The Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Jean Damascène Bizimana, has called on parents to ensure their children “learn and properly use Kinyarwanda,” at home, saying that “the national language is a key pillar of Rwanda’s identity and unity.” Bizimana made these remarks on Friday, February 21 during the national celebrations of “International Mother Language Day” at TTC de la Salle Byumba in Gicumbi District, Northern Province. During the event, themed “Learn, Improve Kinyarwanda, the Language that Connects Us,” participants reflected on the urgency of preserving and promoting Kinyarwanda amid growing foreign influences, particularly among the youth. PHOTOS: Minister of @Unity_MemoryRw, Jean Damascène Bizimana, joins other government officials to celebrate #InternationalMotherLanguageDay. The event emphasizes the importance of preserving and promoting the Kinyarwanda language in Rwandan society. : @FrankNtarindwa1 /TNT pic.twitter.com/8l2Gg0OuGf — The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) February 21, 2025 Bizimana expressed concern about an “increasing trend of young Rwandans adopting foreign languages, especially through internet exposure,” at the expense of Kinyarwanda, while others, particularly those living near borders, tend to prioritize languages spoken neighboring countries. “Speaking the appropriate language starts at home, and it is essential for children to learn it from a young age,” the minister said. “This is an urgent call to parents to teach their children Kinyarwanda by using it regularly at home. Parents should lead by example by consistently speaking Kinyarwanda in their daily interactions.” ALSO READ: Kinyarwanda: What we lose by not speaking native language The minister pointed out that speaking dialects of Kinyarwanda such as Ikirera, Rukiga, Amashi, and Amahavu, was not a bad thing. He emphasized the importance of using official Kinyarwanda as the main language and ensuring its use in homes and academic institutions. “While learning other languages is beneficial, especially in business, Kinyarwanda must remain the dominant language in our homes and educational institutions. It is through language that we maintain our culture, values, and unity as a nation,” he said. ALSO READ: Students urged to embrace reading and writing culture Egide Kabagema, a language structure and lexicology researcher at the Rwanda Cultural and Heritage Academy (RCHA), criticized parents, who for neglect Kinyarwanda in favor of foreign languages, calling it a “big mistake.” He said it was of “serious concern that the native language is not being prioritized.” “Most Rwandans tend to speak foreign languages and rarely think about how this erodes Kinyarwanda, ultimately devaluing it. When people want to undermine something, they first strip it of its value. This means that if you do not value your language, you are also not valuing your country,” Kabagema said. “When parents actively prevent their children from speaking Kinyarwanda, they are not only distancing them from their heritage but also contributing to the gradual erosion of our national identity,” he added. He urged Rwandans, especially those in leadership and academia, to embrace Kinyarwanda as a valuable linguistic and cultural asset rather than viewing it as inferior to other languages.
