University of KwaZulu-Natal's vision of 'African scholarship' and information access: The case of isiZulu as an indigenous African language

Abstract

This article is based on an empirical study that sought to elicit staff and students’ responses to the issue of African indigenous language use as a new curricular package within the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). The purpose of this study was to explore the use of isiZulu for information access, and to establish its role towards the advancement of UKZN's vision of “African scholarship”. The incorporation of African indigenous languages into the curriculum of tertiary institutions is an agenda that seeks to redraw the linguistic map of South Africa in ways that will provide opportunities for people to access information in their own language. In keeping with the vision of “African scholarship”, this study reveals the crucial role that language plays in the intellectual and cultural business of an institution. It further problematizes the use of isiZulu as a tool for information access for both the learner and the instructor. Finally, the paper makes some recommendations to dialogue and ultimate policy review of issues that would pertinently position UKZN's mandate of becoming “The Premier University of African Scholarship” in accordance with its vision.

Keywords: IsiZulu, Information access and African scholarship