Language, Colonization, and Resistance

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Exploring the role of language in colonization and resistance through the experiences of writers and critics in Kenya, discussing the suppression of African languages and the lasting impact of colonialism on societal perceptions. The narrative dives into the challenges faced by political prisoners trying to write under surveillance, showcasing resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Additionally, it sheds light on the struggles of African writers to publish in their native languages amidst structural barriers.

Colonization in Africa was much more than a land grab. It was a project to replace — and even erase — local cultures. To label them inferior. Music, arts, literature and of course language. In other words, it permeated everything. So how do you undo that? How do you unlearn what you’ve been forced to learn?

In this hour, produced in partnership with the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes (CHCI) and Africa is a Country — we learn what it means to decolonize the mind.

Original Air Date: March 20, 2021

Interviews In This Hour:

Reckon with the Past To Decolonize the Future — Reclaiming the Hidden History of Blackness — Never Write In The Language of the Colonizer

Guests:

Adom Getachew, Simon Gikandi, Ngugi wa Thiong’o

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