Localization Africa

AFLC 2024 Session 15
2024-02-26 14:00 - 15:30 UTC | Online
Akan kasa ahodoɔ adida wɔ dawubɔ dwumadie mu (Representation of Akan Languages in The Ghanaian Media).
Session Language: Twi and Fante
Type:Panel Discussion (1 hour and 30 minutes)
Description:
The session will explore the use of the Akan language in the media and specifically share learnings and experiences from the Akannews.com project. The panel is composed of three Akan language content creators and linguists.
Moderator: Emmanuel Clifford Gyetuah
Panelists
Joseph Aboagye
Ebenezer Offen
Konamah Tawiah
Belinda M. Tuffour
Time slot: February 26 at 2:00 PM GMT
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LFaniawIRhaFzLeHX3faLw

AFLC 2024 Session 13
2024-02-25 09:00 - 10:00 UTC | Online
Language Preservation Versus Mass Media Reporting
Name: Slindile Khanyile
Session Language: Zulu
Type:Individual presentation (1 hour)
Description:
The objective of this session will be to look at the challenges faced by news media organisations who try to strike a balance between language preservation and storytelling for mass media consumption. How far does one go in adopting the modern use of the language without bastardising the language?
Speaker Bio:
Slindile Khanyile is a versatile journalist and editor with more than 20 years of mainstream media experience. In September 2020 she co-founded an isiZulu online business publication, Umbele, the first of its kind in South Africa. Earlier that year she had also launched Umkhanyisi, a Zulu-medium digital education publication. Slindile is the former editor of Isolezwe, the largest Zulu newspaper in South Africa.
Time slot: February 25 at 11 AM SAST/9am GMT
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qRaLYRjfSs2Tayhw_rOIAA

AFLC 2024 Session 12
2024-02-24 16:00 - 17:30 UTC
Language Matters A Lot: Multilingual Education Across Africa
Session Language: English
Type: Panel Discussion (1 hour and 30 minutes)
Description:
African children are overwhelmingly taught in a language they do not speak at home. At most 1 in 5 students are taught in their home language. Evidence from the recent Spotlight report on foundational learning in Africa demonstrates that even partial use of home language is associated with a higher probability of learners being literate after a full primary school cycle. The presentation provides an overview of the language of instruction policies in Africa and examines the extent to which the continent is addressing its linguistic diversity with reference to case studies shared by policy makers from Mozambique and Côte d’Ivoire.
Moderator: Kate Linkins
Time slot: 24 February at 4PM GMT/11AM EST
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FUbIdgSOQLW6T0FhBF8Rtg

AFLC 2024 Session 11
2024-02-24 15:00 - 16:00 UTC | Online
My Language My Exquisite Identity
Name: Joefrey Ngha Nji
Session Language: English
Type: Individual presentation (1 hour)
Description:
This session sheds light on the need to valorise our indigenous languages, because our languages are our identities, once you miss out on valorising your language you are alienated from your ROOTS, this is because when you learn the language of another you are learning their culture as well. Therefore it should be our prerogative as Africans to look for ways and means to standardize our languages, even teaching the English Language one should never shy away from explaining things in the mother tongue whenever the need arises.
Speaker Bio:
Joefrey Ngha Nji has a PhD in Applied Linguistics, specialised in Discourse Analysis. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at HTTC Maroua in the University of Maroua and has published academic articles in both national and international journals. His areas of research interests include Linguistics, Language Use, Bilingualism, Language Teaching. He has also published a collection of poems entitled: **Africa Must Be Liberated**. Civil rights activist after the Order of Martin Luther King Jr.
Time slot: [24 February at 3PM GMT/5PM CAT]
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OpuXkPKJReKcavmTe98AUA

AFLC 2024 Session 10
2024-02-24 11:00 - 12:30 UTC | Online
Role of Youths in Revitalizing Endangered Language
Session Language: English
Type: Panel Discussion (1 hour and 30 minutes)
Description:
This session aims to discuss and proffer ideas through which endangered languages could be reawakened/revived for the protection of our linguistic diversity and preservative strategies.
It focuses on community involvement with emphasis on the important role of native speakers in reviving languages. This will empower communities to take charge of preserving their language heritage.
Encouraging the inclusion of language programs in schools will ensure that these languages get taught and passed on to future generations.
Furthermore, it will take into consideration the exploration of technology by the youth and the pivotal role of governmental support and important policies.
Moderator: Lucy Chinyeaka Iwuala
Panelists:
Franca Umasoye Igwe:
Aremu Anuoluwapo
Greatman Badom
Levi Kambai Timothy (Kambai Akau)
Time slot: February 24th at 12pm WAT/11AM GMT TO 12:30PM GMT
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_V1tptawFR4y9p-Dz8vfIdQ

AFLC 2024 Session 9
2024-02-24 10:00 - 11:00 UTC | Online
Retelling Hamlet in Nigerian Pidgin English
Presenter: Bernard Ogini
Session Language: Nigerian Pidgin English
Type: Individual presentation (1 hour)
Session Description:
This session will deconstruct the language used in Shakespeare’s hamlet into the Nigerian Pidgin without losing its subject matter and the theme. It aims at retelling Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the African style. The session aims to decolonize the westernized narratives that has dominated literature for centuries ; it seeks to make Shakespeare’s works more accessible to the layperson ; promote Nigerian Pidgin on an international scale and will also serve as a call to activate Pidgin Literature and Literature in Pidgin English.
Speaker Bio:
Ogini Bernard is a Nigerian pidgin playwright, translator, researcher and a visual artist. Bernard has exhibited his exceptional skills and dedication to the world of theatre, visual art, Language translation and language technology.
Time slot: February 24, 10am GMT

AFLC 2024 Session 8
2024-02-23 15:00 - 16:00 UTC | Online
Unlocking & Mastering Multilingualism for African Economic Growth
Name: Chiraz Bensemmane
Session Language: English and French
Type: Individual presentation (1 hour)
Description:
Explore the transforming impact of adopting multilingualism as a dynamic accelerator for African economic success. The importance of language in labour market dynamics, entrepreneurship, and the blending of local and global languages—English, French, Spanish, and Arabic—is the subject of our discussion. We promote multilingualism in order to facilitate seamless communication, trade, and collaboration, which is consistent with the aims of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Imagining a future in which linguistic diversity serves as a uniting factor, boosting socioeconomic success and laying the framework for Africa’s vigorous global involvement.
Speaker Bio: Serial entrepreneur, moderator and speaker, and Algeria Laureate for Women in Africa WIA54 2021 program, Chiraz Bensemmane helps companies, individuals, and public authorities get access to the right resources so they can grow and have a greater impact.
Time slot: [23 February at 3pm GMT]
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wg4u75sUT7qYACjFpg82qw

AFLC 2024 Session 7
2024-02-23 13:00 - 17:00 UTC | Online
Exploring Indigenous Language Systems for Sustaining Moral Values
Name: Adekunle Adediran
Session Language: English
Type:Individual presentation (1 hour)
Description:
This session explores the role of indigenous language systems for sustaining moral values towards effective upbringing of children in Nigeria. Indigenous languages in Nigeria represent a rich cultural heritage and serve as repositories of traditional wisdom, ethical codes, and moral values. The findings of the speaker revealed that Indigenous languages serve as cultural reservoirs, embodying the collective wisdom, ethical codes, and traditional knowledge of their respective communities. The cultural embeddedness of moral values within indigenous languages is evident through linguistic expressions, oral traditions, and the cultural context in which these languages are spoken.
Time slot: February 23 at 1pm GMT

AFLC 2024 Session 6
2024-02-22 17:00 - 18:00 (Africa/Kigali)
Representation of African languages in the media
Presenter: Nkechi Okafor
Session Language: Igbo and English
Type: Individual Presentation (1 hour)
Description:
In this dynamic presentation, we delve into the challenges and opportunities surrounding the representation of African languages in media. From traditional outlets to the digital sphere, we explore strategies for amplifying linguistic diversity. Uncover successful case studies, examine the role of media literacy, and discuss the pivotal intersection of technology and language empowerment. Be part of the conversation as we present recommendations and envision a future where African languages not only survive but thrive in the global media landscape. Don’t miss this insightful session that aims to inspire collaboration and ignite change for linguists.
Speaker Bio: Okafor Nkechi Abundance is a passionate advocate for linguistic diversity, with a focus on African languages. She is an Interpreter and Translator for English Igbo.
Time slot: February 22 at 3 P.M GMT
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fejdxa1MT7Glh8L8b9ickw

AFLC 2024 Session 5
2024-02-22 13:00 - 14:30 (Africa/Kigali)
Session 5: Language Portrayal and Preservation in Nigerian New Media.
Session Languages: English, Yoruba and Arogbo-Ijaw/Izon dialect
Type: Panel Discussion (1 hour and 30 minutes)
Description:
The primary goal of this session is to examine and uncover the elements that contribute to the diminishing practice and instruction of Nigerian indigenous languages among individuals in Nigeria and the diaspora. Panelists will delve into the impact of migration and foreign cultures, the role of re-education, and strategies for preserving our indigenous languages across successive generations.
Panelists:
June Gbadamosi
Dubamo Tomere PhD
Oluwanifesimi Akinfiesoye
Time slot: 22 February 22, 12:00 WAT / 11 A.M. GMT
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_w-nLJ0cGQXKbxZjhHT-D1A

AFLC 2024 Session 4
2024-02-21 18:00 - 19:00 (Africa/Kigali)
Hausa Language: A Lingua franca
Name: Harouna Mahamat
Session Language: Hausa
Type: Individual presentation (1 hour)
Description:
This session will shed light on Hausa and its position in African society today. Harouna will discuss how the language can be used to empower education, technology, and African integration. Additionally, he will address the challenges faced by the language and propose some potential solutions. This presentation is an opportunity to shed light on Hausa’s importance and explore ways to overcome obstacles in its development and utilization.
Speaker Bio
Harouna Mahamat, a 28-year-old Cameroonian Hausa linguist and diplomacy student, is a trailblazer in promoting African languages and cultural exchange. As the Executive Secretary General of the Hausa Cultural Centre and co-founder of the African LangService Hub, his contributions have been instrumental in elevating the status of Hausa language and fostering linguistic diversity. With his expertise in Hausa, French, English, Arabic, Chinese, and Hindi, Harouna Mahamat bridges cultural gaps and communicates effectively, while his numerous articles on Hausa language and African languages promotion showcase his commitment to preserving and celebrating African linguistic heritage.
Time Slot: [21 February, 4 P.M. GMT]
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IyFD1coATluOIKVmBdh3pQ

AFLC 2024 Session 3
2024-02-21 17:00 - 18:00 (Africa/Kigali)
Enseigner la rhétorique au lycée:le wolofal, un corpus alternatif.
Nom: Ibrahima FAYE
Cette session sera en: Wolof
Type: Présentation individuelle (1 heure)
Description:
Dans le système éducatif sénégalais, l’enseignant est invité à utiliser un corpus officiel exclusivement en français, langue de l’enseignement. Cette séance démontre la pertinence de varier sur le plan linguistique ces textes par l’utilisation d’autres composés dans une des langues majoritairement parlée au Sénégal (le wolof). Cette réflexion veut être un lieu de réflexion sur la richesse des langues africaines dont les qualités thématique et stylistique ne sont plus à prouver.
Bio: Docteur Ibrahima FAYE est titulaire d’un doctorat unique en études africaines et francophones, option : littératures orales africaines. Il enseigne depuis 2020 à l’Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar où il est recruté. Il est chargé de recherche à l’Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire – Cheikh Anta Diop (IFAN-CAD), au département de Langues et Civilisations, Laboratoire de Littératures et Civilisations africaines.
Date: Le 21 février à 15 h GMT
Inscrivez-vous à l’avance à ce webinaire:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5KaLF8ASSeiGshLAx8WLxQ

AFLC 2024 Session 2
2024-02-21 14:00 - 17:00 (Africa/Kigali)
Please translate this into five Namibia languages!
Presenter: Timothy Barton
Session Language: English
Type: Individual presentation (1 hour)
Description:
Many of the translation requests Timothy Barton has received since moving from Europe to Namibia have been for a single text to be translated into several languages – sometimes languages with only a few thousand speakers. How does he find suitable translators when there are so few speakers, and how can he be sure they are reliable? How can he evaluate the quality if he can’t read the language? How can he help translators who have no translation training? Timothy Barton will answer these questions and suggest best practices for Project Managers working with indigenous African languages.
Speaker Bio:
Timothy Barton is a freelance translator and editor based in Oranjemund, Namibia. He specializes in macroeconomics, trade and development, working mainly for international institutions such as the United Nations, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Trade Organization. He translates from French, Spanish, Catalan and Portuguese to English. He also manages many translation projects for Namibian clients, often hiring local translators working into local languages, such as Oshiwambo and Khoekhoegowab. Timothy is a member of Mediterranean Editors and Translators (MET), the Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters of Catalonia (APTIC), the International Association of Conference Translators (AITC) and the French Society of Translators (SFT).
Time slot: 21 February at 2PM CAT/ 12 noon GMT

AFLC 2024 Session 1
2024-02-21 14:00 - 17:00 (Africa/Kigali)
Umuhimu wa Kuhifadhi Lugha Zetu Za Kiafrika (The Importance of Preserving Our African Languages) .
Presenter name: Nduku Mulumba
Session Language: English and Kiswahili
Type: Individual presentation (1 hour)
Description:
This session will focus on the origin of Kiswahili and why the speaker is convinced that this is a language that was created by Afrikans and not Arabs as is popularly believed. It will also touch on “linguistic colonialism”, particularly how the invasion of Afrika cost us our languages and how for example Kiswahili, which those who invaded East Afrika saw as a language that united the different peoples of Afrika, was corrupted so that it would lose its connection to us and that ability to unite us. The presentation will propose solutions for the preservation, the rebuilding, the recording, and the expansion of Kiswahili and all Afrikan languages to ensure we do not lose our Afrikan culture.
Time slot: February 21st at 2PM EAT (11am GMT)

AFLC 2024 Opening Ceremony
2024-02-21 09:00 - 10:30 UTC
Key note speaker for the event: Dr.Lang Fafa Dampha, Executive Secretary, African Academy of Languages (ACALAN)
Moderator: Christiana Eyram Aboagye

African Languages Conference (AFLC)
2024-02-21 08:00 - 2024-02-28 17:00 UTC | Online
African Languages Conference (AFLC) is an opportunity to sharpen your language skills and explore new ways to promote African languages.
The African Language Conference is also an opportunity to connect with fellow language enthusiasts from around the globe.
This conference is not just an event; it’s a movement to honor and cherish the wealth of African languages.

ALCA Coopetition Series Webinar
2024-01-26 15:00 - 17:00 UTC | Online
We’re excited to invite you to the upcoming ALCA Coopetition Series Webinar featuring renowned expert Dr. Daniel Feser, discussing the intriguing topic – “To Compete or Cooperate.”

Umuganura
2023-08-04
Umuganura also called the National Harvest Day or Thanksgiving Day is the traditional feast celebrating the first harvest of the year, and a platform to assess the harvest and finding ways of increasing harvest for the coming year. To add more, Umuganura is an annual event held on the first Friday of August and it is a public holiday. But the festival is celebrated during a week leading to the Umuganura day.

Kiswahili Day
2023-07-07
In the 1950s the United Nations established the Kiswahili language unit of United Nations Radio, and today Kiswahili is the only African language within the Directorate of the Global Communications at the United Nations. The 7th July of each year is proclaimed as World Kiswahili Language Day. Kiswahili is the first African language to be recognized in such a manner by the UN.

Commemoration of Africa Day
2023-05-25
Africa Day is celebrated every year on 25 May. It is an opportunity to celebrate African diversity and success, and to highlight the cultural and economic potential that exists on the African continent.

Akwasidae
2023-04-30, 2023-03-19 | Manhyia Palace P93P+M2Q Palace, Kumasi, P93P+M2Q Palace, Kumasi, Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana
The Akwasidae Festival is celebrated by the Ashanti people and chiefs in Ashanti. The festival is celebrated on a Sunday, once every six weeks to mark the seasons and the timings for various agricultural activities. Significance: Festival of commemoration of ancestors
