The linguistic arm of the African Union (AU) – African Academy of languages, (ACALAN) –has reiterated the importance of language development. This was the general consensus of participants at the just concluded ACALAN workshop with media practitioners held in Kigali.

It was agreed that to arrive at the Africa of our dream, there is need to develop African languages.

The meeting was well attended by ACALAN Executive Secretary, Dr Lang Fafa Dampha, ACALAN SPPO, Dr. Babajide Ojo, ACALAN Assembly of Academicians and media practitioners across AU member states.

It was recommended that the AU should ensure region integration by training media on cross-border languages and Kiswahili promotion and use for continental integration. Member states were also urged to put in place language policies that will guide the development languages because having no policy is a policy in itself that promotes death of African languages. It was also suggested that AU member states should resuscitate media that tells African stories, the African way.

Meanwhile the Executive Secreatary of ACALAN Dr. Lang Fafa Dampha expressed satisfaction on the two days’ exchange and thanked participants for the work accomplished in two days to revive ACALAN strategic plan.