Tuesday, January 5, 2010

French is dead, long live English Rwanda!

After 100 years of French as the official language in Rwanda, President Paul Kagame has led his country to join the British the Commonwealth. What are the reasons behind this move?

VIDEO
By FRANCE 24

After 100 years of French as the official language in Rwanda, President Paul Kagame has led his country to join the British the Commonwealth. What are the reasons behind this move?

After 100 years of French as the official language in Rwanda, President Paul Kagamé has led his country to join the British the Commonwealth.

Overnight, Rwanda’s official language became English, schoolchildren no longer learn French in public schools, and cricket is being played in Rwandan sports fields. What are the reasons behind this move?

Some believe it is a reaction to France’s percieved tacit support of the Hutu government during the 1994 genocide of the Tutsi minority. Others claim that Paul Kagame’s government is acting out of sheer economic opportunism.

FRANCE 24 went to Rwanda to find out how the population is greeting the sudden switch from French to English.

Related Materials:
KIGALI AND THE MANAGEMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Rwanda: “No more French unless France recolonises Rwanda”

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