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) 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.
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Circle members
Informal steering committee:
Dr Elise Bagamboula, INALCO/PLIDAM, France
Dr Ann Hildah Gataaka, Chuka University, Kenya
Prof Dr Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Secretary: Bert van Pinxteren, PhD student, Leiden University, Netherlands
Members
Dr Azeb Amha, African Studies Centre, Leiden University, Netherlands
Dr Lilian Tem Atanga, University of Bamenda, Cameroon
Tsabedze Bhekumusa, William Pitcher College, Swaziland
Dr Mulumba Mathias Bwanika, Makerere University, Uganda
Prof Dr Andy Chebanne, University of Botswana
Dr Joanne Davis, SOAS, London, UK
Dr Gabriel Delmon Djomeni, Cameroon
Dr Kanana Fridah Erastus, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Prof Dr Paul Kerswill, University of York, UK
Dr Palesa Khotso, Lesotho College of Education
Dr Promise Dodzi Kpoglu, University of Ghana
Dr Aloysia Makoae, Lesotho College of Education
Prof Dr Maarten Mous, Leiden University, Netherlands
Dr Rethabile Possa-Mogoera, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Dr Comfort Ojongnkpot, University of Buea, Cameroon
Prof Dr Émilie Sanon-Ouettara, Ki-Zerbo University, Burkina Faso
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
Observer
Prof Dr Friederike Lüpke, University of Helsinki, Finland
