Before the coming of the white men to Africa, in the wake of evangelization and the subsequent colonization of many parts of Africa, Africans had their way of life. However, colonization and neo-colonization is fast eroding the African way of life.
This cultural evolution has manifested itself in various significant ways, from individual to society management, economy, agriculture, health, religion and so on. In two separate studies (Bruce, 2003 and Pew Research Centre, 2003), it was reported that reported that 8 in 10 Africans and 6 in 10 Latin Americans feel that their traditional way of life is under siege as a result of globalization, compared to only three in 10 who feel the same in the U.S.
In addition, the same studies revealed that large majorities in 42 of 44 countries surveyed felt that their way of life is being lost and is in need of protection from foreign influence. All these were made possible through communication.
This cultural evolution has manifested itself in various significant ways, from individual to society management, economy, agriculture, health, religion and so on. In two separate studies (Bruce, 2003 and Pew Research Centre, 2003), it was reported that reported that 8 in 10 Africans and 6 in 10 Latin Americans feel that their traditional way of life is under siege as a result of globalization, compared to only three in 10 who feel the same in the U.S.
In addition, the same studies revealed that large majorities in 42 of 44 countries surveyed felt that their way of life is being lost and is in need of protection from foreign influence. All these were made possible through communication.
Effective communication is the trunk of development of any society. Without this, there will be underdevelopment, mal-development or no development at all (Mundy and Compton, 1993). Almost every aspect of existence in Nigeria has been touched by colonialism and neo-colonialism. The so-called advancement of the global society in knowledge, skill, technology and communication has brought several cultural changes that has influenced and affected socio-economic, educational and political development of Nigeria.
Africa can be said to have been turned into the backyard of the developed countries, where needed resources for development are tapped and used selfishly. The few ones returned are at a price too much for the impoverished and poverty-stricken African. Development in this study covers indigenous communication system, agriculture and education.
According to Che Guevara, 1964, as cited by Walter Rodney (1973):
These characteristics are not fortuitous; they correspond strictly to the nature of the capitalist system in full expansion, which transfers to the dependent countries the most abusive and barefaced forms of exploitation. It must be clearly understood that the only way to solve the questions now besetting mankind is to eliminate completely the exploitation of dependent countries by developed capitalist countries, with all the consequences that this implies.
The overall development of any country depends on its level of educational proficiency. This requires the participation of all. Communication and development can not be separated. Without communication, there can be no development. There is no gainsaying in the fact that the language (and culture) of development is the mother tongue or a language(s) rooted in the people’s culture and tradition, a language in which the generality of the nation’s populace have unimpeded and unconscious facility in all forms of communication (Essien 2003). According to Adeniyi and Bello (2006), the Asmara declaration, which Nigeria is a signatory, recognizes the fact that ‘the effective and rapid development of science and technology in Africa depends on the use of African languages; and modern technology must be used for the development of African languages’. According to Mazrui (2002) as cited by Adeniyi et al (2006:159):
No country has ascended a first rank technologically and economic power by excessive dependence on foreign languages. Japan rose to dazzling industrial heights by scientificating the Japanese language and making it the medium of its own industrialization…. Can Africa ever take-off technologically if it remains so overwhelmingly dependent on European languages for discourse on advance learning. Can Africa look to the future if it is not adequately sensitive to the cultural past?
Diffusion of innovation takes place in Japan in local language. China which was once rated as underdeveloped with Nigeria and with the largest population in the world is now regarded as an industrialized nation. Chinese now operate the computer in their indigenous language.
The same is true for other developed countries like Britain, United States of America, Germany and so on. They are called the G8+5. The G8 are Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and United States. The latest 5 developed countries are Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa (Bożyk, 2006). The indigenous communication system of these countries has been an integral part of their development. South Africa has 11 official languages, and scores of unofficial ones. The country's democratic constitution, which came into effect on 4th February, 1997, recognises 11 official languages, to which the state guarantees equal status. South African English, for example, is littered with words and phrases from Afrikaans, isiZulu, Nama and other African languages. English is the most commonly spoken language in official and commercial public life – but only the sixth most spoken home language (Brand South Africa, 2011).
The questions are what language are we in Nigeria forcing on our students? Why are they being punished so much for not using the language of another like their own, even when the teacher can not use it like the owner of the language? Can there be any meaningful development if we continue like this?
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