In Rwanda and Africa, in general, it seems we do not -- or no longer -- master any of the tools for our actual survival in our own land. Everything we use nowadays, everywhere, is alien to us: either copied or imposed either by force or through systematic psychological conditioning by those who dominate us.
Editor,
RE: "Why schools should embrace Kinyarwanda as the language of instruction” (The New Times, April 19).
In Rwanda and Africa, in general, it seems we do not—or no longer—master any of the tools for our actual survival in our own land. Everything we use nowadays, everywhere, is alien to us: either copied or imposed either by force or through systematic psychological conditioning by those who dominate us. That is also the case for our native tongue(s).
Therefore, the only strategy to end this dominance, we must revisit and reconsider daily use of our own tools. And the language tool could be among the starting point to regain our freedom in mind and deeds.
But prior to actively promoting Kinyarwanda, and prior to teaching it through schools at various levels, do we have out there linguists working on reviving, actualising, and fine-tuning this tool? Or else there is a risk of, again, improvising and this would lead to inefficiency, dissatisfaction, frustration, and ultimately rejection!
Francois-Xavier Nziyonsenga