Many Africans still speak their colonisers' language

Despite gaining independence in the 1960s, African states still have not fully broken away from certain structures of influence inherited from the colonial period.

Among them, institutional Francophonie occupies a unique place. Often presented as a space for cultural exchange and political cooperation, it is celebrated as a bridge between peoples.

Yet, for a growing number of African intellectuals and policymakers, a deeper question remains: Does Francophonie truly serve the interests of African societies, or does it perpetuate, in more subtle forms, patterns of domination rooted in the colonial past?

To understand this debate, it is essential to clarify what Francophonie actually is and where it comes from. The term refers both to all French-speaking populations around the world and to a structured political and institutional framework built around the French language.

Its modern institutional form emerged in 1970, with the creation of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), an intergovernmental body designed to promote cooperation among French-speaking states.

Historically, the roots of Francophonie go back to the period of French colonial expansion between the 19th and 20th centuries. During this era, the French language was introduced across vast territories in West Africa, Central Africa, North Africa, and parts of the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.

After independence, instead of disappearing, French remained deeply embedded in state institutions, education systems, and administrative structures in many former colonies. This continuity created the foundation upon which modern Francophonie would later be built.

Francophonie as an institution was not solely imposed by France. It was also actively supported by several post-colonial leaders who saw strategic value in maintaining linguistic and diplomatic ties. Among them were Leopold Sedar Senghor, Habib Bourguiba, and Hamani Diori.

These leaders were part of a generation that believed cooperation with France could help stabilise newly independent states, provide access to education systems, and maintain international visibility in a world dominated by Cold War tensions.

For example, Leopold Sedar Senghor, poet and president of Senegal, viewed the French language not only as a colonial legacy, but also as a potential tool for cultural synthesis.

He famously promoted the idea that French could serve as a universal language of expression and diplomacy while coexisting with African cultural identities. Habib Bourguiba in Tunisia and Hamani Diori in Niger also supported early frameworks of Francophone cooperation, seeing them as pragmatic tools for development and international partnership.

However, the institutionalisation of Francophonie through the OIF gradually evolved beyond cultural cooperation. Today, the OIF includes more than 80 member states and governments across Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Its mission covers language promotion, education, democratic governance, cultural exchange, and even electoral monitoring in certain countries.

Francophonie is most deeply rooted in Africa, particularly in former French colonies such as Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, Gabon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In these countries, French often remains the official language of the state, even when it is not the first language spoken by the majority of the population.

At the first glance, Francophonie presents undeniable advantages. It creates a shared linguistic space that facilitates communication between states and allows for educational and cultural exchanges. Cultural programmes supported by Francophone institutions have also contributed to the visibility of African literature, cinema, and music on the global stage.

The OIF also supports initiatives in governance, election observation, and institutional capacity building. In theory, these programs aim to strengthen transparency and the rule of law in member states. For many governments, especially in smaller or developing economies, this support can represent an important form of assistance.

Beneath this positive surface, however, deeper structural questions emerge. Francophonie is not a neutral linguistic space detached from history. It is deeply rooted in a colonial past in which language was a central tool of administration, control, and cultural transformation. In many African contexts, the French language replaced or marginalised local languages in schools, courts, and public administration.

This historical legacy continues to shape power relations today.

Language cannot be seen only as a communication tool. It defines how people think, how knowledge is produced and shared, and how institutions function.

In many African countries, French remains the dominant language of formal education and government, while indigenous languages are often confined to informal or private spaces.

This creates a dual system in which a small educated elite operates fluently in French, while large portions of the population remain excluded from full participation in institutional life.

-----------------Egountchi Behanzin, founding president of the international African Black Defence League, spokesperson for the Pan-African Brothers, political analyst, and pan-African activist