By: Yunus S. Saliu
As part of its mandate as the National Focal Point for National Languages, the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) on Tuesday, 20th May 2025, convened a daylong stakeholder workshop focused on the role, contributions, and expectations of minority languages within the emerging National Language Policy.
The workshop, held at the NCAC’s RDD Annex along Kairaba Avenue, was supported by the African Union’s Academy of Languages (ACALAN) and brought together a diverse group of academic and cultural stakeholders.
Key issues discussed included the expectations from a National Language Policy, the potential contributions of minority languages to enrich such a policy, and the challenges and threats facing these languages, challenges the policy aims to address. The forum provided a platform to strategize on the valorization, preservation, and promotion of The Gambia’s national languages.
In his opening remarks, NCAC Director General Hassoum Ceesay commended the participants for their strong response to the centre’s invitation, describing it as a clear sign of their commitment to shaping a National Language Policy Document by mid-2025.
DG Ceesay highlighted that the development of the National Language Policy is funded by ACALAN, a specialized agency of the African Union responsible for the implementation of the Language Plan of Action for Africa (LPAA).
He emphasized that the policy should be inclusive and empowering, reflecting the linguistic diversity of The Gambia.
“Our national languages are rich and hold significant potential for national development. Unfortunately, they remain underutilized. This policy will explore ways to empower, promote, and preserve them,” he stated.
Since the program’s inception in The Gambia in 2023, the NCAC has conducted several activities to raise awareness and advance the drafting of the policy. These include training sessions, sensitization workshops, and creative initiatives such as commissioning a kora maestro to compose a song celebrating national languages.
Speaking at the forum, Mr. Nana Grey-Johnson of the University of The Gambia described the workshop as timely and significant, noting that the eventual National Language Policy will be a major milestone in the country’s cultural and linguistic development.
“This initiative deserves commendation,” he added, thanking the NCAC for taking on the responsibility of coordinating the project on behalf of ACALAN.
