By Brenda Zulu

An inclusive, African information society will remain a dream until communities and individuals have widespread access to the use of ICTs in African languages. Language is a big issue in the WSIS process said Adama Samassekou of the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN). “Building an African information society cannot be done with foreign languages only,” observed Samassekou. In a report from the workshop on African languages, open source software and creativity in the service of the African renaissance, it was recommended that the value of African languages should be officially recognised. They should be established as working languages of Africa’s countries and communities to promote multilingualism. Support should also be provided for the affordable development of open, compatible, adaptable and evolving ICT solutions. The solution should focus on promoting African languages and the creation of content to meet the needs of African societies. Abiodun Jagun from Nigeria observed that the issue of language had been recurring in all the sessions she attended at the conference. She said that most people were promoting their rural areas where they speak to the local people in their own language. “Unless you are speaking the local dialect you are not going to convey your message,” said Jagun. Therefore, cultural and linguistic diversity should be supported with a view to the development of an inclusive information society in Africa. Juliet Musoke from Uganda also agreed that language was a very big issue in the African WSIS process. “I would like to see my mother use a computer as she understands things better in a local language,” said Musoke.