Africa's Lingual-Balknization: Colonial Language Dividies, Regional Integration and Political Mobilization

Authors: EZE, George Ogazi Mani (PhD, mnipr)

Affiliation: Department of Mass Communication, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Corresponding Author: [email protected]

December 22, 2025

SIAR-Global Journal of Humanities, Management & Educational Review

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18023399

Africa's Lingual-Balknization: Colonial Language Dividies, Regional Integration and Political Mobilization

Research Article Multidisciplinary

Abstract

The intricate linguistic landscape of Africa is largely a direct consequence of colonialism and the imposition of European languages—English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian—on heterogeneous indigenous populations.This phenomenon, often described as linguistic balkanization, has over time produced enduring linguistic segmentation that continues to shape political mobilisation, regional integration, and the construction of national identity. Colonial language policies were not merely instruments of administrative convenience; they also generated deep cultural and communicative rifts among African states, fostering dependence on external linguistic structures and undermining continental cohesion. Integration efforts by the African Union and sub-regional organisations such as ECOWAS and SADC are often disadvantaged by linguistic divergence, which frequently undermines their functional effectiveness and institutional legitimacy. As a powerful instrument of identity and mobilisation, language simultaneously operates as an enabling and constraining force: it facilitates transnational elite discourse through colonial languages while marginalising indigenous linguistic epistemologies. This dynamic complicates pan-African political organisation and grassroots participation, as vernacular languages remain systematically undervalued in political processes. Moreover, linguistic divisions often intersect with geopolitical contestations and ideological cleavages, contributing to structural incapacities within post-colonial states. Drawing on examples from Francophone, Anglophone, Lusophone, and Arabophone regions, this paper examines how colonial language legacies shape regional affiliations, diplomatic relations, and electoral communication strategies. The study interrogates the paradox of language as both a unifying and divisive force within the African polity. Employing critical discourse analysis and a historical-comparative approach, the study demonstrates how language policies may either bridge or deepen existing sociopolitical cleavages. The paper concludes by proposing a model of moderate linguistic pluralism that prioritises indigenous languages as strategic instruments in diplomacy and development. Such recalibration may advance Africa’s pursuit of deeper integration, cultural decolonisation, and enhanced political inclusion across the continent.

Keywords

Colonial languages, lingua-balkanization, regional integration, political mobilization, African identity, linguistic fragmentation.

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EZE, George Ogazi Mani (PhD, mnipr) (2025). Africa's Lingual-Balknization: Colonial Language Dividies, Regional Integration and Political Mobilization. SIAR-Global Journal of Humanities, Management & Educational Review, Vol. 1, No. 2. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18023399

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Africa's Lingual-Balknization: Colonial Language Dividies, Regional Integration and Political Mobilization

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