Exploration of the interface between English and African values in contemporary afro-western relations

Abstract

The English Language has come to stay in Nigeria and Africa at large. The basic structure of African society recognized by its customs and beliefs is described as “heart of darkness” until English begins to inform the world through its native and non-native speakers that Africa has robust world views worthy of study, emulation or distortion. This paper explores the connection between African values and English as currently being transmitted and distorted by English in aiding Afro-Western relations, and, in so doing, sends African languages, reeling from this incapacity to tell the world about Africa. The concept of superstratum, where “the language of a socially powerful element in a society influences the language of less powerful groupings”, is adopted to showcase the weakness of African Languages in promoting African values currently being done by English since its contact with Africa and her languages. The result is that anglicized Africa, Frenchified Africa, and Portuguese Africa have become the new garb of Africa.