22 July 2013
Ngugi Wa Thiong’o:
English is not an African language
HARDtalk speaks to Kenyan author, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o. He tells Gavin Esler that language plays an important role in hierarchies and systems of oppression.He says that African authors should be clear about the fact that when they write in English they are contributing to the expansion of, and dependence on, the English language. He argues that translation plays an important role in allowing cultures to communicate but thinks it is “crazy” that a prize for African literature only considers books written in English.
>via: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-radio-and-tv-23367692