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UFH Communication Department’s ‘Town-Meets-Gown’ Seminar Series Spotlights Indigenous Language Media

By Aretha Linden 

Indigenous language media scholars and practitioners converged at the University of Fort Hare’s (UFH) Alice Campus recently to dissect the nexus of Indigenous language media in identity negotiation and belonging during the 2nd Annual ‘Town-Meets-Gown’ seminar series hosted by the Department of Communication.

Launched last year, the series provides a forum for the cross-fertilization of ideas between academics and practitioners, exposing students to a network of seasoned professionals to significantly improve their knowledge and interest in the media and communication field.

Speaking at this year’s event were Professor Abiodun Salawu, a distinguished scholar of Indigenous language media and Director of the research entity Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) at North-West University, as well as Mr Dunisani Ntsanwisi, Indigenous media newspaper owner, and Board Member of the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP).

The inaugural series, held on the East London campus, featured Dr. Kate Skinner, Executive Director of the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP), and Ms. Cheri-Ann James, Editor of Daily Dispatch. They shared their expertise on the theme: ‘Community Newspaper: Prospects and Challenges in a Digital Age.’

In his enlightening presentation titled ‘It All Starts Here: The Palace of isiXhosa in the Historiography of the African Language Press,’ Prof Salawu, a former UFH academic, explored the historical claims surrounding early African language newspapers, particularly focusing on isiXhosa publications.

Prof Salawu drew most of his talk from his study, “Not Iwe Irohin but Umshumayeli: A Revisit of the Historiography of the Early African Language Press,” which was funded by the UFH Department of Research and Innovation (formerly GMRDC) and published in the African Identities journal.

He began by addressing the commonly held belief that Iwe Irohin, founded in 1859, was the first African language newspaper in Nigeria. However, he counters this by highlighting the earlier existence of Umshumayeli Wendaba, which started in 1837, making it the first African language newspaper. Prof Salawu also mentioned other early Xhosa newspapers, like Ikwezi (1844) and Isitunywa Sennyanga (1850), arguing that these publications predate Iwe Irohin.

He emphasized the need for clear definitions of what constitutes a newspaper. “There are four criteria for newspapers: accessibility, periodicity, currency, and universality, which early Xhosa newspapers met to a reasonable extent.” He acknowledged that while Iwe Irohin aligns more closely with modern newspaper standards, it cannot claim the title of the first African language newspaper.

Furthermore, Prof Salawu discussed the epistemological challenges in the historiography of the early African language press, pointing to a lack of coordinated knowledge that leads to confusion and conflicting claims.

He ended his presentation with a critical question regarding the absence of mainstream newspapers in other South African languages, such as isiXhosa and Sesotho, until relatively recently, referencing I’solezwe lesiXhosa, launched in 2015 as the first daily isiXhosa newspaper, which has since transitioned to a free weekly publication.

In his address titled ‘The Myth of Indigenous Media and the Nexus of Identity ‘Negation’ and ‘Recolonization,’ Mr Ntsanwisi drew attention to the critical role of Indigenous media in shaping identity and belonging among African communities.

He began by congratulating the University on its recent designation as a world heritage site and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to speak at a “proudly African University.”

Ntsanwisi argued that discussions on indigenous media and its impact on identity are long overdue, stating, “This is a very important matter, the discussion around which is long overdue. I think this is a matter that deserved serious thought back in 1993, when discussions about a democratic order were being negotiated.”

He pointed out the necessity for newspapers in local languages to ensure that marginalized voices are heard, as many communities still lack access to media in their mother tongues.

He highlighted the challenges faced in the media landscape, including the dominance of English and Afrikaans, which perpetuates the exclusion of indigenous languages. “If people are not allowed to consume media in the language of their choice, then they are denied a basic right to access information,” he asserted. He stressed that the implementation of the Use of Official Languages Act (UOLA) has been insufficient, leaving many African languages underrepresented in formal media.

Ntsanwisi also addressed the education system’s shortcomings, noting that many learners struggle to read in their mother tongues due to a lack of available materials. “How do we expect our children to acquire literacy skills?” he questioned, underlining the importance of providing educational resources in indigenous languages.

“If there are African people under the sun, then there must be space under the sun for African languages.”

He concluded by calling for a concerted effort to develop and promote African languages through educational institutions and grassroots media initiatives, stating, “If African languages are not spoken, developed, and promoted by us, their owners, who will develop and promote them?”

Head of Department Dr Kevin Onyenankeya said that the subject for this year’s edition was timely and significant, given that indigenous language media has come to occupy an important position in the South African media landscape. “It facilitates education and information sharing, which is critical in influencing and galvanizing community participation in economic, social, and political development, and bringing about attitudinal or behavioral changes towards some entrenched beliefs.”

“Our research so far has shown that with increasing fluid identities and racial and cultural polarizations in a highly commodified media landscape that tends to prioritize market interests and heteronomous cultures, indigenous language media can serve identity negotiation and belonging ends, especially for ethnic minorities facing under- and misrepresentation.”

“This series addressed how professionals can establish spaces for dialogue, select commentators, set the agenda, and orchestrate the dynamics of engagement, especially for communities at the margin. It also ventilated the role of indigenous media in promoting and revitalizing Indigenous languages,” stated Dr Onyenankeya.