba and Nyanja, is increasing. However, the government has not shown any intention to develop them into official languages at the national level.
English as a second language is rapidly spreading in Zambia mainly because of educational development. Although English is the lingua franca of the middle class, it does not have this status for the entire population. Zambian might be said to be divided into two groups: the thin layer of the educated who gains proficiency in English, and the thick layer of the working classes who continue to speak in their many different languages. Zambia is a typical multilingual/multiethnic state without a particular language understood by the majority of the people. Zambian national unity has not been brought about by language or ethnicity, but by the people taking pride in freedom of speech, democracy and, particularly, in maintaining peace by combating ethnic divisions since independence.
The author will discuss this subject in detail by focusing on the Nsenga people living in Petauke and Lusaka.
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