African diaspora teens relearn ancestral languages to reconnect with grandparents
A renaissance is underway for Africa’s languages, driven by diaspora reconnecting with roots and online learning, with examples like a Lagos game show where English is a loss and a Canadian teen learning Shona to talk with Zimbabwean grandparents, supported by platforms such as ZimbOriginal. Experts note Africa hosts 1,500–3,000 languages spoken by over a billion people, creating new business and tech opportunities as linguistic heritage moves into commerce and education through social media, storytelling, and online courses.
Lifestyle · 5 sources · Sep 9, 2026Read itThe journal
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About Shona
Shona is a Bantu language spoken by the Shona people of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The term is variously used to collectively describe all the Central Shonic varieties or specifically Standard Shona, a variety codified in the mid-20th century. By the broader definition, the language is spoken by over 14 million people.
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