Silozi Dominance Over Indigenous Languages In Caprivi
I AM writing to support the opinion of Vinea Nkunyu-Simataa published in your paper on June 19. In fact this letter was prepared in 2007 and sent to The Namibian but was never published.
I think that this is the right time to reopen the discussion on the topic introduced by Nkunyu-Simataa.
Our long tolerance, ignorance and/or permission of Silozi supremacy and/or superiority over the indigenous languages in the Caprivi Region is silently haunting the author of this article and many others like Nkunyu-Simataa. The magnitude of the anticipated present and future negative impacts on human development of the inhabitants of that region inevitably pressurises this author to reopen or initiate discussions in the public domain.
Historians, linguists and educationalists, from which perspective I will argue, are welcome to agree or disagree, challenge and/or correct the facts and assumptions I base my arguments on. History informs us that Silozi has its roots in the Western Province of Zambia. This language was introduced in the Caprivi Region through some form of imposition, domination and/or colonisation. Further justification for the introduction of Silozi as a medium in that region is under the pretext of being a uniting or compromising language among the three or four dominant tribes or simply put “to cover up tribal differences”. The author rules out the proximity and relations of people in the two countries to have led to the Silozi dominance in the region in question. Having had the language for that long, the big question is, is it uniting us or we are myopically ignoring the facts, symptoms and impact the it has caused and will continue causing to both the present and future generations of that region? In terms of the language policy of the Ministry of Education and other relevant legal instruments, a child is supposed to be taught in his or her mother tongue from grade one to four. In the Caprivi Region it is not the case because we knowingly or unknowingly, forced or not, through omission or commission, chose Silozi over our mother tongues presumably for unison purposes. The real situation on the ground is that the majority of families don’t speak Silozi as their mother tongue and struggle to speak it. Schoolchildren who come from predominantly Subia, Sifwe and/or Siyeyi-speaking households and communities are abruptly expected to switch over to Silozi when they enter school premises. The children would start the long education journey on the wrong note without proper reinforcement at home. Educationalists should tell us what are the immediate and long-term impacts of not utilising your home language at an early stage of your life. From my perspective, there is a high probability of delayed educational development.
Further observation indicates that even those who speak Silozi don’t speak it properly, especially over the radio. Radio programmes have become a mixture of English and a pseudo-Silozi, which in itself defeats the purpose of radio educating specific communities.
The ideal situation for me would be the introduction of indigenous languages on radio in selected programmes while we continue searching for a long-term solution. Oshiwambo and Otjiherero announcers speak various dialects over the radio. If this doesn’t work out, I believe there is also much to be learnt from international communities who had a similar dilemma. Other logistical issues such as materials and/or book writing can be sorted out as we go since we have abundant human capital.
In conclusion, I am disappointed to note that we people from that region have accepted to be called Caprivians who speak Caprivi or Oshicaprivi. Brethren, we have misled our fellow countrymen, we don’t have a collective name and/or language and it should be accepted as such. I am strongly convinced that this is the opportune time for us to challenge the status quo or otherwise face extinction of our indigenous languages under the pretext of unity. While it is important to learn a foreign language it should not be at the expense of our mother tongues. I declare the discussion open.
Chisao wa Chisao
Via e-mail