In line with the adoption of the African Languages Week (24 – 30 January) by the Third Specialised Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sport of the African Union, organised from October 21 to 25, 2018 in Algiers, Algeria, the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN) in collaboration with the government of Burkina Faso is launching the African Languages Week in Quagadougou, Burkina Faso on the 28 and 29 of July 2021 as a perpetual rendez-vous and major event to be held

annually from 24 to 30 January that should be observed by all member states of the African Union, as a special moment of the African identity.

CEOAFRICA gathered that H.E. Amira ElFadil, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the African Union Commission, and Professor OUARO Stanislas, Minister of Education, Literacy and the Promotion of National Languages of Burkina Faso will officially unveil the African Languages Week logo.

The session on Keynote and presentations will be chaired by Mrs Angela Martins, Head of Culture Division, Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the African Union Commission.

Professor Sammy Beban Chumbow, President of the ACALAN-AU Assembly of Academicians will deliver the Keynote speech on language policies and the role of African languages in African integration and development.

The Presentation on the African Union’s Language Plan of Action for Africa will be done by the Executive Secretary of the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN), Dr. Lang Fafa Dampha, who is also the initiator of the African Languages Week.

The Special Guest, H.E. Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) will be respondent to the keynote with emphasis on the linkage between education and languages within the context of the Language Plan of Action for Africa.

Presentations on the role of regional institutions of culture and languages in the development and promotion of African languages and their contribution to the success of the African Languages Week, in the short, medium and long term will be made by heads and other representatives of the regional institutions.

Other expected dignitaries at the event are:

Honourable Adama Samassekou, former Minister of Education of Mali and Founding Executive Secretary of ACALAN;

Mr Komi N'Kégbé Fogâ TUBLU, Coordinator of African Union's Centre for Linguistic and Historical Studies by Oral Tradition, (CELHTO); Professor Charles Binam Bikoi, Executive Secretary of the International Center for Research and Documentation on African Tradition and Languages, (CERDOTOLA);

Professor. Antoine MANDA TCHEBWA General Director of the International Centre of Bantu Civilisation, (CICIBA);

Dr James Otieno, Acting Executive Secretary of the East African Community Kiswahili Commission, (Kamisheniya Kiswahili Afrika Mashariki - KAKAMA);

Si El Hachemi Assad Secretary General of the High Commission for the Tamazight Language (HCA);

Mrs Hourétou Diallo, General Administrator of the KARANTA Foundation; Mr Ruphus Matibe, Director of International Relations, Department of Sport, Arts and Culture of South Africa;

Honourable Seedia Jatta, Gambian Member of the Pan-African Parliament, and member of the Mandenkan Vehicular Cross-border Language Commission; and,

Professor Anita Marie Diop, Hopkinsville Community College, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, United States of America.

ACALAN’s technical staff will be led by Senior Programme and Project Officer, Dr Ojo Babajide Johnson who is also moderator of the historic event.