Our native language is more than just a tongue, it’s who we are as a people; it’s an expression that became a culture. In times like these when cultures and individuals mingle, it’s hard to keep one’s native tongue intact, and sometimes, the value of our native tongue is lost to trends. Amanda Akaliza, the first runner up during the Miss Rwanda 2021 pageant, says she has been exposed to foreign cultures since birth, and it influenced her upbringing. “I grew up in a family with both parents, they spoke Kinyarwanda and English. As much as they tried to constantly remind me that Kinyarwanda is my native language, I attended schools abroad and as a child, it had an impact on the language I expressed myself with,” she says. With this deep imprint, it was a difficult transition for her when she came back to live in Rwanda. She had to learn how to express herself in a tongue that was so foreign to her, and yet her own. “I am a person who loves connecting with people, so now it is a responsibility I fully intend to honour, but it is even harder knowing that I was born here,” she says. It is sad for an individual when the language that reminds them of home becomes a reminder that they became an ‘outsider’. Akaliza believes that language is our heritage, and that it is the legacy left for future generations. If it becomes foreign to us, how will they ever embrace it? “Kinyarwanda isn’t just a language, but an artefact to preserve and protect, it’s a reflection of our people’s history and future,” Akaliza says. Herve Migabo who lives in Belgium says that his family moved to Belgium when he was nine years old. In order to adapt to the foreign environment, he had to learn to speak their language, and with time, Rwandan culture and language faded. “When I met Rwandans that spoke Kinyarwanda fluently, I felt disconnected and uncomfortable, I felt like I was less of a Rwandan,” says Migabo. When he came back to finish high school in Rwanda, Migabo had to adapt to a country that was home yet felt foreign. His family was very supportive, he also made it a point to use the little Kinyarwanda he knew as often as possible, he didn’t care if what he said was funny or incorrect, because he knew that was the only way he’d get better. “I grew up reading a lot and most schools used English, and on top of that, at home we mostly used English and French, it left no chance for me to learn Kinyarwanda,” says Benigne Rutayisire, a resident of Kigali. Rutayisire says that many parents and teachers expressed pride in knowing English and French that she never felt the need to learn Kinyarwanda, even though she grew up here. As an adult now, she has this weird feeling, like she doesn’t belong in her own country. She is more familiar with foreign cultures and languages due to the fact she didn’t get the encouragement she needed when she was younger to learn her mother tongue first. Simona Pralovska, in her article ‘Is it possible to forget your native language?’ says, “Native language and home culture are part of the identity of every person. Therefore, the most important thing is to keep in touch with your culture even after moving abroad. Here are the easiest ways to do it: “Regular calls home – if you live abroad, conversation with your family or friends for even as little as half an hour weekly can prevent your mother tongue from becoming rusty. “Reading, writing, and listening – read books, magazines, or internet articles in your native language. You can write diaries, listen to the radio, watch TV programmes or movies in your native language, and ensure regular maintenance of your native language in doing so. “Meet your countrymen in different communities – in today’s world of open borders it is no longer a problem to find your fellow countrymen. You will not only find new friends, but also keep your mother tongue in shape. And if you do all this, your mother tongue won’t get rusty, nor dusty.”
