The circle is primarily open to scientists who share an interest in the related areas of African languages, language policy, sociolinguistics, education and language economy. Members of the circle follow the ideas of Prah (1998), and others, who argued that African languages are key to Africa’s development. The formation of the circle comes at a time (2019) when the majority of African languages are not used in formal settings but widely employed in informal interactions. Circle members believe that more use of African languages is unavoidable, but that it depends on a certain measure of harmonization and standardization. Linguists and other social scientists have an important role to play in helping to shape practical, efficient, rational, inclusive and African language-based policies on the continent.
The circle is interested in open exchanges of ideas, in foregrounding, stimulating and undertaking scientific work in this area and in active dialogue with policy makers at the national and international level. It takes pride in being inspired and led mainly by African social scientists. It is interdisciplinary in nature and aims to produce material that is accessible to policy makers and the interested lay person.
The circle has facilitated a workshop at the 10th World Congress of African Linguistics in 2021 as well as at the Bantu9 Conference in June 2022. Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju, Bert van Pinxteren and Josef Schmied have edited the volume ‘Language of Education and Development in Africa: Prospects for Decolonisation and Empowerment’. It contains papers from a number of Circle members (in part first presented at the Africa Knows! Conference in 2021 and at WOCAL10). A first edition was presented at the VAD 2022 Conference. An updated edition is now available for free download from the publisher’s website.
Circle members
Informal steering committee:
Dr Ann Hildah Gataaka, Chuka University, Kenya
Prof Dr Sarita Monjane Henriksen (Mozambique), Justus Liebig University, Germany
Dr Comfort Ojongnkpot, University of Buea, Cameroon
Dr Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Secretary: Dr Bert van Pinxteren, Leiden University, Netherlands (bert.van.pinxteren at upcmail.nl)
Members
Prof Dr Enoch Aboh, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Prof Dr Pius Akumbu, CNRS/LLACAN, France
Dr Azeb Amha, Leiden University, Netherlands
Dr Lilian Lem Atanga, University of Bamenda, Cameroon
Dr Elise Bagamboula, INALCO/PLIDAM, France
Tsabedze Bhekumusa, William Pitcher College, eSwatini
Dr Yassine Boussagui, Mohammed V University, Morocco
Dr Mulumba Mathias Bwanika, Makerere University, Uganda
Prof Dr Andy Chebanne, University of Botswana
Dr Joanne Davis, SOAS, London, UK
Dr Gabriel Delmon Djomeni, University of Dschang, Cameroon
Dr Kanana Fridah Erastus, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr Matthew Harley, Theological College of Northern Nigeria, Nigeria
Dr Enoachuo Emilisco Jones, University of Buea, Cameroon
Dr Eliane Sonkoue Kamdem, Schwerin College of Education, Germany
Em Prof Dr Paul Kerswill, University of York, UK
Dr Palesa Khotso (Lesotho), University of the Free State, South Africa
Prof Dr Yamina el Kirat el Allame, Mohammed V University, Morocco
Dr Promise Dodzi Kpoglu, University of Ghana
Dr Michael Kretzer, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany / University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Dr Doris Löhr-Broß, University of Bayreuth, Germany
Dr Aloysia Makoae, Lesotho College of Education
Prof Dr Martha Mbui Njui, University of Douala, Cameroon
Em Prof Dr Maarten Mous, Leiden University, Netherlands
Dr Peter Mose, Kisii University, Kenya
Letsela Motaung, University of the Free State, South Africa
Prof Dr Salikoko Mufwene, University of Chicago, USA
Dr Christfried Naumann, Humboldt Universität, Berlin, Germany
Raphaël Otho (Congo Republic), PhD student, INALCO, France
Dr Rethabile Possa-Mogoera, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Dr Samson Olusola Olatunji, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Dr Billian Khalayi Otundo, University of Bayreuth, Germany
Dr Émilie Sanon-Ouattara, Ki-Zerbo University, Burkina Faso
Scott Smith, DEA, SIL Equatorial Guinea / University of Léon, Spain
Ahmed Sosal (Sudan), PhD student, Leiden University
Dr Kgomotso Theledi, Wits University, South Africa
Em Prof Dr Ekkehard Wolff, Leipzig University, Germany
Addisalem Yallew (Ethiopia), PhD student, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Simphiwe Yende, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
Edinburgh Circle on the Promotion of African Languages 