There is no denying with the fact that Languages are powerful tool of Communication, without which no meaningful and sustainable development can truly take place.

Africa has all it takes to become an economic world power if it repositions its languages as a tool for economic development and empowerment. Embracing African languages as languages of instruction in schools for instance will boost our academic achievement, self reliance, greater creativity, productivity and more economic opportunities and hence prosperity.

For Africa to have a solid and sustainable effort to develop African languages for a progressive economy and development, the body that fosters integration and development through the development and promotion of the use of African languages in all domains of life in Africa ‘The African Academy of Languages’ (ACALAN) has recently held a meeting of its Scientific and Technical Committee to review ACALAN activities and taking into account its strategic plan for 2019-2029.  

The meeting was held from 3rd to 5th April, 2019 in Brazaville, Republic of Congo under the chairmanship of Professor Ayo Bamgbose.

 The objectives of the meeting includes; reviewing the ACALAN activities and taking into account its strategic plan for 2019-2029; set up a resource mobilization committee; assist the executive secretariat in the preparation of the programme activities of ACALAN and in their implementation and in resource mobilization strategies; and to discuss other issues pertaining to the function of ACALAN in line with the statutory role of the committee.

Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary of ACALAN, Dr. Lang Fafa Dampha said ‘The presentation showed that ACALAN has successfully carried out its activities that had been planned for 2018’’.

Speaking on the importance of culture as a development in any nation, ‘’Culture is one of the most important aspects of the sustainable development of people;

‘’The development of African languages as one of the main pillars African culture is therefore imperative for the effective integration and sustainable development of Africa’’, the Executive Secretary said.

While urging African leaders and policy makers to provide necessary support for ACALAN, ‘’African leaders and policy makers should provide necessary support for ACALAN’s efforts to develop and promote African values and cultures, of which African languages are of the main components’’, Dr. Dampha said.   

He however thanked all the working structures, organs and the Department of Social Affairs, in particular the Division of Culture, for their unfailing support and assistance.

In his earlier remark while declaring the meeting opened, the Honourable Minister of Culture and Arts of the Republic of Congo, Mr. Dieudonne Mouyongo thanked ACALAN to have chosen Brazzavile for the meeting and assured Executive Secretary of the Government’s support for the Republic of Congo.

In accordance to the statues of ACALAN, members of ACALAN, partners and resources persons participated in the meeting while in accordance to the program, presentations were made by participants on the following sections: Languages Commissions, National Structure and Partner Institution and Presentation of the Structure and Functioning of the African Academy of Languages.

The meeting at the end recommended that, The Secretariat should make available all necessary mechanisms, including a committee for the launch of the Pan African Centre for Interpretation and Translation, to undertake continuing training as a center, to be later transformed to a school of interpretation and translation; Each Cross-border Language Commission should recommend two qualified and competent members to be trained by the Kiswahili corpus experts for the construction corpora; Regional institutions of culture and languages should serve as ACALAN regional structures (regional focal points) in the spirit of partnership and collaboration; The Secretariat should create an interactive platform for all ACALAN working structures and organs; PANMAPAL should be revised and the secretariat should revisit the Cape Town recommendations and make follow up and the report of the Scientific and Technical Committee should be submitted to the Assembly of Academicians.

Some of the outcomes of the ACALAN meeting includes: Activities of ACALAN are reviewed, taking into account its Strategic Plan 2019 – 2029; The Executive Secretary of ACALAN is assisted in the preparation and implementation of is programme of activities and in resources mobilization strategies and a resource mobilization committee was set up and headed by the immediate past Executive Secretary, Professor Sozinho Francisco Matsinhe among others.

In attendance at the statutory meeting of the Scientific and Technical Committee of the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN) includes, Mr. Andongoly Guindo, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture of Mali, represented the Honourable Minister of Culture; Ms Angela Martins, Head of Division Culture represented the Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission; Honourable Minister of Culture and Arts of the Republic of Congo, Mr. Diedonnie Mouyongo; Professor Ayo Bamgbose, Professor Sammy Beban Chumbow;  Dr. Lang Fafa Dampha, Executive Secretary of the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN); Professor Boniface Keita, Director General of the Malian Academy of Languages (AMALAN), National Structure (focal point) of ACALAN in Mali; Professor Charles BinamBikoi, Executive Secretary, CERDOTOLA; Professor Antoine Manda Tchebwa, Director General of the International Center of Bantu; Professor Paul Nzete, the Lingala Commission Coordinator; Professor Francois Lumwamu, the Kikongo Commission Coordinator and Prof John Gongwe Kiango, the Kiswahili Commission Coordinator among others who came across the African continent to support ACALAN mission and objectives.

It is pertinent to note that, the efforts of the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN), the linguistic arm of the African Union to develop and promote African languages as tools of African integration and development has brought about a reawakening of consensus to not just develop African languages but as much as possible see that they become official languages and languages of instruction and development to the African continent.