Black Heroes Who Defended Their Languages
By: Chimdindu Ken-Anaukwu
Language is more than just communication; it is culture, history, and identity woven into words. Throughout history, many African leaders, writers, and activists have fought to preserve and promote indigenous languages, understanding that language is key to reclaiming identity and resisting cultural erasure. This Black History Month, we highlight some of the heroes who defended African languages and ensured their survival for future generations.
Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso) – Champion of Linguistic and Cultural Independence
Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987, was a staunch advocate for African identity and self-sufficiency. His vision of liberation extended beyond economics and politics to language. He believed that Africans could not truly be free if they continued to rely on colonial languages while neglecting their own.
Sankara pushed for the recognition and use of indigenous languages in governance and education. He understood that speaking French as the dominant language reinforced neocolonial control, making African nations dependent on foreign systems. Under his leadership, Burkina Faso embraced linguistic and cultural heritage, integrating local languages into public discourse and education.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (Kenya) – The Literary Warrior
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, one of Africa’s most celebrated writers and intellectuals, made a radical decision in the 1970s: he abandoned writing in English and committed himself to writing in his native Gĩkũyũ. He argued that language is central to cultural sovereignty and that writing in African languages empowers communities.
His novel Devil on the Cross (written in Gĩkũyũ as Caitaani Mũtharaba-Inĩ) was among the first major works of literature published in an indigenous African language. His advocacy for linguistic decolonization led to his imprisonment by the Kenyan government, but he never wavered in his mission. Today, Ngũgĩ continues to champion African languages as vehicles for literature, philosophy, and political thought.
Sékou Touré (Guinea) – Rejecting Colonial Influence
Sékou Touré, Guinea’s first president after independence from France in 1958, famously rejected continued French control, declaring, “We prefer poverty in freedom to riches in slavery.” This philosophy extended to language. Unlike many African leaders who retained French as the official language, Touré promoted African languages, ensuring that local dialects were used in education and governance.
Touré believed that a people’s dignity was rooted in their language. By emphasizing the use of Malinké, Susu, and other indigenous languages, he sought to break the cultural dependency on France and reinforce Guinea’s identity as an independent African nation.
Amílcar Cabral (Guinea-Bissau & Cape Verde) – Language as a Tool for Liberation
Amílcar Cabral, the revolutionary leader who fought for the independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, understood that language was both a weapon and a shield. He encouraged the use of indigenous languages among resistance fighters, believing that African people must reclaim their tongues to reclaim their land.
Cabral rejected the idea that Portuguese, the colonial language, should be the primary medium of communication in post-independence governance. Instead, he saw language as a tool of liberation, promoting African linguistic diversity as a way to reinforce national identity and solidarity.
Why Defending Indigenous Languages Still Matters Today
The struggles these leaders faced are still relevant today. Many African languages remain marginalized in education and official use, often seen as secondary to English, French, or Portuguese. However, movements across the continent are pushing for the revitalization of indigenous languages, from digital activism to language-learning platforms like NKENNE.
As we celebrate Black History Month, let’s honor these heroes not just by remembering their words but by speaking and preserving our languages. Whether it’s learning an African language, teaching children their mother tongue, or advocating for policy changes, language preservation is an act of resistance and pride.
What You Can Do:
Learn an African language. Apps like NKENNE make it easier than ever to start.
Read literature in indigenous languages. Support authors who write in African languages.
Speak your language. Whether at home or online, keeping your mother tongue alive matters.
Advocate for language inclusion. Push for African languages to be recognized in schools, media, and governance.
Language is power. Let’s ensure it remains in our hands.
Want to Reconnect with an African Language?
Start learning today with NKENNE—the platform designed to bring African languages back to the center stage. Because when we speak our languages, we honor our history.