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Studies & Degrees in African Languages

African languages as a university subject covers the languages spoken on the African continent and the literatures, oral traditions and cultures expressed in them. Students learn one or more languages to a working level and combine them with linguistics, literature, history or area studies. The languages most often taught at universities are the large regional ones. According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Hausa has over 60 million first and second language speakers in West Africa, nearly 30 million people worldwide speak Yoruba, Swahili connects speakers throughout East Africa, Wolof is the lingua franca of Senegal, and Zulu is the most widely spoken of South Africa's 11 official languages.

A typical programme has language classes at beginner, intermediate and advanced level, courses on African literature and expressive culture, and often a period of study in Africa. Knowing a local language gives direct access to communities, media and sources that are out of reach in English, French or Portuguese.

Qualifications and levels

The subject is rarely a stand-alone language degree. It is usually part of a degree in African studies, African cultural studies or linguistics, and the level of language required rises with the level of the degree.

  • Bachelor's level: the BA in African Studies at Leiden University takes three years and is taught in English; students learn Swahili, take a second African language during the study abroad period and spend a semester in an African country in the second year. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the African Cultural Studies major requires two semesters of an African language plus 12 credits of intermediate or advanced courses.
  • Master's level: the MA in African Studies at Leiden University takes one year. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign runs a two-year MA that combines area studies courses with intensive African language instruction. The research MA at Wisconsin-Madison asks for two years' study of an African language and 30 credits of coursework.
  • Doctorate: the PhD at Wisconsin-Madison requires three years' study of an African language, or advanced proficiency, and at least one semester of an additional language related to the research.

In Nigeria, the Department of Linguistics and African Languages of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) runs two related programmes at undergraduate and graduate level: Linguistics and Yoruba.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists five active schools for African languages: three in the United States, one in Nigeria and one in the Netherlands.

In the United States, the Department of African Cultural Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has taught the languages and expressive cultures of Africa since 1964 and offers Arabic, Hausa, Swahili, Wolof, Yoruba and Zulu. The Center for African Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits MA students in the fall term only; international applicants need a minimum TOEFL score of 79 on the internet-based test. At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the James S. Coleman African Studies Center was founded in 1959 as a U.S. National Resource Center. The Illinois catalogue mentions the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship as a funding option for applicants.

In Europe, Leiden University states that it is the only place in the Netherlands with a BA in African Studies and the only place in continental Europe where the course can be followed in English. In Africa itself, OAU in Ile-Ife teaches Yoruba in the region where it is spoken.

The programmes described here are taught in English; the African language is the object of study and, at higher levels, a working language for reading and fieldwork.

Careers

There are no official employment statistics for this small field, so the best guide is what the departments report about their own graduates. Leiden University states that graduates of its MA in African Studies work in cultural organisations, education, policy-making, development, publishing, public relations and journalism, with roles such as teacher of African languages or policy officer at an embassy. OAU reports that graduates of its department have become media practitioners, administrators, editors, writers, translators and educators, among other professions. Wisconsin-Madison describes the skills gained as critical thinking and communication skills that are useful in many careers.

Frequently asked questions

Which African languages can I study at university?

It depends on the school. The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers Arabic, Hausa, Swahili, Wolof, Yoruba and Zulu; Leiden University teaches Swahili in its BA; Obafemi Awolowo University has a Yoruba programme.

Do I need to know an African language before I start?

Not necessarily for a bachelor's degree: programmes such as the BA at Leiden University teach the language as part of the course. Graduate programmes expect more; the PhD at Wisconsin-Madison requires three years' study of an African language or the equivalent.

How long does a degree take?

At Leiden University the BA in African Studies takes three years and the MA one year. The MA in African Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign takes two years.

Can I study African languages in English in Europe?

Yes. Leiden University teaches its BA and MA in African Studies in English and states that it is the only place in continental Europe to offer the BA in English.