Colonial Legacies, Language Policy, and Struggle for Linguistic Decolonization in Africa

Abstract

This chapter examines the continuing impact of colonial language policies on African linguistic landscapes, identities, and structures of knowledge. It contends that contemporary language hierarchies in many African countries, where European languages continue to dominate education, governance, and social movement, are rooted in colonial philosophies that devalued African languages. The chapter also questions the ways these policies have shaped language attitudes, limited inter-generational language transmission, and marginalized indigenous theories of knowledge. It also highlights efforts made across the continent to resist these legacies through multilingual education, language revitalization, and policy reform. By analyzing the political, historical, and cultural dimensions of language planning in post-colonial Africa, the chapter contributes to understanding how African languages act, not only as cultural DNA, but also as vehicles for decolonization and reclamation of identity.