Introduction 

Senegalese citizens are concerned about the country’s linguistic situation. Since the new government took office, associations and intellectuals have been calling for national languages to be introduced into the education system. The latter are more interested in promoting Wolof than mother tongues.

Promoting Wolof 

A number of Senegalese are calling on the President of the Republic to use Wolof in the school system. They say that the new authorities at the helm must pay particular attention to national languages. According to them, no serious country can develop using a foreign language that constitutes a barrier for the population. However, it should be noted that language is a means of fighting imperialism. Since colonisation, the country’s independence has been seen as a pledge. Language is the soul of the people, and if the people ignore this fact, they will inevitably plan their own demise. The use of foreign languages is, according to a number of well-informed people, one of the consequences of the catastrophic results of examinations and the low level of the education system for a very long time. Experts such as El Hadji Boubou Senghote, Samba Djinda Ba, Thiambel Ba and Thierno Abou Sy, as well as many other Pulaar associations from Senegal and the diaspora, are counting on President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to re-establish fairness and justice in these matters if the country is to develop in peace and stability. ‘For the moment, the second paragraph of Article 1 of the Constitution simply states that the official language of the Republic of Senegal is French. While there is no question of changing this rule, which has in no way lost its raison d’être, it seems appropriate and legitimate to introduce into the Constitution, alongside the notion of official language, that of national languages, the basic rules of which the government is constantly endeavouring to lay down so that their teaching can gradually become widespread… The national languages are Diola, Malinke, Pulaar, Serer, Soninke, Wolof and any other national language that is entrusted to us’, explains El Hadji Boubou Senghote.

 A plea for national languages

The debate has been the subject of much ink and spittle in the run-up to the Senegalese election campaign. Intellectuals have risen up to dot the i’s and cross the t’s on the subject of national languages. Pulaar, Serer, Soninke, Wolof, Mandinka and Diola, the catalysts of the country’s development, have not gone unnoticed. For some, Wolof is more important, but for others, these languages contribute to the development of the country’s culture and ethnic groups. This is why these languages must not be relegated to second place. To this end, they are advocating equal treatment for all Senegalese languages in the education system’s curricula.  Moreover, the imminent Hadji Boubou Senghote specified that ‘Equal treatment of Senegalese national languages is therefore essential, both in educational programmes and in the media and other public spaces, in order to build bridges of peace between the different ethnic components of our beloved nation. All we ask is that the laws and regulations of our country, Senegal, which we all cherish, be observed’.

Discrimination against national languages 

The concern expressed by some Senegalese about discrimination against national languages is seen as a misunderstanding. This is because the players and associations fighting for the promotion of the Wolof language have stated that ‘this equal treatment should be observed in proportion to the number of native speakers of our different languages; as opposed to the famous theory known as langue du milieu, which seeks to officially place Wolof above the other languages of the country’. The review of educational and media programmes to ensure equitable representation of all national languages was also mentioned.

Conclusion

The election period was an opportunity for a number of citizens to raise the debate on the use of foreign languages, which is an obstacle for the Senegalese people. Since the installation of the new government, the subject seems to have been forgotten, and people are reacting to the silence of the authorities. The promotion of Wolof in place of other local languages is frowned upon by a certain elite. Doesn’t Africa face a dilemma when it comes to promoting local languages?